Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-20
A CONVICT'S YARN.

Egyptology in the days when was at
college, before / took to the profession
which I followed for many years, was my
chief delight, and to the fact that was a
student of the ways of ancient Egypt
owed one of the luckiest hauls of my life.
1t fell out in this way: We had long
turned our eyes with ardent looks toward
the establishment of Mr.. Pontifex, jeweler
and valuer, of Moore Lane, city, the con-
tents of whose shop were said to be worth
some 100000.
Mr.. Pontifex, in addition to being
jeweler and yaluer, was also bit of an
enthusiast on Egyptian relics, and one Of
ten saw para graphs in the paper regarding
recent additions made to his Egyptian
museum at Norwood.
One day my chum, Dick Herring,
lounged into my room smoking a clay and
reading newspaper.
"Listen to this, guv'nor. Seems a
waste, doesn't it?''
Fire away" returned, "and I'll give
you my opinion afterward.
"'We understand that Mr.. Christopher
Pontifex, the well known jeweler of Moore
Lane, E. c., has just ordered % mummy
from Messrs. Wood & Sons, the curiosity
dealers The mummy is supposed to be
the remains of Ptolemy III, and there is no
doubt that there will be great rush on
the part Of all Psychologists to the Ponti-
fex museum to see the new importation
from the land Of the Pharaohs. The
paragraph then went on to say that 81 900
had been stated as the price Of the mum
my in question.
"Ain't that a waste o. money!" he said
angrily, "and all on the mummy of a
bloke as died thousands and thousands of
years ago. Still, shouldn't mind chang
in places with that ere mummy, purvidin,
O. course, that it was to be lodged over the
shop. What ho!" he concluded, with a
wink at me.
laughed. II agree with you," / said.
II shouldn't have any objection at all to
changing places with the mummy, say
between the hours Of midnight and 2 a..
M, but don't quite see how it's to be
done.
HMore don't I, guy nor" returned Dick
modify.
He then relapsed into silence blowing
great clouds from his pipe, and the bust
ness passed out of my mind. 1t was re-
called to me, however, in a very sudden
manner some two months later, when,
passing down street near the Strand,
espied close to pillar box letter already
stamped and addressed for posting, but
which had evidently missed the box and
fallen to the ground. Acting on the prin-
ciple 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 g. Sons and was
addressed to Mr.. Pontfex. This is what it
said:
DEAR SIR-The mummy to your esteemed
order has now arrived at southampton, and
we expect it in London tomorrow. Will you
kindly say if we can deliver same tomorrow
afternoonp We understand the mummy is to
be deposited first of all on your premises ct
Moore lane. Awaiting your reply, we are,
yours very obediently, WooD g. Son.
As read these words happy thought
flashed across my brain, and ! resolved to
put 1t into execution at once. Going
straight to telegraph office in the city
sent the following message to Wood & Sons:
Leaving London for few days Retain
mummy till further notice. PoNTTFEx.
The message having been duly dis
patched, took my way at once to my
lodgings, where found my chum, Her
ring, sitting disconsolately on the sofa.
Buck up, Dick, my lad!'' cried II
think we're in luck at last. Read that
letter"
/ handed him the note which had
picked up near the pillar box, and he read
| 1t carefully. Then he said:
"Where's the luck in this, guy 'nor?"
"What would you say If I told you that
| intended to impersonate the mummy
which Mr.. Pontifex has ordered, and that,
moreover, intend to carry off all that
| can lay my hands on during the night fol
lowing my being delivered into his keep
ingp"
He smiled incredulously.
| "Hows it to be done, guvnor? It's q
Knockout plan of course, but how's it to be
donep''
at will be by no means an easy task,
/ made answer, land it's risky, but ii
may be done with care and discretion.
Being extremely thin, I have the make
up of an ideal mummy. The first thing
we have to obtain is an ancient mummy
coffin, which will 60 and buy at once. !"
then proceeded to the establishment Of
| the Messrs Woods, where boughtan imi
| tation coffin. The real article would have
been exceedingly dear, and SO contented
| myself with a colorado imitation. Deep
down in huge recess l packed a long
/ oyercoat with capacious pockets, few
necessary tools, a lantern with matches
| and few other handy appliances
This being done, obtained quantity
of butter cloths In which | was to be
swathed. To give the same an ancient
| and brownish appearance smoked them
! at the fire, the effect after that process be-
Ing admirable.
Herring gave me valuable service, and
| We also enlisted the help Of Jack Tovey,
an ingenious youngster who had Otter
done good work for us In days gone by,
He showed himself an apt pupil at thu
mummy business, and when had re-
hearsed the attaching of the butter cloths
| to Herring's figure, as an example OF the
manner in which 1t should be done, he ex.
pressed himself as being quite able to dc
the game office for me when the time came.
1t was a dangerous game, and only too
we'll did l know it, but determined tc
hone for the best and trust to the luck
| which always seemed to belong to me.
determined to lose no time In carrying
out the scheme because, although delays
are dangerous everywhere, they are espe.
cially so In our profession. therefore or.
ranged that should be conveyed to Mr.,
Pontifex's house III Moore lane arrayed
as the mummy to his order on the follow.
ing afternoon, Friday.
\ Fortunately the weather was very