Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-08-21
The jewelers. Mummy.
BY PHILIP BEAUF0Y.


was at college, before took to
the profession which | followed for
many years, was my chief delight, and
to the fact that | was a student of the
ways OF ancient Egypt l owed one OF
tho luckiest huuls of my life.
1t fell out in this way. We had long
turned our eyes with ardent looks to-
wards the establishment of Mr.. Ponti-
fen. ieweler and Naluer, of Moore
Lane. city. the contents of whose shop
were said to be worth some 10000.
MIR. Pontifex. in addition to being n
jcweler and valuer, was also bit of an
enthusiast on Egyptian relics and one
often saw paragraphs in the paper re-
garding recent additions made to his
Egyptian museum at Norwood.
One day my chum, Dick Herring,
lounged into my room, smoking clay
and reading a newspaper.
Listen to this. guv'nor. Seems Il
waste, doesn't it?"
Fire away | returned, "and I'll
give you my opinion afterwards"
"'We understand that Mr.. Christie
pher Pontifex, the well-known ieweler
OF Moore lane, Il. c., has just ordered
mummy from Messrs. Wood q Sons,
the curiosity dealers The mummy is
supposed to be the remains of Ptolemy
H., and there is no doubt that there
will be great rush on the part of all
Psychologists to the PontifeN museum
to see the new importation from the
land of the Pharaohs. Il -"
The paragraph then went on to say
h,,
price of the mummy in question.
'Aint that waste o money! he
said angrily; land all on the mummy
of bloke as died thousands and thou
sands of years ago. Still. | shouldnt
mind changin' places with that ere
mummy. purvidin', o course. that it
was to be lodged over the shop. What
ho!" he concluded, with wink at me.
laughed "Iagree with you,'' said;
81 shouldn't have any objection at all
to changing places with the mummy.
say, between the hours of midnight
and two a. IN. But | don't ute see
how it's to be DONE"
More don't /, guv'nor,' returned
Dick, moodily.
He then relapsed into silence, blow
ing great clouds from his pipe. and the
business passed out of my mind. 1t
was recalled to me, however. in very
sudden manner some two months later.
when. passing down street near the
Strand, | espied close TO pillar box
a letter already stamped and addressed
for posting, but which had evidently
missed the box and fallen to the ground
Acting on the principle which always
led me to obtain as much knowledge as
can, l opened the envelope, and was
astonished to find that it was from,
Messrs. Wood & Son, and it was ad-
dressed to Mr.. PontifeN. This is what il
said:
Dear Sir: The mummy to your esteemed
order has now arrived at Southampton
and we expect 1t in London tomorrow
VIII yon 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. Awaiting
your reply we are yours very obediently,
WOOD & SON"
AsI read these words a happy thought
flashed across my brain, and | resolved
to put it into execution at once. Going
straight to telegraph office in the city,
l sent the following message to Wood
Son; Leaving London for few
days. Retain mummy till further no.
tice.-Pontifex."
The message having been duly dis
patched, | took my way at once to my
lodgings, where L found my chum, Her
ring, sitting disconsolately on the sofa.
think were in luck at last. Read that
letter"
l handed him the note which l had
picked up near the pillar box, and he
read it carefully. Then he said:
Where's the luck in this, guy nor 2"
What would you say if | told you
that | intended to impersonate the
mummy which Mr.. Pontifex has or
dered, and that, moreover, intend to
carry off all that l can lay my hands on
during the night following my being
delivered into his Keeping"
II" smiled incredulously.
lows it to be done, guv'nor? It's a
kout plan, o course, but how's it
done?"
II will be by no means an easy task," ,"
/ made answer, land it's risky But il
may be done with care and discretion.
Being extremely thin, l have the make
up of an ideal mummy. The first thing
we have to obtain is an ancient mummy
coffin, which L will go and buy at once"
| then proceeded to the establishment
OF Messrs. Woods, where bought an inn
itation coffin. The real article would
have been exceedingly dear, and so 1
contented myself with colorado imi-
tation. Deep down in a huge recess |
packed long oyercoat with capacious
pockets, few necessary tools, Ian
tern with matches, and few other
handy appliances.
This being done, / obtained a guam
tity of butter cloths in which was to be
swathed. To give the same an ancient
and brownish appearance, smoked
them at the fiyo, the effect after that
process being admirable