Connecticut western news., 1900-10-18

worIu ever s;new. He 1t was who made the Nile flow backward for day. When he had lived for 1000 years, he became weary for the want of sleep. He fell into a trance which was not to be broken for 2.0O0 years. The time Is up at o'clock tonight"
 And he will come back to lifeT queried the man, with an incredulous smile.
 "He will. You and your friends will be here to see. I had read of him. and Lwas anxious to get his body. paid large price for it that I may see 1t re- stored to life with my own eyes"
 The Egyptians natural superstition and my earnestness staggered the man. ter by saying:
 Tt Is only few hours to wait. You shall dine with me at 8 o'clock. At 0 my assistant shall unwrap Hassa ssan and bring him to life. Let two of your soldiers watch the coffin meanwhile. If things don't turn out as I say, you shall carry me off prisoner and have S100 In gold as present"
 "So be it," he said after long look at me, "but do not attempt to trick me. 1 am no fool"
 Two soldiers were left to watch the coffin, and in my hearing he warned them that any remissness on their part would be followed by swift punish ment. My living rooms were over the warerooms. When the dinner hour ar rived. had the official and two of his friends to sit down with me. All three of the men had made up their minds that 1 was playing a game of bluff, and they had a curiosity to know how I was going to carry it through. Fifty dollars would have bribed any of them to shut his eyes for year, but in this case they had received their orders di- rect from the minister and dared not trifle with him. They drank sparingly of the wine that they might keep their heads clear. but grew sufficiently good natured to hope that might get out of tbe trouble without serious loss.
 "There will be no trouble" I replied. with calm assurance. "Sonadi Hassas- san has had his sleep and will return to life. and the government will prob ably reward me for restoring such a celebrated man to earth. Come. gen. tlemen, 1t Is time"
 The soldiers had been sitting before the coffin for hours. My assistant was on hand and ready, and we lost no time in getting to work. The coffin was tilted up on end. the body lifted forward so that 1t could be got at, and the wraps were soon removed. I knew that the mummy was a live man. but never had I looked upon the face of subject showing death and the passage of time more plainly. The face would have deceived the wlsest professor In Europe. There were the sunken eyes and cheeks. the loss of teeth and the seal brown color, and I found myself wondering if some mistake hadn't been made. The official and his friend quiet ly chuckled as the business proceeded, and my assistant villain was the only one who was perfectly placid. He did not hurry his work. He was full half hour getting down to the last wrapping. which was a sort of union garment made for the occasion. Then he stepped back with a flourish, picked up a stick and. striking three blows on the coffin, he called out:
 "It Is time. Sonadi Hassassan; 1t Is timev'
 The chest of the mummy began to heave and Its eyes to flutter. Then came long breath and its eyes unclos- ed. The soldiers bolted from the ware house in alright. and the three men re- treated several paces in consternation. Very slowly and without a false mo- ton the mummy gasped and stretched and looked about. A hand went up to rub sleep from its eyes. Then 1t moved uneasily and presently stepped from the coffin. strengthened up and passed out of the door into the night with slow and dignified steps.
 Well" I queried as I turned to the dumfounded trio.
 They stood staring with open mouths, and I had to put hands on them before they came back to earth.
 Did not tell you so? Did not say that after a sleep of 1000 years the great magician would return to lifeT
 They did not answer, but with pale faces and chattering teeth they totter- ed out into the darkness with a mighty fear upon them. I had the agency for two years longer. and there was a con- tinuous boom in the mummy market, but after that incident there was never an official inspection of my stock. The officials could not have been hired for money to poke about In the dark cor ners.