Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-09-16

later, when. passing down street
near the Strand, espied close to
pillar box letter already stamped ana
addressed for posting, but which had
evidently missed the box and fallen TO
the ground. Acting on the principle
which has always led me to obtain as
much knowledge as can, opened the
envelope and was astonished to find
that it was from Messrs. Wood 4 Sons
and was addressed to Mr.. PontifeX.
This is what it said:
Dear Sir-The mummy to your esteem
ed order has now arrived ut Southampton,
and we expect it in London tomorrow.
Will you kindly say if we can deliver same
tomorrow afternoon? We understand
the mummy is to be deposited first OF all
on your premises at Moore Lane. Await
ing your reply, we are, yours very obedl-
entity, WOOD 4 sun.
AS read these words happy
thought flashed across my brain, and
1 resolved to put it into execution at
once. Going straight to a Telegraph
office in the city l sent the following
message to Wood & Sons:
Leaving London for few days retain
mummy till further notice.
PONTIFEX.
The message having been duly dis
patched, took my way at once to my
lodgings, where I found my chum,
Herring, sitting disconsolately on the
sofa.
Buck up, Dick, my lad!' I cried. II
think we're in luck at last. Read that
letter."
handed him the note which I had
picked up near the Pillar box. and he
read it carefully. Then he said:
"Where's the luck in that, guv'nor"
what would you say If told you
that l intended to impersonate the
mummy which Mr.. Pontifex has order
ed, and that, moreover, intend to car
ry off all 1i.at can lay my hands on
during the night following MY being
delivr,e ed into his keeping?'
lie smiled ihcrcduiously.
"How's it to be done. guv'nor? It's
knockout plan, of course, but hows
it to be done:'
ut will be by no means an easy
task made answer, land it's risky
but it may he done with care and dis
erection. Being extremely thin, have
the make up of an ideal mummy. The
first thing we have to obtain is an au
cient mummy coffin, which l will 60
and buy at once"
I then proceeded to the establish
ment Of the Messrs Wood where
bought an imitation coffin. The real
article would have been exceedingly
dear and so l contented myself with a
colorado imitation. Deep down n .
huge recess packed long overcoat
with capacious pockets, few neces-
sary tools, lantern with matches and
Il few other handy appliances.
This being done, I obtained guam
:ity Of butter cloths in which l was to
L.. swathed To give the same an an
cient and brownish appearance l
smoked them at the fire, the effect af-
ter that process being admirable.
Herring gave me valuable service,
and we also enlisted the help Of Jack
Tovey. an ingenious youngster who
had often done good work for us in
days gone by.
He showed himself an apt pupil ut
the mummy business. and when l had
rchearsed the attaching of the butter
cloths to Herring's figure. as an eXau-
ple of the manner in which 1T should
be done. he expressed himself as being
quite able to do the same office for me
when the time came.
1t was a dangerous game. and only
too we'll did l know it. but l detsr-
mined to hope for the best and trust 10
the luck which always seemed to be-
long to me.
determined to lose no time in car
rying out the scheme because, al
though delays are dangerous every
where. they are, especially so In our
profession. therefore arranged that
l should he conveyed to Mr.. Pontifex's
house in Moore Lane arrayed as the
mummy to his order on the following
afternoon, Friday.
Fortunately the weather was very
gloomy at the time and King Fog was
over all things.
We engaged spring cart to convey
the coffin containing me to Moore
Lane, and at o'clock on Friday af-
ternoon we set out, my chums and I.
In speaking Of myself l should, per-
haps. use the word it for never did
any live man present so dead an ap-
pearance as l on that occasion. II it
had not been for fear Of bursting some
of the butter cloths should have broL-
en- out into hearty laughter, for the
whole affair seemed me one of the
finest comedies on record.
At length the coffin was duly demos
| tied in the room, and then l heard
Pontifex tell the car men to withdraw
the lid. This they did, and then I
could feel that the jeweler was gazing
at me fixedly, and knew that If detec-
| ton were to come it would come now.
| Thank heaven, it did not come! On
the contrary, the worthy dealer in pre-
| nj e,fn T..