The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 8, 1896, Page 16

16 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1896. day two lads, each about 14 years of | , wandered. far away from the | p of their parents in the Santa | Mountains of California, Bnd{ denly upon an odd-looking house | planted in an obscure canyon which opened | into the gorge of the San Gregorio. This | in turn ran tortuously down through the | mountains to the Pacific Ocean. On the | far side of the gorge was the grade which crosses the range. It was evident at once to the sharp- witted boys that the little canyon had d for its remoteness and diffi- | nlt acce ity, and that great care had | been taken to set the house among the | dark redwoods in a spot where its niscov-I uld happen only by an unlikely ac- | This fact did not impress them so | strongly d the character of the house itself. The structure was of generous size and was built of logs and roofed with poles covered with a thatch of boughs. Inno | mble the woodcutters’ | the range nor the | v scattered settlers. | r feature was its entire ab- ows, though its considerable | dicated the necessity for opening was & door, which | i Neither road nor and yet in its immediate | s found evidence of its ancy. 1’ N the forenoon of brilliant summer | came su present Moved of their species d in silence. They gently | their touch. | The greater part of nup to a room con- machinery, and low chambers d greeted t door ar was W . Its general character was v had seen the ill, fed by a all to some dynamo this latter aracteristics | aber of gue Sus- in the center of the room, and the dynamo by massive a large and exceedingly nce,which, however strange | , still suggested an arc lamp s power. : i were exchanging their spered conversation one of called Harry, suggested that as ng seemed io be in periect work- | ing order, it might be well for James, his companion, to try the experiment of turn- ing on the water in order to “'see the thing g0.”’ James complied in rather a gingerly | fashion, and instantly the machinery re- | spounded. The water-mill whirred, the | dynamo groaned and rumbled, and the €0 icated apparatus resembling an arc lamp sputtered ominpusly. | In » moment the poys began to ex-| perience an extraordinary sensation, the | they could not under- | watched the lamp to observe ce of the brilliant spark v expected, but it did no M the e | o then that, the lamp ed with' a rapidly | gathering ha other in surpris The came aware | afoot through- | impression was | E deniy become ob- | ed in some extraordinary manner, for | the light in the room was rapidly fading | and a deepening twilight was falling. | They turned simultaneously to look | through the open door and discovered that i t sunshine without was fast though a cloud deeper and | thicker than they had ever | known before had worked the miracle oi( appearing in a California sky in the mid- dle of summer. In another instant, before any instinct to fly could have found exercise, they were overwhelmed in an awful blackness, through which not the faintest ray of light penetrated from any source whatever. There are few persous 1n this world who know what absolute darkness is. It is difficult to find, except in the remotest depths of the deepest caverns. There is only one thing so terrifying as perfect darkness, and that is absolute silence; and this is another exceedingly rare human experience. Such blackness as that in in intelligence and station, but none the less strong, well-favored, competent and wholesome, There seemed to be a recently developed undersianding between them. He wasshy, but his eyes were filled with adoration as he gazed into her face. Her manner was bolder and alluring. His contained an element of guilt and shame. Evidently she was the love-maker of the two, and manifestly it was more shyness than conscience that placed a certain con- straint upon him, They had seen nothing of that which had given the old man so great alarm, and they were unaware of the tour eager young which these two lads found themselves | ears that ambushed their conversation in seems palpable, ponderable, thick and op- pressive; it weighs upon the sensibilities as a nightmare; it gives the impression of drowning in a sea of viscid ink. With its stifling and its terrors it conduces to mad- ness. Dazed and helpless at first with the hor- ror of their situation, the boys clutched each other to secure the consolation of companionship in their fearful extremity, and then, gasping and scrambling, began to grope about in a search for the door. By good fortune they presently found it and tumbled headiong out upon the ground, where they lay panting in the brilliant sunshine that they had left when they entered the house and that haa lured them abroad that summer morning. Hand in band, with no loss of time, they scurried away to a safe distance and paused to recover courage and breath. They looked toward the house again and w another marvelous thing. In their flight they had left the door wide open, and they now beheld what appeared to be an extraordinary structure stretch- ing from the door across the bed of the canyon, the farther end resting on the opposite hillside. 