The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-24
A CONYICT's YARN.

iSSSiNi WEIGH L lOilOWeu LOT many
years was my chief delight, and to
ways OF ancient Egypt | owed one of
the luckicst hauls OF my life.
1t fell out in this way: We had long
turned or eyes with ardent looks to-
ward the establishment of Mr.. Ponti-
lex. jewelcr and Walter, of 2 Moore
Lone, city, the contents of whose shop
were said to lie worth some 100000
Mr. PcntifcX. in addition to being
Jeweier and valuer. was also Il bit OF
an enthusiast on Egyptian relics. and
one often saw paragraphs 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 a newspaper.
Listen to this, guv'nor Seems a
waste, doesn't it?"
Fire away" l returned, land I'll
give you my opinion afterward."
We understand that Mr.. Christie
pher Pontifex, the we'll 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
ii, and there is no doubt that there
will be great rush on the part of all
Psychologists to the Pontifex museum
to see the new Importation from the
land of the Pharaohs.' The para
graph then went on to say that CT 900
had been stated as the price of the
mummy in question
Amt that a waste o money!" he
said angrily, and all on the mummy
of bloke as died thousands and thou
sands of years ago. Still, l shouldn't
mind changin' places with that ere
mummy, purvidin' O. course, that il
was to be lodged over the shop. What
ho!" he concluded with wink at me.
L laughed. II agree with you"
said. Il shouldn't have any objection
at all to changing places with the
mummy, say between tile hours of mid
night and 2 a. M. but | don't quite
see how it's to be done"
More don't l, guv'nor,' returned
Dick modify.
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 Guwn Il street
near the Strand esrieu close to
pillar box letter already stamped
and addressed for posting, but which
had evidently missed the box and fall
an to the ground. Acting on the prin-
ciple which has always led me to OBJ
ain as much knowledge as ! can, |
opened the envelope and was aston
shed to find that it was from Messrs.
Wtad & Sons and was addressed 10
Mr.. PontifeX. This is what it said:
Dear Sr-The mummy TO your es-
.ecmed order has now arrived at
southampton and we expect it in Lon
don tomorrow. Will you kindly say
f we can deliver same tomorrow after
aeon? We understand the mummy is
20 be deposited first of all on your
premises at Moore Lane. Awaiting
your reply, we are, yours very ODE
liently, WOOD & SON.
AS | read these words happy
thought flashed across my brain. and
| resolved to put it into execution at
once. Going straight to telegraph
office in the city | sent the following
message to Wood & Sons:
Leaving London for Il few days re-
tain mummy till further notice
PONTIFEX.
The message having been duly dis
patched took my way at once to my
lodgings, where ! found my chnm.
Herring. sitting disconsolately on the
sofa
Buck up, Dick, my lad" l cried. Il
think we're in luck at last. Read that
letter"
handed him the note which had
picked mp 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 | intended to impersonate the
! mummy which Mr. pontifex has or
/
garry off all that I can lay my hands
On during the night following my be-
ing delivered into his keeping?"
He smiled incredulously
'How's it to be done, guvnor? It's
= knockout plan of course, but how's
it to be done?"
1T will be by no means an easy
task" I made answer, land it's risky,
but it may be done with care and dis
erection. Being extremely thin, | have
the make up of an ideal mummy. The
flrst thing we have to obtain is an an
clent mummy coffin, which | will go
and buy at once"
then proceeded to the establish
ment of the Messrs Woods. where [
bought an imitation coffin. The real
article would have been exceedingly
dear, and so l contented myself with
colorado imitation. Deep down in a
huge recess 1 packed a long overcoat
with capacious pockets. few necessa-
ry tools. lantern with matches and
few other handy appliances.
This being done. obtained guam
tlty of butter cloths in which ! vas To
be swathed. To give the same an an
cient and brownish appearance II
smoked them at the fire. the effect aft
| n hat ls1..~