Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-16

over iue rim OF the uiuu INTO the river
\ moment later the deep black wa
ters Of 1.-THE hole" had closed above
the mass OF sentient steel. The swift
current had smoothed away every
trace OF the strange monster il had en-
guifed, and there 10y the side Of the
track, huddled against the broken sig
nal post his clothing pastered with
mud and CRIME. mouonlcss and with
nasty cut on the temple. lay Harry
Sanderson.
a long. saturatinC peace. n deep and
drenching darkness. had folded him.
Duly at first. at length more insistent-
~ and sharply, a rhythmic pulsing
sound began 10 annoy the quietude
k-tracl. k-track. k-track-it grow loud
or; it grew more momentous and ma
teriai: IL irritated the calm that had
wrapped the animate universe As
though from an Unreasonable distance
he heard q low. continuous roar and
now and again through the roar nearer
voices.
Harry awoke. His mind awoke. but
his eyes did not open at once. for the
gentle swaying that Graded him was
pleasant and the muG'cd clack and
hum soothed him like opium. He open
cd his eyes. IL was daylight he was
lying on dusty boards that ratified and
yibrated beneath him. the floor OF an
empty freight car In motion. A small
brown dog an abjcct muddied and
shvering morscl. was snuggled close TO
his side. 10 whincd as II with JOY 10
see his eyes opened. and It's stubby Gail
beat the door
Harry turned his head. Two men in
diugy garments were seated on the
floor little distance away thumbing a
decrepit pack or cards over an empty
box. He could see both side faces. one
weather beaten and good humored. the
other crafty-knights OF the road
The sudden movement had sent a
momentary twinge 20 his temple. He
put up his hand. II touched a coarse
handkerchief that had been bound
tightly about H. The corner hung down.
IL was soued and sun with blood.
What was he doing thereg Where was
heT Who was heg
IL came 20 him with start that he
actually for the moment dld not know
who he was-that he had ridiculously
slipped the leash OF bis Identity He
smiled al his predlcament lie would
lie quietly for a few moments. and Il
would come. or course 10 would comet
Yet u did not come. though he lay
many moments. the fingers OF his mind
fumbling 10. the latch os the closed
door. lie had walked perfectly well.
all save the slight cut on his temple.
and that was clearly superficial, a
mere scratch. Not n trouble or ankle
~ married his soul. His mind was as
clear and light as a lark's. Body and
brain together felt as II they had never
had serious ache In the world. But
all that had preceded his awakening
was gone from him as completely as
though it had had no existence.
Stealthily lie rose TO a sitting posture
and, with a frown Of humorous per
plexity. took q swift and silent in
ventory. He scanned his clothing His
coat was threadbare and, with mud,
oil and coal dust, was in a more dis
reputable state. dis wristbands were
grimy. and one cunlnk had been torn
away. He had no hat
He bethought himself OF his pockets
and went through them methodically
one by one They yielded several dol
lars in coin, penknife ana a tiny gold
cross. but not letter. not a scrap OF
paper, nothing to serve him. The
gIeam OF a ring OF his finger caught
his eye. He rubbed away the dirt and
carefully examined II, wondering II
L.
slightly cut and swollen, and the circlet
would not come of. but by shifting II
slightly he could see the white depres-
sion made by long wear. The setting
wns an odd one. formed OF the twisted
letters IL. s. Those naturally should
be his initials, but there he stopped.
He repeated to himself all the names
he could think OF, beginning with S.
but they told him nothing.
He looked himself over again care
fully, rehectively. He put out his hand
and laid IL on the spaniers head
Its rough tongue licked his fingers.
II held up one fore paw mutely and
lamely. He drew the feverish. dirty
little creature into his lap and exam
ined the limp member. 1t was broken.
Poor little beggarw said be under
his breath. $50 you've been knocked
out tooP' With his knife he cut piece
from the lining of his coat and with a
splinter OF wood from the floor he set
the fractured bone and wrapped the
leg tightly. The dog submitted with
cut a whimper. and when he set it
down 1t lay quietly beside him watch
Ing him with afrectionate canine solicit
tude.
Il wonder who we are, you and II
muttered Harry Sanderson whimsical
ly. II wonder!'
The players looked around One OF
Them nodded approvingiy.
Z fright az a trivet" he said. IL made