The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-16
A FORBIDDEN BOOK.

In column of foreign intelligence Mr..
John Burlingame, gentleman, Of Thirty
third stSeet, New York. had read the fol-
lowing item:
"There are widespread traditions Of the
existence of certain subterranean and Inn
mense galleries in the neighborhood of Ish-
monia, the 'petrifed city of Egypt, in
which are stored numberless manuscripts
and rolls of great antiquity and value. For
no amount of money will the Arabs go
near It, At night, they say, from the crew
ices of the desolate ruins, sunk deep in the
unwatered sands of the desert, stream the
rays from lights carried to and fro in the
galleries by other than human hands. The
magic rolls of manuscript buried in this
dead city of the past composed the utera-
ture OF the antediluvian ages, and for q na-
tive to disturb or touch the precious docu-
ments the punishment is death -
The very thingl'' exclaimed Mr.. John
Burlingame, gentleman, as he clapped his
hand upon his knee and dropped his news
paper. He rang for his servant, donned
his greatcoat and hat and drove to the
apartments of the Algonquin club. Some
moments later he was conversing in con-
f1dential tone with Mr.. Walter Grouse and
Mr.. Alfred Barber. Burlingame and his
two friends were college graduates, well
versed in Greek and in Latin and possessed
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, a
brunette, with twinkling black eyes and
hair and mustache of jet. He was just
turning 80. Grouse was short in stature,
rather stout, perfect blond and % years
of age. Barber was little, short individ-
ual, nervous and excitable, with small
head, small eyes, 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
alighted 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 &c
his companions:
cat last we are nearing the famous city
of DID, and if we succeed in bringing to
light the hidden manuscripts we will
astound the world and return to America
famed as discoveries 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. Burlingane
had learned of his presence in the village
the day previous and had sent for him.
The fakir caused small braiser to be
brought into the room, which he proceeded
to feed with live Goals Gradually cloud
of incense rose. Little by little the cloud
assumed a form entirely human, and Bur
ungame and his companions distinguished
specter-they could not call it 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 if they
were reciting prayers. At a given moment
he took pinch of perfumed powder and
threw it upon the Goals. 1t must have been
a strong compound, for a thick smoke
arose upon the instant and filed the room.
AS the smoke settled Burlingane per-
ceived the specter, two steps from him, ex-
tending it's fieshless hand. The young man
took the hand in his and was astonished
to find it, although bony and hard, warm
and living.
cart thou indeed said Burlingame,
''an ancient inhabitant of the earth?''
He had scarcely finished speaking when
the word ''Yes'' appeared and then disap-
peared in letters of fire on the breast of the
old Brahman, with an effect much like
that which the word would produce if writ
ten in the dark with stick of phosphorus.
evil you leave US nothing in token of
your visit?' 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.
the three young men babe each other good
night and retired to their chambers. An
hour later Burlingame became possessed OF
a desire to visit the petrif1ed city of Ish-
nonia alone and in advance of his COM
panions. Later Grouse experienced a like
desire, and still later Barber felt similar
ambition. So at midnight three forms,
each independent of the other, were plod-
ding over the sands of the 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 the sacred city of old, and each of
them found with little difficulty the stone
chest, containing the rare manuscripts and
the scrolls of parchment of the almost for
gotten ages On the cover of the stone box
they each discovered an inscription in
Sanskrit, which read as follows:
THE BOOK OF SECRETS.
Only the. masters of the occult and
final science are allowed to pry into
the mysteries of God the Father.
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RIIt nO%hinp f1aI1nfe7 fhe vO410~ men