1Its sectional dimen- sions at the house ctly fitted the door- way; in length it was seventy or eighty yards, and it evenly increased in size toward the hillside. Evidentiy an open- ing for it had been cut through the forest. Although of so great lengih, 1t was sup- ported neither by truss nor scaffoid. But the color was even more remarkable. It was a dead black, without gloss, seam or bolt, and the boys bad never seen a thing like it in their lives before, and cer- tainly it had. not been there when they approached the house. As they watched and wondered, well concealed in the brush, lovking at the strange object which stretched across the canyon and listening to the whirring and grinding of the | machinery in the house, they saw an old nan of singular appearance hurriedly and anxiously pusbing his way through the undergrowth toward the building, pansing now and then in alistening attitude, his face white with alarm and haggard with anxiety It was clear to them that his perturba- tion had been caused by his discovery, as | he was approaching the house, that the machinery had been started by strange and vandal hands. He hurried forward, paused 1n a passing transport of pleasure to admire the strange black thing which | lay across the canyon, then cautiously ap- | proached the door and thiust his head to one side in peering within, though his at- titude suggested listening instead of look- ing. bead and one shoulder into the long black object issuing from the door. There they were entirely lost to view, He had per- formed this feat in spite of the apparent solidity of the object. But the mostsingu- lar phenomenon was that as he thus stood he appeared to be without a head! Itis impossible to deseribe the sensation which this spectacle produced in the minds of the silent watchers in the bl’usl’éB The o!d man then disappéared wholly in the body of the black object at the plane ofits 1unctm‘e with the door, and a few seconds aiterward the grinding sound of the machinery was stilled, ani the great black thing began to_turn gray; it faded uickly, became a faint shadow and then isappeared altogether. The boys were yet too fascinated and overcome to escape from this uncanny place. While they waited in wondering silence two other persons approached the mysterious house. One was a young woman, handsome and sprightly, and the other a young man, evidently her inferior In doing tbis he had to push his | the brush. “Oh, but it is dreadful to be that old man’s wife!”” she exclaimed passionately. “He seems very kind to you and to love you very much,”” the man responded. “How can he love me, wnen he buries me in these lonely mountains and terrifies me with his dreadful invention? Do you call that love? Is it possiblefor a girl who has lived in the world to bear such horrors as these ?” “But,” the man protested, *‘he hasnow perfected his invention. It isa wonderful thing, and it will make him famous and rich. And then you will return to the great bright werld, and will forget the ignorant laborer who built your house and cooked for you and helped your husband set up the machinery.” The woman cast an arch glance upon him, and, throwing a wealth of feeling into her voice, said “Can & woman ever forgeta handsome, kind and gentle man who did all these things for her sake? Is a woman blind not to cee in everything that a man does the one thing that to her is the most precious inall the world 7"’ | " They had paused very mear the lads. | She was looking up into his strong face with an appesling glance that it was not in him to withstand, had he such an 1in- | clination. He caught her in his arms, | kissed her and held” her thus; and then | she gently put his arms away and thev | both stood lookine at the ground. The | man tried to speax, but his voice failed | him. She had a surer tongue and began to talk about the commonpiaces, hard- ships and terrors of her life. The man was grateful to her for that and quickly fell in with her composure. *Tell me,” she said,**what is in that box I gou brought over the mountains the other ay.” | An expression of pain came into the | man’s face. “He made me promise solemaly not to tell you,” her companion | haltingly made answer. | . “But you will tell me,” she pleaded, tak- | ing hisarm in both her hands and nest- | ling her face against it, her red lips offer- | ing a kiss. | " RHe—he told me it was dynamite,” -the man said, his face blazing with shame. She paled instantly and recoiled. { “What is he going to do with it?” she | eagerly inquired. | *“‘Hedidn’t tell me.”” *Bat you have some idea—you know.’’ The unhappy man had not the art to onceal the truth nor the strength to do his duty. I—I have en idea,” he stammered. Having the fine perception to see that she was building a2 wall of ice between them she changed her tactics. Her hara | insistence became soft wheedling and in- sinuating love-making. The man broke | down completely and confessed: “J think it’s to blow up the whole works with if anvthing goes wrong.” “Well, if what goes wrong?" “‘He never said.” “But you have an idea.” The man was now sincere, as well as be- wildered, when he answered, ‘I haven’t the least idea.” Thbe woman drew a deep breath and gazed silently at nothing. +‘He has hidden it; doyou know where?” “Upon my honor I don’t. Ididn’tknow he bad.” The two then went on to the house and | entered, closing the door behind them. | The silent watchers recalled their wits. | Their courage and spirit of adventure had | returned and they held a whispered con- ference, wondering what it all meant. The situation was too tempting, the possibili- “As the boys reached the crest of the mountain there lcapsd forth from the canyon below a giant column of white smoke crowned with timbers, picces of metal and human limbs.” ties too rich, to be abandoned. Even a knowledge that a box of dynamite was concealed somewhere about was not suffi- cient to stay their enterprise, Like cats they crept round through the brush to the rear of the house and, approaching nearer and nesrer, came so close that - they could bear the conversation going on within, as the found of it escaped throngh the ven- tilating spaces underneath the eaves. The old man, whom the others called ‘‘Professor,’” was evidently in a rage, and was upbraiding them. “How do I know where you have been or what you have been doing?” he cried. ““Ileft you, madam, in charge of the place, warned on your life not to abandon it for an instant. Ireturn and find the house empty and the machinery 1n operation— undoubtedly the interference of human hands; and that means a premature dis- covery of my inveation and the ruin of all my plans!” 3 “8ir,” came the voice of the woman, car- rying a fine, strong ring, “I have been a true, faithful and long-suffering wife to you, and I am not willing to submit either to insult or reproach. As you know, Fred preceded you this morning; he went to cut wood—I had no idea where. After you bad left I became very lonely and afraid. A mountain lion began to growl above the house, and in sheer desperation I 1an away. I was gone less than an hour. While gone I heard the sound of Fred’s ax, and so found him, and he was coming to the hbuse with me to cook our lunch- eon.” The old man, without appearing to be overwatchful, nevertheless had kept an uncommonly sharp eye about him, as the lads judged by the shrewd observations which he made, but more particularly by the dreadful denouement of the scene. The professor's voice suddenly changed in quality and temper to a cheerful and friendly resonance. : ‘“‘After all,”” he remarked, with a laugh, ‘it seems to me that we are inclined to be alittle testy. water-cock and discovered that it leaks | slightly. In closing the door when you left, my dear, you were so frightened and | in so great a hurry that you forgot to latch or lock it, or even to close it tightly. Some wild animal of the mountains pushed its way in and accidentally opened the water~ cock in its effort to get more water than that which dripped. Itis all clear now.” “I am glad your senses have returned,” said his wife. 2 “They have, indeed, my dear; they have returned with amazing clearness. This is all the more gratifying in view of the fact that I have decided to break up our home, | where ‘we have spent so_ many strange | months. Asyou know, I have perfected my invention; and though 1 say it myself, it is certainly a very wonderful thing. 1 have pregnred this written explanation of it as the basis of an application for a pat- ent; but I now destroy it” (and the lads without beard the crackling of burnin paper), ‘‘for the reason that it might tafi into untrustworthy nands before it reaches ‘Washington. I have no uneasiness. It is all perfectly clear in my memory; and if I live sufficiently long Ican write it all out again in Washington, and present it in person to the Patent Office.”” He was heard to chuckle softly in the deep ensuing silence which fiiled the room—a portentous and uneasy silence it seemed to the boys as they listened. *‘Well,”” resumed tne old man, “after all, when { give it to the world it will be no longer mine. It will no longer be pos- sible for me to say this solely to myself: ‘You have seen electricity employed to produce light, which dispels darkness; you have now reversed that function and transformed its marvelous energy into the | opposite of that operation. y infinite Iabor and study you have accomplished the incredible, for nunder your magic touch electricity has been made to dispel light and disseminate darkness. You may turn this simple water-cock; it starts a water-wheel; that lends energy to the dynamo; the current thus generated I bave just examined the ( passes through these moditiers, or re- ! versers, or whatever we may be pleased to call them, and its whole character is turned wrong end forward. The lamp sputters; its emanations, udiatin{ in straight lines and diminishing in force with the square of the distance, counteract the power of the all-pervading ether to transmit light, and thus, by a negative ovperation, produce darkness; produce more than that—absolute blackness.’ “Those things have I cherished as being able to say to myself. But where is the ood in it? Life is light, darkness is sesth; worse, darkness is concealment. Tt is terrible to reflect that even in the broad light of the blazing sun dishonor- able things may be done under the fan- cied security of isolation. It were in- famous to increase the opportunities for evil-doing by introducing artificial dark- ness to serve that end.” 3 The listening Loys heard a slight com- motion in the house, followed by this sterniy delivered admonition from the old man: +‘Stop there instantly or I press this but- ton, and then, madam, there would be some one to give an accounting to besides the husband whom you have betrayed. One step nearer, one finger raised, a single word uttered and then a precious box of dynamite buried under this house will babble so loudly oi a tragedy that the sound of it will startle the world.” ‘Whateyer more the mad old man might have said the two frightened lads did not stay to hear, for with the instinct of rats deserting a sinking ship they sped thence as fast as nimble legs and energetic fear could carry them. Wildly they tore through the brush. It was not until they had scaled the mountain to the nearest crest that there leaped forth from the ean- yon below them a giant column of white smoke, crowned with yellow timbers, pieces of bright metal and human limbs, and an_ensuing trembling of the ground on which they stood came ahead of the hoarse rumble and the ear-hurting impac- tion of a tremendous explosion of dyna- mite. DRAGGED FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH AN INCIDENT IN A MAIL-CARRIER'S LIFE. UDGE FRANCIS ADAMS, now a San Francisco attorney, was one of the early pioneers of the great West, and few of the old-timers have witnessed more thrilling occurrences or participated in more exciting events than he. ‘‘Perhaps the most narrow escape I ever had,” said the Judge, a few days ago, in recalling scenes that antedate the gold dis- covery, “was in an encounter with hostile | carbine in order, sprang into his saddle, selected an opening in the Indian line, | and driving his spurs into his horse’s side ;mndeadaspemte dash for life. The In- | dians were momentarily disconcerted by the bold movement. Adams used his | carbine on the nearest of the enemy, and | despite a rain of arrows, plunged through | the line. | Just as he thought himself fairly in the | race to save his scalp, he saw ahead of him | in the pale light another band of Indians | that he had not calculated on. He whirled expressed about the allegation, and unless it is withdrawn, and the firemen induced to continue their duty, the town will be without an organized fire brigade after Thursday next, when the notices will ex- pire. Their remuneration is only nominal, ranging from £20 a year for superin- tendent to 50 shillings for ordinary fire- men.—London Chrouicle. - Never Leaves British Sofl. A Waldorf Hotel group were discussing the extent of British territory a few even- ings ago when an experienced traveler made a remark that set others to looking up their atlases at the first opportunity. He had said that a traveler can leave Lon- don and go around the world and never set foot on other than British soil. Asked to outline the itinerary he answered: “From England to Halifax; \ “Quick,” cried Graves, leaning down from his saddle. Indians in the year 1847." the story. Itreads like fiction after the lapse of fifty years. In the above-mentioned year Adnr‘ns, then a boy of 17, was engaged in carrying military mail between EIl Paso, Tex., and Albuquerque, N. Mex. The greater por- tion of the country through which ne passed was a desert waste. One piece of the way was particularly dangerous, being in the vicinity of a frequent nndezyous of the Indians, and for the mail-carrier's safety and protection a small troop of upl- diers was regularly detached from the mid- way post of Manzana, on the I_Z.ia Gr_ande, to meet the mailboy at 8 certain point of rocks, at which he always halted, nnd.m escort him over that part of the road which 'was considered unsafe. The ‘spot in question was generally reached after nightfall. It so happened that the officer in charge of the troop was Sergeant William J. Graves, who nfce_r- ward became prominent as a lawyer in this State, but who has long since joined the silent majority. Young Graves was of herculean build, brave as a lion and as reckless as he was brave. Week after week he led his company of seven troop- ers from Manzana to that point of rocks, and rode along with the mail-carrier through the danger-fraught region. Young Adams had on several occasions ‘been hard pressed h{ savages, but he was well mounted, and his steed had always carried him through unscathed, although arrows sometimes - whizzed annoyingly close to his head. No incident worth mentioning had oc- currea for quite a_ little period; so that uPon one occasion Sergeant Graves felt in- clined to take matters rather letsurely, Then, concluding that he would miss the mail-carrier if he rode to the point of rocks, the sergeant resolved to strike abead and meet Adams on the highway. As usual, the mail-carrier halted. It was after nightfall, but the big silver moon made the night radiant, and objects could cliT distinguished clearly for a considerable stance. The horse was allowed to graze about, and Adams sat_down to rest. Then he looked toward Manzana for the troopers, but they were nowhere to be seen. Soon the horse pricked up its ears, and moved, in a frightened way, toward the master. Adams knew what that meant, and lead- ing the animal to the cover of the rocks, peered about and discovered that the red- ull(linydwen quietly closing in on him from all sides, Delay meant death. Adama put his And here is to one side and then a chase against heavy odds began. For ten miles the painted warriors pur- sued him, gaining on bim every minute. The arrows pierced his clothing; the Indian yells almost drowned the noise of the hoof-beats of his steed. His horse was wounded, but the faithful beast still strug- gled on. 