News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-07-12

and Miss Atcomb to quick action
and broke the first spell of horror
and surprise which had fallen upon
them like an incubus. Approaching
the drowned man they drew back in
new surprise, for before them lay, not
the remains of the gray and harmless
professor, a victim to his gallant at
tempt to save young girls life, but
the dead body of the keen-eyed de- |
tective who had Swallowed them |
across the Atlantic. The water in
washing away his wrinkles and in |
stripping him of his gray hair and
long beard told them so much of his |
story that it hardly needed a report
er's notebook found wet and almost |
illegible, in his vest pocket, to prove
that, instigated by Profs. Wisebroad |
and Tichner, an enterprising paper
had engaged this man to follow and
report the details of Karoama's visit
in Egypt.
Anxious for success in his under
taking, he once assumed the disguise
of persistent street beggar, follow
ing Mr.. Atcomb's party for several
miles near Cairo, but as Prof. Barna-
Gle the obstacles to his success were
best removed, and, knowing the fame
which would reward him if he were to
save the drowning Karoama, he risked
all in one throw and lost everything.
Perhaps, too, if the drowned man
were to speak and plead his cause he
would say that Karoama's youth
and beauty, as well as his desire for
fame and success in his enterprise,
were among the influences leading to
the plunge which brought him death.
Roger gazed at the lifeless body
and with a groan turned to one side
saying "NO wonder she disliked
him; she felt the fraud"
Roger" said Miss Mary, trying to
meet the demands of the present, 'go
and hurry into some dry clothes"
but he sat down as if stupefied and
unable to move.
Again the faithful Haggi came to
the rescue, and almost carrying Rog
er below, wrapped him in rugs and
shawls and watched by him through
the night.
Before noon the next day they had
returned to Luxor where the report
er's remains were given to "the au-
thorities," with supply of money
that would secure decent burial and
information to his friends.
"Fate has been kinder in this in
stance than we could haveeXDected,"
said Mr.. Atcomb to his sister, "Or
rather it was the sympathizing Nile
which so kindly erased his every note
that not one word is left to betray
Karoama's history. Had l not sus-
pected their object they would have
been as unintelligible to me as the
sharpest expert will find them now,
and the paper of contract, which,
strangely, is as dry as if it had never
touched water, says: "No notes to
be filed out nor published until re-
turn" so Karoama's story is still
ours"
yet you are sorry he was drown
ed. John ?'' asked Miss Mary.
81 am sorry he was drowned" an
swered Mr.. Atcomb.
Roger was restless and distract and
they were all glad to reach Cairo,
where a doctor was consulted and
told them that Roger was threatened
with long run of fever.
"The young gentleman has been
chilled or exposed to sudden change
of temperature, but he is well built
and naturally strong and may throw
it off. If am not mistaken you have
all been subjected to great mental
shock"
"The doctor is wise, Roger; we have
indeed suffered from great shock
said Miss Mary after the doctor had
gone, ''but in spite of our sadness it
is better it has ended So"
Lingering in Cairo, that they might
grow better accustomed to their loss
before going farther, an American
mail brought them home letters,
among them a letter from Polly Pink
ney, dated the day of Karoama's
loss to them and saying:
"DEAR Miss MARY A most singu-
lar thing has occurred here, but it
may be better not to let Karoama
know that l write you about it. This
morning when passing the house l no.
ticed Thomas just showing two elderly
men land | thought of what Mr.. At
comb had said of gray-haired pro-
fessors) to the door. AS soon as they
had gone down the steps and turned
away Thomas beckoned to me and |
noticed he looked frightened and dis
turbed. What is it, Thomas p |
asked, going up the steps. ooh, heav-
en- help US all, Miss Polly he ex-
claimed. Miss Karo's portrait / And
he led me into the little room where
it hangs and as he opened the shut
tiers for more light for me | saw it
was not there at least the back
ground of ruins and broken columns
still remained and the flowers in the
foreground, but Karoama herself had
faded completely out, leaving nothing
but dry yellow space where she had
been standing. Oh, Miss Mary, my
hair fairly rose on my head with
fright and trembled as badly as
Thomas. He told me the gentlemen
had been to your house once before,
staying to dinner and spending the
evening. They did not leave their