Adventure, June 1911 — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

aby ? ‘ 2 oo 4 rf a Py ; ys ’ f ee “ . “ “e| . -. WS . 4 | 7 . , Py. . ree : ~ ain Pht. pe Xe a ? / < eae He ‘a pans Wi ssetl e . ? BY "OWEN OLIVER | WOKE suddenly in a strange place—a long room with light oak carving. I was lying on soft cushions on the floor. Arug had been thrown. over me, but I was dressed. There were two long rows of sleepers—men, women, and children—and a number was put at the head of each. Mine was “ 214,- 713, London.” One or two numbers had - a name underneath, but mine was not there. It was Elsie Anderson, if I remembered my- self rightly; but my memories did not come readily. My left-hand neighbor 7 was eioldme my wrist. He was “£184, Government, ‘George “Raynor.” I remembered the name, and when I raised myself on one elbow, to take a good look at his face, I remembered him. I had met him once at an at-home. He was a nice fellow and I.liked him. He had said that he hoped we,‘should meet again. Next I noticed a HanscHot in my right hand. I pulled it out and read the title: “The History of the Years of Sleep: 1916- 1920. By George Raynor.” I gaveasharp cry. If it was 1920, I had slept for four years! I made an effort to remember what happened.to me. I was going to town for a singing-lesson, and there were swarms of little green flies at Dulwich Station. They stung people, and the people whom they stung fainted. I screamed and tried to beat off the flies with my handker- chief, but they flew upon me—and that was | the last thing I remembered.- I must have fainted; and the faint had lasted for four years! Perhaps longer, for more years might have passed since Mr. wrote the history. How had I come to this place? Where was it? Who were the other sleepers? Why did he put the book under my pillow? Why did he hold my hand? I guessed that it was a big hospital or building where they had put the sleepers for their security; and I thought that Mr. Raynor had brought me there because he knew me, and that he held my hand because he expected me to be frightened when I woke alone. I was frightened—so frightened that I dared not move or call. For I did not know what might have happened in all these years, and Raynor ‘something dreadful must have come again to send Mr. Raynor to sleep. T lay still for a long time, shivering and listening. I heard no sound but the faint breathing of the sleepers. I thought that every one but myself must be asleep. Then I heard a howling somewhere outside, the howling of wild beasts. It came nearer and nearer, till at last it was outside the window. The window seemed to be-a good way above the ground, but I wasn’t sure. I clung to Mr. Raynor’s arm and begged him to wake, but he did not stir. He and the rest were evidently in a deep faint or stupor. I gave a scream, and then I fainted, too. The noise had gone when I recovered. As soon as I was able to rise I got up and staggered to the door, but dared not open it. I staggered toward the windows, but dared not look out. I feared to find the world in the possession of the howling beasts, or of some unknown monsters. _ I ‘went and shook Mr. Raynor again, and 335 GoOmiGcdooksEeo