'The sixty-four rounds of ammu- nition carried by the rider were nearly ex- hausted. The horse was weakening fast. The Indians were now riding, with tri- umphant shouts, almost alongside of their certain prey. Arrows fell thicker than ever; both rider and norse were bleeding from wounds made by the winged shaits. The gun was burning- hot, and Adams began emptying his pistol. His moments seemed numbered. Now he regained the highway, and just as he was in the act of swinging his horse into the road the ani- mal fell dead. Adams was on the ground, and around him was a band of devils. At this juncture firing was heard afar. The Indians were stayed by sudden terror. They glanced toward the fresh scene of conflict. It was & brief respite for the prisoner in the midst of the savages. “Frank, Frank! where are you?’ camea powerful voice. “Here!” cried the prisoner. And through the hostile band, Graves had burst his way, knocking Indians to the right and to the left. The savages scat- tered like children before him. *Quick,” cried Graves, leaning far down from his saddle, extending his stron hand, and locking it around the enfeeble hand of young Adams. “Swing up be- hind !” Adams mouunted behind the sergeant. The Indians had not recovered from the surprise and sbock of the young giant’s charge when they were aware of - two whites on a single horse riding away in the moonlight at a speed that mocked pur- suit; xiding away to be joined by the troopers,who had begun to despair of their young commander’s life; riding away to tell the near-by camp at Manzana, long after sunrise, how young Adams was saved from a death of torture, and how Kmmg Graves had gloriously redeemed imself, at the risk of life and timb, from a charge of negligence, that nobody could h:xve graierred after such a night and such a deed. Resignation of a Fire Brigade. The members of the Darwen Corporation Fire Brigade have tendered their resigna- tion as a protest against a statement re- ported to have been made at the last town council meeting, that the firemen were inefficient. =~ The men haye} held a meeting, at which great indignation was to Victoria over the Canadian Pacific; acroes the Pacific to Hongkong, stepping there on the British reservation;_thence to Singapore, Penang, the island of Mauritius, Cape Town, South’ Africa; St. Helena and home to England: or from Penang you may go to Ceylon, thence by way of Bom- bay, Aden, Perim, Malta, Gibraltar and thence home.”—New York World. ——————— Chile {s said to possess more poets in proportion to her population than any other country in the world. —————————————— NEW TO-DAY. ACCIDENT AT THE PARK, A BICYCLER FELL AND HURT HIS KNEE. HE GROANED WITH PAIN. ALL THE WHEELS STOPPED. A CROWD GATHERED. One said, “Put ot Raw Meat,” others cried, ¢ Call the patrol-wagon, quick!” Then came & man who READS THE NEWSPAPERS, And thus knows all there is going. HE JUMPED OFF HIS WHEEL And 100k a bottle from the toolbox, “Let me get to him and he will soon RIDE HIS WHEEL HOME.” He bathed the hurts with Mite Hojvat Mitchell's Magic GRINS SUCCEEDED GROANS ! AND WENT OFF ON HIS WHEEL. Try it if you ACHE OR GET HURT, HAVE NEURALGIA, TONSILITIS OR A SORE THROAT, And see how surprised and happy you will be. Any druggist can got it for you. Lto wea! HONESY PROPLE TESTIFY STRONG STATEMENTS I¥ FAVOR OF HIS 1HPROYED HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES. —_— FACTS THAT CANNOT BE DENIED. -— ence of Those Who Have Th;oe!n‘g;::i“:vfll Prove That the Most Obstinate Forms of Rheumatism, Catarrh, Dyspersis, Kidney Com- plaints and Blood and Nervous Dis- eases Are Promptly and Permanontly Cured by Munyon's emedies—Andl Your Druggist for dMunyon’s Guide to Health, Select a 25-Uent Remedy and Cure Yourself. Mr. H. Zander, who lives on Bellevu? Terrace, Los Angeles, has this to say O Munyon’s Remedies: ‘I have been a great sufferer from rheumatism. It affected me in various parts of the body. The pain at times was excruciating. 1 have tried al- most every known remedy and have paid large sums of mouey to doctors with but little or no benefit. Hearing of some of the remarkable cures made by the Munyon Remedies, I purchased a 25-cent vial of the Rhbeumatism Cure, and, much to my grat- ification, I was completely relieved before half the bottle haa disappeared, and Icon- sider myself entirely cured. I can heartily recommend your remedies.” Munvon’s Rheumatism Cure never fails to relieve in from one to three hours, and cures in a few days. Price 25c. Munyon’s Dyspepsia Cure cures all forms of indigestion ach troubles. Price 25¢. Munyon’s Cold Cure prevents pneumo- nia and breaks up a cold in a few hours. Price 25¢. 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