Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-12

scrutinized during the voyage and it was
recovered.
During the trip up the Nile the overcoa,
was left in the steamer 40 miles away
hi. Acnorn wore the blue serge suit and
- positively convinced that he did not
carry the matchbox about him
Ot what was about to happen other
Americans then travelling in Egypt are
able TO contribute interesting side lights
OF the mysterious transaction. Says Mr..
Ohm ii. Stevens, of Newark. y. j.
Ihree days before Mr.. Achorn's ar
rval l also had stopped at Luxor, and
WINE there was accosted by u Hndoo,
VINO insisted In a pleasantly courteous
manner on telling me something that was
about to happen. l confess that | was so
impressed by his confident claim OF mystic
power and the soft, splrItua! CLEAN in
MS handsome eyes that | shrank from
lVenturing into the realm of the future"
| what a charming scene II was in the
ancient capital OF Egypt. where Mr.
Achorn recovered his souvenir! Those of
the western world who have no. gg,n
there can little imagine or little grasp It's
impression of romance and mysticism.
| The garden about the hotel al Luxor
answers the description Of the garden so
happily described and frequently referred
to In The Garden OF the Gods" Il wish
1
lerdl nights writes a traveller, under
the moonlight with its magnificent rOyal
palms. Its profuslon Of tropical plants and
flowers Its enchanting walks and re-
treats, its Egyptian color!ng In fragments
.of pillar, cap and statue from the temples
lclose at hand, and in the faces OF those
who came and went-and all this brooded
over by the spirit of the desert and haunt
led by the spectres and memories OF a
civilization three thousand years agone..
| II one might believe that the return OF
the matchbox had any occult significance,
ESPECIALLY because OF DIR. Burnett's love
for the beautiful there Is no place where
this incident might more fifty have hap
lpened.
After dinner Mr.. Achorn was sitting in
the magnificent hotel gardens of Luxor
ienjoyng with friends the coming of night
lover the historic ruins in the desert The
sun had sunk beyond the western hills
| The travellers watched how the Iengthen-
ing shadows cTept over the eastern slopes
though golden glow still spread over the
placid Nile and frightened here and there
the grim cliffs behind which have slept
for thousands OF years the ancient
Pharaohs and their queens, at rest in the
House OF Osiris, god OF the dead. The
Americans listening to the evening chorus
Of frogs by the river and to the Drawing
OF donkeys aud the barking OF dogs, loud
sounding in the heavy night air, were fast
night scenes in this mysterious and ancient
place 50 far from their native land. Beau
uiul as II was to the vision the whole
scene overwhelmed the inner soul with
potent mystery. Suddenly .ne attention
OF the garden group was attracted t. an
approaching Oriental, differentiated from
the Egyptian hotel attendants by a long
robe and a turban. As he neared the
group, the man, who was taken TO be a
Hindoo, centred his gaze upon Mr.. AChOrn,
and. approaching very near. extended his
right hand, as he did 30. declaring in a
low volce:-
This is your matchbox"
Taken 50 completely unawares the
amazed American curiously clutched the
matchbox from the strangers hand lie
turned, mutteT!ng inartlculate words OF
surprise, to say, Where did you GET
But the Hindoo had departed. He had
vanished quite as quickly as he had ap-
peared 10 tho group.
II was no Hpparition. For others In the
garden had seen the stranger Being alb
sorbed In the surprise Of the matchbox.
however, and interested IN the profound
effect the incident had made upon the
Boston lawyer, none had noted the strang-
er's departure. Who he was or whence he
came no Investigation disclosed.
Mr.. AchOrn Immediately pronounced The
matchbox 10 be the one he had lost in
Asheyils during the preceding Christmas
week. It's IAtlerh OF nan turned leaves
growing from q double scroll was readily
as were It's details OF daisies
and leafy vines. Friends with the LAWYER
we're doubtful OF the identification. but
the owner showed them dent in the side
which he had made by accident by striking
II with a rifle during a hunting trip IN
Mexico
- can further verify IT," he said. "Ift
ba mine the inside OF the I'D is burned
black from an accidental firing OF
matches
The recovered matchbox la inside was
fire blackened.
Can Il be-, now muses. the lawyer as ne
MS dDIOly valued souvenir,
that our dead friends preserve an interest
In our worldly d.stresses and have power 20
perform phy3lcal wondSrsf