The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18

, certain high authorities gave out that
the vase had been recovered, and that
none of the night staff were IN any way
implicated ~ It's disappearance.
Whatever. tho true explanation. and
the secret was jealously guarded by the
highly placed officials. who alone knew
the truth, suffice that the Egyptian room
was again thrown open and the Rienzi
vase shown to be reposing In its usual;
position
Now that again stands In its place
for nll to see, there can be no objection
to my relating how once held the ia
nous ltienzi vase in my possession for
twelve days. ] am u person OF keenly
observant character, and my business is
to detect vital wcnknesses In great in
stitutlons and to charge a moderately
high fee for my services.
l knew that body OF picked police
promenaded the museum at night and
that each OF the rooms was usually In
charge OF the same man. learned.
later that there We're three bodies of
men. so that the same police were In
the museum but one week in every
three.
The first policeman found who pa
raded the Egyptian room ut night was
short and thickset. and I gave him nm
| as a bad job. ! learned from him. how
ever. who was tn occupy the post during
the coming week. and presently ] mn
earthed the private bar which this Latter
officer, his name was Smith. used
Eureka! he was tall and thin like my,
self.
Every night throughout the rest Of
the week / spent in this constable,s
company. studying his somewhat COL
orless personality. Then one afternoon
I entered the museum disguised. went
up TO the Egyptian room to assure my.
self that certain mummy case had not
been removed, and having found 1t 10
occupy its usual Pace, descended to
the Etruscan basement
For half an hour l occupied myself
there, but the commissionare never,
Eudgcd from his chair. Luckily. an
incident occurred to serve my purpose.
The chief attendant appeared at the
head of the steps "Roblns!" he called.
Robins ran brlskly upstairs at his cal,
and then--in Is seconds my transforma-
ton was complete. Gone were the weedy
| gray beard and inustache--gOnest the seedy
black garments and, behold, l was at
tired In mummy wrappings!
Into the empty snrcoplagus at the
further end of the room. u hideous rub
ber mask slipped over ....y features and
| attached behind the ears. my arms stif-
fened and my hands concealed in the
wrappings. and was long-dead mum
my-witll Il neat leather case hidden be-
meath my arched back.
Erisll work / assure you: but one
grows accustomed to 1T In time. Tho
commisslonaire entered the room very
shortly afterwards. He had not seen
me go out, but, as j expected, neither
! was he absolutely sure that ! had not
done so. He pecred about suspicionsly..
Gut did not mind. The real ordeal
came a couple of hours later when u
police officer shone h. lantern into all
the tombs.
For moment my heart seemed to.
cease beating as the light shone on my
rubber countenance. But he was salts
fed, this stupid policeman. and I heard
his footsteps. retreating to the door. u
allowed him time to getStoathe top. and,
Bextinguish the light in the Etruscan.
room, and then 81. "a. was out OF my
tomb and Hidden In the little niche i'm
inediately beside the foot of the stairs.
III coughed loudly. Heavens! Flo came
back down tile steps with such velocity
that he was carried halfway along tho.
room. He began to thinei Ills lantern:
into tho tonlbs again; but before he had
examined the first of them I WAS ups.
stairs in5the Roman gallery.
Poor. Constable Smith, was sorry
to have to act so.9 but ten minutes al ter;
the closing of the doors OF communities
8tion5 of tho Egyptian room I came on
ahims from behind. g had "a pad ready
in my hand, sat urated with the contents
OF a h small Ephinl TINT lad posed IN
my mummy garments. .F;s ssI-s
85 Il thrust my knee in his spine and
seized his hands. by: n trick which you
may, learn for IL pescta my day In ttllsS
purlicus of n Tang ier.Ss Al muscular man,
...,..-.- 80 ..-.