Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-08
THE MUMMY CASE.
NOW VAN HsUvsus NEPHEW RE-
TURNED TO HEIDELBERG.
A ssory-By Sir Gilbert Il. Campbell,
Hart

strssse, Heidelberg. who, though he was
not a German by birth, had lived so long
among those Of that nationality that be
was ever welcome guest at their houses,
and this was Mynheer Cornelius Van
Ueuvcl, Dutchman, who had for many
wears earned q handsome income as
yender of curiosities and objects OF art.
He occupied O large front room in tho
house of the widow OF the late Syndic OF
the markets, which was crammed from
floor TO ceiling with a strange. heterogo-
neous collection. Damascened suits OF
amor, Moorish scimiters, and bows and
arrows from Tortary, magnificent porce-
lain from Nankin, bronzes from Yeddo,
rich stuffs from Smyrna, and carpets
from the looms Of Persia and Cashmere
were all TO be found in the old Dutch
mans treasure. house.
There was in one corner OF the room
on old three-cornered ebony cabinet,
with brightly polished brass locks and
hinges, in which it was reported the
Du,chman locked away an almost price
less collection of enamels, Mosaics, ana
acknowledgements gems, but even hls
most intimate friends had never been
gratified by peep into the darksome re-
cess. In the deep embrasure formed by
the window was a tall chair with soft
leather cushions and luxuriously-stuifed
arms. and when the weather permitted
Cornelius Van Heuvel would take up his
position at the open easement, his long
pipe in his mouth, and in this situation
ne was enabled TO command both ends
of the street and catch glimpse of his
customers long before they knocked at
the low-b rowed door which gave access
20 the house in which no had taken up
his quarters.
The arrival OF Herr Van Heuvel's
nephew at Heidelberg caused no little ill.,
terest. A room was taken for him imme-
diately opposite his uncle's in the house
OF Johann Steingasse, and it was re-
ported that the young man was coming
hon Egypt with collection of curios,
among which was the undoubted mummy
OF King Rameses, the last OF the line.
The collectors sister had married an
Italian, who followed in the footsteps of
the great explorer Belzoni, and had
seen strange things in catacombs and
mummy pits OF Lower Egypt.
About o'clock in the afternoon OF n
fine spring day Giuseppe Voltoni
stepped out Of the train and anxiously
watched the extrication of several large
packing cases from the luggage-van.
Upon one of these, about seven feet long
by three feet in height, he bestowed
great care, and ss soon as it was placed
on the cart which his uncle had sent
down TO meet the train, lie seated him.
self beside II and was driven to the Blu
men strasse, where he looked after the
safe bestowal of the packages before he
went 10 greet his venerable relative.
The appearance of the son Of the
Egyptian explorer was not prepossessing.
Giuseppe Voltoni was short, broad
shouldered man, very powerful, but
without any of the grace of strength
about him. His hands were large and
covered with coarse, dark hair. The
eastern sun had tanned his face to red
dish brown and the Egyptian curse, OPP
thalmia, had deprived him of the sight
OF his left eye. He wore a full beard,
and heavy moustache hung over
mouth well furnished with white, though
very large teeth. The redeeming quail
ty about him was his voice, which was
very soft and melodious. whether he
spoke i'll The gutturals Of the German
tongue or the more musical accents OF
the land OF his birth.
When, however, Giuseppe began to
ak, the uncle forgot his ugliness and
greatly at the, varied stores of
which he possessed. Though |
% long a dweller in Egypt, Giuseppe |
vas well acquainted with all the articles
most in demand in the European mar
Iets, and the old man soon perceived, in
,pite of his experience, that he might
It times pick up many useful hint
rom his nephew.
Cornelius Van Heuyel showed his
nephew all his curiosities, and lastly,
opening the famous ebony cabinet. per
mitted Giuseppe to take q peep at its
contents. After Giuseppe Vol
toni had done SO he turned towards his
uncle with look of intense surprise up
on his face. "And you keep these here,
said he, "here in thisunguarded room?"
Certainly, nephew mine" returned
the old man, with "a chuckle. "there arc
no thieves among my friends. and even
they have only vague suspicious of the
contents Of the cabinet"
Wall INIT xcV, MIGHT ha roIha1 ~
argued his nephew.
Hardly. for | am nearly always sit
ting among my property. returned the
Dutchman, "and when / go out my
door is fastened with q paddock which :
defy the most expert to pick.
"Well. they might come in and muir
der you" suggested his nephew grimly.
"The house is always full OF people,
and my window looks upon the street.
No, Nephew Giuseppe, L shall not DO
murdered"
"Well, | am sure / do not want you
10 be" returned his nephew, but now
that you have shown mo all your trea-
sures. want You to come over in a
couple of days and glance through the
mysteries of Egypt, which will DO I'M
packed by that time"
Willingly, nephew" answered tho
old man. and as / have asked few
friends around here this evening in honor
OF your arrival, / hope you will find it
convenient 10 meet them"
with all my heart" answered Gui-
seppo Voltoni, and at the appointed time
be made his appearance.
The good burghers, like bis uncle,
were at first little prejudiced by the
appearance Of Giuseppe, but when they
heard bis soft accents, and noticed tho
Difference he exhibited to their opinions,
and above all, the silence with which he
sat and smoked--a habit which no had
picked up during his eastern sciourn-
they began 10 melt towards him, and to
say that, after all, beauty was but skin
deep. and that solid good sense was far
better than a fair complexion.
CHAPTER j.
At length all tho Egyptian treasures