Frederick citizen., 1895-01-11

them covered with coarse dark hair.
The eastern sun had tanned his face
to reddish brown, and the Egyptian
curse, opthalmia, had deprived him of
the sight Of one eye, he wore a full
beard. and heavy mustache hung
over mouth we'll furnished with
white, though very large teeth. The
redeeming quality about him was his
voice, which was soft and very melo-
dious, whether he spoke in the gutter
ais Of the German tongue or the more
musical accents of the land Of his
birth.
II fear" thought the old Dutchman,
that my nephew Giuseppe, will not
find it easy to win the love from off
our pretty damsels, especially when
there are so many handsome students
about"
When, however, Giuseppe began to
talk, the uncle forgot his ugliness, and
marvelled greatly at the varied stores
of knowledge which he possessed.
Though 80 long a dweller in Egypt
Giuseppe was we'll acquainted with all
the articles most in demand in the
European markets, and the old man
soon perceived in spite of his expert
ence. that he might at times pick up
many a useful hint from his nephew.
Cornelius Van Heuvel showed his
nephew all his curiosities, and lastly
opening the famous ebony cabinet, per.
mited Giuseppe to take peep at its
wonderous contents. After Giuseppe
Foltoni had done so. he turned to.
wards his uncle with look Of intense
surprise upon his face. And you
keep these here" said he. "in this un
guarded room?'
Certainly, nephew mine," returned
the old man, with a chuckle, there
are no thieves amongst my friends
and even they have only vague sus
picions Of the contents of the cabinet"
We'll, but you might be robbed
argued his nephew.
Hardly, for l am nearly always sit
ting amongst my property" returned
the Dutchman, land when I go out
my door is fastened with a paddock
which defy the most expert picklock
to OPEN"
"Well, they might come in and mur.
der you," suggested his nephew, grim.
ly.
"The house Is always full of people,
and my window looks upon the street
No, nephew Giuseppe, I shall not be
murdered
"Well, L am sure I do not want you
to be-" returned his nephew, "but now
that you have shown me all your
treasures, 1 want you to come over In
a couple of days and glance through
the mysteries Of Egypt, which will
be unpacked by that time"
Willingly, nephew" answered the
mo- Nd o.,Ir g.,
friends round here this evening, in
honor Of your arrival, hope you will
find it convenient to meet them"
with all my heart" answered Gui
seppe Voltoni, and at the appointed
time he made his appearance
At length all the Egyptian treasures
We're uncovered and Cornelius Van
Heuvel came over to his nephew to
pay the promised visit of inspection
All around the room were glass cases
containing strange relics collected
from the tombs, armlets. rings,
brooches. quantity shaped specimens
of pottery, and several fragments of
papyrus covered with pictures, tho
colors Of which were still bright and
vivid. The gem Of the collection, how
ever. was the mummy of King Ra
meses, which was placed on trestles
in the centre Of the room. 1t was con-
tanned in a gaudily colored case, with
hundreds of little figures. recording
the deceased monarch's exploits, paint
ed upon it.
II intend one day to ask all the
learned men of the town to witness
the opening of the sarcophagus," re-
marked Giuseppe. 1T will be rare
| treat to antiquarians."
Can we not have a peep now?"
suggested Van Heuvel. casting a long,
| ing eye at the box in which the last
of the Shepherd Kings was reposing.
"No. no, let US be fair" returned
his nephew. IT will not delay you
long: see. it is only fastened with
about dozen screws in each side.
which can be removed in five minutes.
Have patience, my good uncle, and
your curiosity shall be gratified"
The old man was fain to content
himself with this promise and after
congratulating his nephew upon his
rare and excellent collection took his
leave.
Giuseppe Voltoni was not such a
stay at home as his uncle Very often
he would shut up his rooms an make
| excursions, sometimes rambling over
| the ruins of the old castle
at others visiting the VOLTS
brunnen. and sometimes even ex-
| tending his excursions as far as SWEET
zingen. with its fountains and gardens,
which turned the little German Schloss
into miniature Versailles. These wan
derings. however were not solitary
ones. He had made several acquaint-
| ances. but the one whose society he
seemed most to affect was a Suabian
student named Heinrich Klippendorf.
In whose company he took great de-
light Klippendorf was very different
form the usual run Of students, he was
not beer drinker or a swordsman.
and was as little known at the orgies
Of the Kneip's az - was at the child
ish sabre play at the Angels Meadow.
He had studied deeply, but his reading
had been principally confined to the
quaint old volumes Of the alchemists.
and the seekers after the PHILOSOPHERS
stone. Upon these, however, he had
grated theory of his own, and this
was that number of small diamonds
when exposed to the solar rays, which
could be collected by gigantic burn
ing glass, could be formed together
into one enormous jewel, such as no
king or kaiser had ever possessed
For many long hours the two men ar.
gued the possibility of this combina-
tion over their pipes, Heinrich for and
Giuseppe against its possibility.
"Well," said the former, laughing
good humoredly, you may some day
be in position to test the thing your
self, for / suppose you will be your