The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-31
TIE EVENING STORY
some &c E7IsoIll &c sic.


don could have told you that the Hon.
Charles Bingham was man seventy
years old. that he had wealth; that ne
was democratic and rode around on tor
of o4nnibusses; that he had fadss that
the greatest of his fads was picking up
relics and presenting them to museums
of natural history throughout the King
dom. There was seldom q week that
his name was not IN the papers, and en-
ter any museum you might and you
would be sure to run across cases
labeled with his name and filed with
his gifts.
At his own expense the Hon. Bingham
had sent expeditions to the four quar-
tiers of the globe, and the only reason
he had not purchased some of the larg-
est pyramids of Egypt was because of
the difficulties of transportation. II the
chief of an African tribe had warclubs
for sale the Hon. Bingham bought
them; If child in the East end
of London found a petrifed 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 fol
taking the old mau in with mutations
few mistakes early in his career, as
might nave beer expected, but after he
had passed fifty his decisions settled the
question with all museums in Europe
There was a weak spot in the armor-
however, and 1t was curious that no
one found it out for many years.
One day there came to London an
American who had been exploring the
Nile for years. He had letters from
American and British cOnsuls abroad.
10 p 800 q
the lxhedive himself. He had gathered
many wonderful things during his stay
on the 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.
He dropped in at g club or two, said
very little, charmed everybody with
his modesty and refused all interviews
with reporters. It was not until the
Hon. Charles had sent one messenger
and tn en- written q letter over his own
signature that Explorer Blake grudg-
ingly consented to a meeting. At that
meeting he named a few of his SOU
venirs but only q few. Nothing what
to go to the New York Museum of Nat
uraI History.
The attitude of Explorer Blake was
churlish, and yet after a few days he
softened enough to invite the Hon
Charles to q private inspection or MS
treasures. This invitation would not
have been extended to any other man
in the world. He appointed the hour
when he would call with a carriage
and he was there to the minute. It
was the general idea that his stock of
finds was in a warehouse, and ne was
supposed to be stopping at a hotel, but
no one was certain of these things
The Hon. Charles didn't care where
he was taken, 50 long as the relies OF
the Nile were 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 nna@-
~ arrived. He was ushered to the top
story, talking as he went, landed IN
room about twelve feet square lighted
by a skylight, and when he looked
about for the stock in trade he fa4lea
to find it. The only furniture IN the
rooms was two old chairs Explorer
Blake took one and lighted a cigar
and the Hon. Charles took the other
and wondered what was coming next.
He soon ascertained.
MY dear sir, shall be very sorry to
put you to any trouble" began the eX-
plorer but the fact is I am hard Up
and must raise $4,000 That is $4,000
in your money. I don't want to turn
burglar or murderer. I want to be gen
tie and nice about it"
How long have you been planning
this thing?" asked the Hon. Charles, a.
he looked around the empty room and
"tumbled to the fact that he had beaL
taken in.
"Au of six months. and it has cost
me considerable hard cash"
And your figure is $4,000, IS it,
mot a penny less. When You have
given me a check for the amount. and
the same has been cashed. you viii De
restored to liberty. I shall not demand
as one of the provisions that you prom
ise not to go to the police about st. In
the first place, / have made my ar
rangements dodge them, and III the
va - -
away and be made a laughing stock
Of"
you reason logically" replied the
Hon. Charles, as he also lighted eli
Il have had this house hired fer the
last five months. am supposed 10 be a
bachelor and fairly well off, having only
a man to cook and wait upon me- His
name is Thomas, and he is an excellent
servant. You can rest assured that he
never will bring you into ridiculs over
this affair
ITO sum up, my friend, this Is & put
up job. have been lured here in order
that I may be forced to buy my liberty.
You want $4,000. 1 must confess that
while the price is not extravagaIsV, /
cannot see my way clear IN paying It
to after three or four days I cannot
VERY well" replied the explorer TT is
1s feet to the partly opened skylightf with
no chance whatever of you reaching It.
Thomas will bring you bread and water
three times a day, and at night you shall
have a mattress to rest on. Three days
hence shall appear again. There is no
hurry about this thing. After my next
appearance the price Of your liberty viii
be added to at the rate of 100 pounds per
day. You can afford to pay and I can
AFFORD to wait
It was 2 O'Clock in the afternoon when
the Hon. Charles Bingham was left alone
in the garnet room. He did not waste his
energies by crying out or tramping
around He did not look up at the sky
light except at long intervals. The Amer
lean was no fool. He had taken his pre-
cautions before bringing a prisoner to the
house. At o clock the man Thomas came
In. One look at him sufficient to
prove that he was loyal to his master He
had a frank and honest face, but he also
had q keen eye and was stout1y built. He
brought bread and water. He was respect
in his demeauor.
Sorry for your. poor fare. Your Honor 2