The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-08
SOME RELICS FROM
TIE Nile
By C. D. LEWIS
Copyright, 1905, by NJ. NJ. Cunningham

Charles Bingham was man seventy
years old; that he had wealth; that he
was democratic and rode around ON top
of omnibuses; that he had fads; that
the greatest of his fads was picking up
relies and presenting them to museums
of natural history throughout the king
dom. There was seldom week that
his name was not in the papers, ana en-
| ter any museum YOU might and YOU
would be sure to run across cases label
ed With his name and filled with bis
| gifts.
At his own expense the Hon. Bing
ham 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 be-
cause of the difficulties of transporta-
| ton. If the chief of an African tribe
| had warcluGs for sale the Hon. Bling
| ham bought them; if child in the east
end of London found petrified bone it
could be 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 at any hour of the day, but as
for taking the old man in with imita-
| tons, that was different. He had made
few mistakes early in his career. as
might have been expected, but after lie
had passed fifty his decisions settled
4 the question With all museums in Eu-
| rope There was a weak spot in the
1 aimor, however. and it was curious
that no one found it out for many
| years
One day there came to London an
American who had leen exploring the
4 Nile for years lie had Letters from
4 American and British consuls abroad.
He even had one from the secretary of
the lihe(live himself. He had gathered
many Wonderful things during his stay
on the banks OF the historic stream.
lie must have known of the Hon.
| Charles Bingham, but he did not call
/ upon the man or open correspondence.
FIa dropped in at q club CT two said
mcdesty and refused all Interviews
With reporters. 1t was not until the
Hon. Charles had sent one messenger
and than written a letter over his own
/ signature that Explorer Blake grudg
ins.y consented to a meeting. At that
meeting he named Il few of his souvc-
Mrs, but only IL 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
churlish, and yet after a few days he
/ softencd enough to invite the Hon
Charles to 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 a warehouse, and he was supposed
to be stopping at hotel. but no one
was certain of these things.
; The Hon Charles didn't care where
he was taken, SO long as the relics of
the Nile We're at the other end Of the
Journey He paid no attention to the
streets they passed through and very
little to the house at which they finally
! arrived. Ee was ushered to the top
story. talking as he went, landed in q
room about twelve feet square lighted
by a skylight, and when he looked about
for the stock in trade he failed to find
it. The only furniture in the room
3 was two old chairs Explorer Blake
t took one and lighted cigar, and the
Hon. Charles took the other and won
dered what was coming next He soor
ascertained.
S My dear sir, shall be very sorry tt
+ put you to any trouble began the ex
Y plorer, ''but the fact is l am hard ur
n and must raise $4,000. That is $4,000
i in your money. l don't want to turl
e burglar or murderer. l want to b.
j gentle and nice about it."
Il How long have you been planrin:
y this thing?' asked the Hon. Charles a.
y he looked around the empty room ant
v '.tumbled' to the fact that he had beef
\ taken in.
l. "All of six months, and it has cos
l. me considerable hard cash.
k And your figure is $4,000, is it?'
d Not penny less. When you hav,
Il given me check for the amount ant
b the same has been cashed you will b
l. restored to liberty. ! shall not demans
as one Of the provisions that you prom
Use not to go to the police about it. Il
the first place, have made my al
engagements to dodge them, and in th
next you won't care to give yourself
away and be made laughing stool
Of
I ''Ycu reason logically" replied til,
Hon. Charles as he also lighted cigar
\ Il nave had this house hired for thu
last five months. l am supposed to b.
a bachelor and fairly well off, hayin.
n n only man to cook and wait upon me
:. His name is Thomas, and he is an ex
o cellent servant. You can rest assured
that he never will bring you into ridi
Guile over this affair."
ITO sum up, my friend, this is a pu
y w io1, hovo hoop l,,rod I.nro In ~,