The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-30
ISHMONlA'S CURSE.

John Burlingamc, gentleman, OF Thirty
third street, New York, had read the fol-
lowing item:
There aro widespread traditions OF the
existence OF certain Subterranean and i'm
Inense galleries in tho nelghborhood OF
1shmenia, tito petrified city Of Egypt, In
which are stored numherloss manuscripts
and rolls OF great antiquity and value.
For no amount Of money viii the Arabs
go near It. At night, thoy say, from the
crevices OF the dssolate ruins, sunk deep In
the unwatered sands OF tho desert, stream
the rays from lights carried to and fro In
the galleries by other than human hands
The magic rolls OF manuscripts buried In
this dead city Of the past composed the
literature Of the antediluvian ages, and
for native to disturb or touch the pre-.
oious documents sthepunishmentis Is death.
"The very thingi' exclaimed Mr.. John
Burlingame, gentleman, as he clapped his
hand upon his knee and dropped his news
paper. He rang for his servant, donned
bis great coat and hat and drove to the
apartments OF the Algonquin club. Some
moments later he was convsrsing in con-
fidential tone with Mr.. Walter Grouse and
Mr.. Alfred Barber Burlingame and his
two friends were college, graduates, well
versod in Greek and In Latin and pos.
sessed Of a smattering Of Sanskrit and
other languages OF centuries long past.
They were gentlemen of leisure, with any
amount Of time and money at their COM
mand.
Burlingame was tall and dignifed, o
brunette, with twinkiing black eyes and
hair and mustacbe of Jet. He was just
turning 80. Grouse was short In stature,
rather stout, perfect blond and 2S years
Of age Barber was little, short individ-
ual, nervous and excitable, with a small
head, small eyes, "a small mustache and
small goatee. He was two years younger
than his friend Grouse. Burlingame en-
Unused them with an idea, and after hur-
ried preparations the three young men
aliphted at the wharf OF the White Star
line Of steamers one morning In May,
1881.
In the following August the young men
found themselves in Egypt, and one night
while encamped in native village In the
region Of Ishmonia Burlingame said to his
companions:
"At last we are nearing the famous city
OF old, and IL we succeed In bringing TO
light the hidden manuscripts we will
astound the world and return to America
famed as dlscoverers and scientists.
Burlingame had for some years devoted
time and study TO the occult sciences and
had become deeply interested in the per-
formances OF the native fakirs in India
and Egypt Upon this August evening as
the young men smoked their pipes in
their humble quarters there was ushered
into their presence native fakir. Bur
lingame had learned of his presence In the
village the day previous and had sent for
him.
The fakir caused small braiser to be
brought inta the room, which he proceeded
TO feed with live Goals. Gradually a cloud
of incense rose. Little by little the cloud
assumed form entirely human, and Bur-
lingame and his companions distinguished
a specter-they could not call IL otherwise
the specter of an old Brahman, kneeling
near the brasier. He bore upon his fore
head the signs OF Vishnu and around his
body the triple cord, sign Of the initiates
of the priestly caste. He Joined his hands
above his head as his lips moved as IL
they were reciting prayers. At given
moment he took a pinch of perfumed pow
dor and threw IL upon the Goals. 1t must
have been a strong compound, for thick
smoke arose upon the instant aud filled
the room.
AS the smoke settled Burlingame per-
ceived the spector, two steps from him, ex-
tending its feshless hand. The young
man took the hand in his and was aston
ished to find il, although bony and hard,
WARM and living
cart thou indeed" said Burlingame,
San ancient inhabitant Of the earthi"
He had scarcely finished speaking when
the word "Yes" appeared and then Gisap-
peared in letters of fire on the breast Of
the old Brahman, with an effect much like
that which the word would produce il
written in the dark with a stick Of phos-
phorus.
"Will you leave us nothing In token Of
your visitf" continued Burlingame.
The specter broke the triple cord, COM
posed of three strands of cotton, which be-
girt his loins, and gave to the young man
three pieces for himself and companions
Then his eyes closed, and sinking down
upon the mating the specter gradually
vanished.
With the fragments Of cord in their
hands the three young men bade each
other good night and retired to their
chambers. An hour later Burlingamo be-
came possessed of desire TO visit the pet
rifled city of Tshmonia alone and In ad-
NdnCc OF his companions. Ialer SrOuse
experienced a like desire, and still later
Barber felt similar ambition. So at
midnight three forms, each independent
of tho other, were ploddipg over the sands
of tho desert TO the sunken city, the ruins
of which could be seen in the distance In
the bright light OF the Egyptian moon.
One after another the three Americans
entered tho sacred city of old, and each OF
them found with little difficulty the stone
chest, containing the rare manuscripts
and rhc scrolls of parchment Of the almost
forgotten ages. On the cover of the stone
box they eacl discovered an inscription In
Sanskrit, which read as follows:
THE BOOK OF SECRETS.
Only the masters Of the occult and final
science arc allowed 20 pry into the mys.
tories of God the Fathor.
But, nothing daunted, the young men
each in turn read and pondered over the
long hidden mysteries. When Burlingame
left the gateway of the ancient city, he
saw the shadow of Grouse not far away.