The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-10-10
SOME RELICS FROM
THE NILE
BY c. b. LEWIS

Any one of the reading public of Lon
don could have told yaa that the Hon.
Charles Bingham was man seventy
years old that he had wealth, that he
MAS democratic and rode around ON top
Of omnihuses: that he had fadS; that
the greatest of his fads was picking up
relies and presenting them 10 museums
of natural history throughout the King
dom. There WAS seldom II week that
his name WAS not in the papers, and en-
ter any museum You might and YOU
would he sure To run across cases label
ed with his name and filled with his
gifts
At his own expense the Hon Ring
ham had sent expeditions 10 the four
quarters of the globe, and the only
reason he had not purchased some of
the largest pyramids Of Egypt was be-
cause of the difficulties Of tranSporta-
tom If the chief of an African tribe
had warcluhs for sale the Hon Bling
ham bought them: IL child in the east
end of London found n petrltied bone 1t
could lac turned into cash IN twenty
four hours
Hundreds of persons had taken the
Hon Charles bingham for an easy
mark and sought to work him. Man.
woman or child could find access TO his
house 1T any hour of the day. but as
for taking the old man In with imita-
tons tlIat was different He had made
a few mistakes early IN his career, as
might have been expected but after he
the question with all museums In Eu-
rope. There WIS II weak spot In the
arnur. however, and It was curious
that no ON found 1t ont for many
Years
One day there came To London an
American who had been exploring the
Nile for years lie had letters from
American and British consuls abroad.
He even had one from the secretary of
the khedive himself lie had gathered
many wonderful things during his stay
on tin 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.
lie dropped in ut club or two, said
very little. charmed everybody with his
modestY and refused all interviews
with reporters 1t WAS not until the
Hon Charles had sent one messenger
and then written ii letter over his own
signature that Explorer Blake grudg
ngly consented 10 Il meeting. At that
meeting he named u few of his souye-
Mrs, but only few Nothing whatever
was for sale The whole bag was TO go
to the New York Museum of Natural
History
The attitude of Explorer Blake was
chmllsh. and yet after few days no
softencd enough to invite the Hon.
Charles 10 private inspection Of his
treasures This invitation would not
have been extended to any other man
in the world He appointed the hour
when he would call with carriage and
he was there to the minute. 1t was the
general idea that his stock of finds was
in warehouse, and he WAS supposed
to he stopping at a hotel, but no one
was certain Of these things.
The Hon. Charles didn't care where
he was taken so long as the relies Of
the Nile were At the other end Of the
Journey. H. lid no attention to the
streets they posed through and very
little to the H. ,ltr ut which they finally
arrived. He WAS ushered to the top
story. talking as he went, landed in It
O.. It,YiafaI
by skylght, and when he looked about
for the stock In trade he failed TO find
II. The only furniture in the room
was two old chairs Explorer Blake
took one and lighted cigar, and the
Hon. Charles took the other and won
dered what was coming next He soon
ascertnincd.
MY dear sir | shall be very sorry to
put you to any trouble" began the ex-
plorer, but the fact Is | am hard up
and must raise $50 900. That is 1000
In your money | don't want TO turn
burglar or murderer. want to be
gentle and nice about IT,"
How long have you been planning
this thlng? asked the Hon. Charles as
lie looked around the empty room and
"tumbed" to the fact that he had been
taken in
"All Of six months. and 1t has cost
me considerable hard cash"
"And your figure Is 5000, is itf'
Not n penny less. When you have
given me check for the amount and
the same has been cashcd. you will be
restored to liberty. | shall not demand
as one Of the provisions that you prom
Use not to 20 TO the police about 1t. In
the first place, | have made my ar
rangemcnts TO dodge them, and In the
next you won't care to give yourself
away and be made laughing stock
Of"
You reason logically" replied the
Hon. Charles as he also lighted cigar.
Il have had this house hired for the
last five months. / am supposed to be
a bachelor and fairly well off, having
only man 70 cook and wait upon me
His name IS Thomas, and he Is an ex-
cellent servant You can rest assured
that lie never will bring you into ridl-
Guile over this affair."
ITO sum up. my friend, this is put
up job. ! have been lured here in or
der that ] may be forced to buy my
liberty You want 5000. ! must con
fess that, while the price Is not extrav-
agant, | cannot see my way clear to
paying 1t just now. What conclusion
may come TO after three or four days
| cannot say"
every we'll" replied the explorer. at
Is thirteen feet to the partly opened
skylight, with no chance whatever OF
your reaching II. Thomas viii bring
you bread and water three times a
day, and at night you shall have a
mattress 10 rest on. Three days hence
l shall appear again. There Is no hur-
ry about this thing. After my next
appearance the price Of your liberty
will be added TO at the rate of 900 per
day. You can afford to pay, and / can
afford to wait
1t was . o'clock in the afternoon
when the Hon. Charles Bingham was
left alone IN the garnet room. He did