The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-10-12
nv q. 81. LEWIS

WINS democratic and rode Arounu On w
oe omnIbuses: that he had fads; that
the Rreatest of his fads was picking up
relics and presenting them to museums
Of natural history throughout the KING
| dom There was seldom a week that
his name was not in the papers, ana "
fer any museum you might ana you
,,orIti IL, Eure to run across cases label
ed with his name and hIEed Witn ns
gifts.
A. his own expense the Hon. Bing-
nam had sent expeditions to the four
quarters of the globe, and the only
reason he had not purchased some OF
the largest pyramids OF Egypt was ne
canse OF the difficulties OF Transports
flor. II the chief OF an African tribe
had warclubs for sale the Hon. blns-
ham bought them; if a child IN the east
end Of London found petrified bone It
couId be turned into cash in twenty
| four hours.
Hundreds of persons had taken me
Hon Charles Bingham for an easy
mark ana sought to work him Man.
woman or child could find access 20 MS
house at any hour Of the day, nut as
for taking the old man in with in1ita-
lions. that was different. BE had maze
few mistakes early in his career as
might have been expected, but after no
| had passed fifty his decisions settled
Ihe question with all museums In EN-
rome There was weak spot in the
arnor. however, and it was curious
that no one found 1t out for many
years.
| one dav there came to London an
| American who had been exploring the
Nile for years. He had letters from
! American and British .consuls abroad.
He even had one from the secretary OF
fine kbellye himself He had gathered
| many wonderful things during his stay
on the banks OF the historic stream.
He must have known of the Hon.
/ CHARLES Bingham, but he did not call
upon the man or open correspondence.
] He dropped in at club or two, SAID
very little, charmed everybody with ms
modesty and refused all interviews
with reporters. 1t was not until tho
Hon. Charles had sent one messenger
and then written letter over his own
signature that Explorer Blake grudg
Ingly consented to u meeting. AT th1t
meeting he named few of his souve-
Mrs. butonly a few. Nothing whatever
| was for sale, The whole bag was to so
| to fine New York Museum of Natural
History.
The attitude of Explorer Blake was
churlfsh, and yet after a few days ne
softened enough to invite the Hon.
! Charles 10 a private inspection OF MS
| treasures This Invitation would NOT
| bnve been extended to any other man
| in the world. He appointed the hour
when he would call with cnrrtaSe. ana
! he was there to the minute. 1t was the
general idei-tllat his stock OF hnds was
in n warehouse, and he was supposed
to be stopping at hotel, but no one
was certain of these things.
The Hon. Charles didn't care wheFe
he was taken, so long as the relics OF
tho Mic were Mt the other end of the
| tourney. He paid no attention to the
| streets they passed through and very
| UttIe to the house at which they finally
| arrived He was ushered to the top
| story. talking as he went, landed In
room about twelve feet square lighted
| nv a sxyllght. and when he looked about
| for. the stock In trade he failed to hnd
g. rho only furniture in the room
wns two old chairs. Explorer Blake
| took one and lighted cigar, ana Gne
Hon. Charles took the other ana won
| dered what was coming next. he soon
ascertained.
.eMy dear sir, l shall be very sorry 70
nut you to any trouble" began the eN-
| DlOrer, "DuC Cne IHGb 10 teAA4 - - 49,.
| ana must rNfse sos, goo. Tint Is 30,ooO
in vour money. 1 don't want to turn
burglar or murderer want 10 Oe
gentle and nice about IT.
"How long have you been planning
| +F,Is thinrT' asked the Hon. Charles as
he looked around the empty room and
"tumbled" to the fact that he had been
taken in.
"AI of six months, and it has cost
me considerable hard cash"
"And your figure is $4,000, Is itT
..Not a penny less. When you have
| given me a check for the amount ana
the same has been cashed. you VIII pc
| restored to liberty. shall not demand
as one of the provisions that you prom
Use not to go to. the police about It. In
the first place, / have made my ar
| rangements to dodge them and In the
next YOU won't care to give yourself
l away and be made a laughing stock
Of"
.sYou reason logically" replied the
Hon. Charles as he also lighted n cigar.
'.I have had this house hired for the
last I'VE months. / am supposed to be
a bachelor and fairly well OIL, having
| only a mauto cook and wait upon me.
His name is. Thomas. and he is an eX-
celIent servant You can rest assured
that he never will bring you into rtdi-
Guile over this affair"
stTo sum up. my friend, this is put
up Job I have been llIred here In or
der that may be forced to buy my
liberty. You want sJ.Ooo l must con-
fess that, while the price is not eXtrav-
ngant cannot ace my way clear to
payIng It just now. What conclusion
NAV come to after three or fcur days
IN cannot say"
..N-,s.., 1y.,.tI' rNItlitsl 80 explorer. =