Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25

t&QSRI tainly had some odd adventures in my
time; but | can assure you, | never
spent twenty.four queerer hours than those
which passed some twelve months since in the
great unopened Pyramid Of Abu Villa
The way got there was itself very strange
one. had come to Egypt for winter tour
with Ftz-Simkinses, to whose daughter Editha
was at that precise moment engaged. You Will
probably remember that old FitzSimkins be-
longed originally to the wealthy firm of Simkin-
son and Stokoe, worshipful winners; but when
the senior partner retired from the business and
got his knighthood, the College Of Heralds OPP
portuney discovered that his ancestors had
changed their fine old Norman name for its Eng
lish equivalent some time about the reign OF
King Richard L.; and they Immediately author
lied the old gentleman to resume the patronymic
and the armorial bearings of his distinguished
forefathers. It's really quite astonishing how
often these curious condolences crop up at the
College Of Heralds.
OF course, it was a great catch for landless
and brieAess barrister like myself-dependsnt on
a small fortune in South American securities, and
my precarious earnings as a writer Of burlesque-
to secure such a valuable prospective property
as Editha Fitz-SimlJins. To be sure, the girl
was undenisby plain but have known palmer
girls than she was whom forty thousand pounds
converted INTO NV Lanes; ana II bulUnd
really fallen over head and ears in love with
me, suppose old Fitz-Simkins would never have
consented to such match. AS it was, however,
we had hirted 30 openly and so desperately dur
ing the Scarborough season, that it would have
been difficult for Sir Peter to break it off; and
so 1 had come to Egypt on tour of insurance
to secure my prize, following in the wake OF my
future mother-n-law, whose lungs were supposed
to require a genial climate-though in my pri-
vate opinion they were really as creditable pair
of pulmonary appendages as ever drew breath.
Nevertheless, the of our true love did
not run SO smoothly as might have been expect
ed. Editha found me less ardent than devoted
squire should be; and on the very last night of
the old year she got up regulation lovers quar-
rel, because had sneaked away from the boat
that afternoon under the guidance of drag
oman, to witness the amusing performances of
some fair Ghawaz the dancing girls of neigh
boring town. How she found it out goodness only
knows, for / gave that rascal Dimitri five
piasters to hold his tongue; but she did find it
out somehow, and chose to regard it as an of
Tense of the first magnitude; a mortal sin only
TO be expiated by three days of penance and hui.
initiation.
l went to bed that night, in my hammock on
deck, with feelings far from satisfactory We
were moored against the bank at Abu Villa, the |
most pestiferous hole between the cataracts and
the Delta The mosquitoes worse than the
ordinary mosquitoes of Egypt, and that is say
ing great deal. The heat was oppressive even
at night, and the malaria from the lotus beds |
like palpable mist before my eyes Above
all, l was getting doubtful whether Editha Fitz-
Simkins might not after all slip between my
fingers | felt wretched and feverish; and yet
/ had delightful interlusive recollections in be.
&c t1o+1
that exquisite, marvellous, enhancing delicious.
and awfully oriental dance that saw in the
afternoon.
By ,Tove, she was beautiful creature Ewes
like two full moons; hair like Miltons Pcnse-
roso; movements like poem of Swinburns set
to action. If Editha was only faint picture Of
that girl now! Upon my word, l was falling in
love with Ghaziyah!
Then the mosquitoes came again. Buzz-buzz-
buzz. | make lunge at the loudest and big
gest, sort of prima donna in their internal
opera. / kill the prima donna, but ten more
shriD performers come in its place. The frogs
croak dismally in the reedy shadows. The night
grows hotter and hotter still At last | can
stand it no longer. 1 rise up dress myself light
ly, and jump ashore to find some way of passing
the time
Yonder, across the fat lies the great unonened
Pyramid Oh Apu 1lla. we are going tomorrow
to climb to the top; but will take turn to
reconnoitre in that direction now. l walk
across the moonlit fields. my soul still divided
between Editha and the Ghazyah and approach
the solemn of huge, antiquated granite
blocks standing out grmly against the pae
horizon. feel half awake, half asleep, and al
together feverish; but poke about the base in
an aimless sort OF way, with a vague idea that
| may perhaps discover by chance the secret CT
its sealed entrance, which has ere now bafhed
so many pertinacious explorers and learned
Egyptologsts
As | walk along the base ! remember old
Herodotus story, like a page from the Arabian
Nights OF how King Rhampsinitus built him {
self treasury, wherein one stone turned on a
pivot like a door; and how the builder avaled {
himself of this his cunning device to steal gold
from the kings storehouse Suppose the en- t
trance to the unopened Pyramid should he by t
such door 1t would be curious if 1 should
chance to light upon the very spot {
/ stood in the broad moonlight near the north
east angle of the great pile, at the twelfth stone i
from the random fancy struck me C
that might turn this stone by pushing it inward a
on the left side. / leant against it with all nv @
weight, and tried to move it on the imaginary 9
pivot. Did it give way fraction of an inch? t
No, it must have been mere fancy Let me try 9
again. Surely it is yielding! Gracious Osiris 8
1t has moved an inch or more! My heart beats r
fast, either with fever or excitement, and try S
a third time. The rust Of centuries on the pivot q
wears slowly off, and the stone turns ponder c
ously round giving access to low dark passage S
1t must have been madness which led me 10 {
enter the forgotten corridor, alone, without
torch or match. at that hour of the evening. L,t