The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-09-10

II
ana eager to investigate, hoping
against hope that he might become
the possessor of the mummy. 1t was
seven-mile drive to the mission
| nome OF Knauss, but the doctor was
there beforJ 9 o'clock in the morning
| after his arrival at the railroad sta
ton. Knauss was from home. Frau
iein Matilda, the daughter, who was
very pretty and spoke English per-
fectly, didn't know. The women
stared at DR.. Shumate. He decided
70 keep secret the purpose OF his visit
and was driving Off. when Matilda
came furtively through the hedge OF
mesquite and said:
1t Is q secret, DR.. Shumate.
Mamma does not know. Papa said /
should bring you to it."
He made room for her beside him
and she directed him into an old trail
beyond tho chaparral for a mile I'm
the quivering heat of the sun, and IN
the blazing dust OF the parched fields
before she showed him the ruins of
the old tomb with the fresh earth of
recent excavations piled about the
suuken entrance.
You must only look, Doctor" ex-
planned Matilda when they had tied
the horse and alighted. papa saws
you may not touch the-he calls Il
The Abbot because there is q gold
ring on the flnger-that you may
only look at It,"
He followed her down into the
dark hole. stepping among clay
stained bones and noticing three
skulls ranged in a row within. She
lighted a candle and motioned him
to remain by the dim opening. Then
ne put on his double-lense glasses
and saw the mummy. It was the
BODY or young or middle-aged
franciscan almost perfectly pre-
served. Dust, as OF lime and sand.
was sprinkled thinly upon the scant
hair and thin face. The crown of the
mead was shaver, the thick wooden
cowl was back, disclosing the ascetio
but life-like face of the Abbot. The
bony hands, clasped across the
breast, held a rosary and a cross.
only the cord, peculiar to the Fran.
ciscan order. showed signs that tho
remains had been prepared for burial.
1t was wrapped about the arms and
lower extremities Of the body, tightly
incasing 1t within the brown gown Of
the monastic habit.
Papa will show It to you again, ("
said Matilda, blowing out the light,
before the excited scientist had satis-
fed whit of his curiosity, "he may
be home now"
They drove back to the mission
and Kneuss was there. The doctor
stayed for dinner, and at supper time
he was still In earnest, eager and
whispering consultation with the old
custodian. At last he seemed salts
fed to go. He drove back to town in
a hurry, and at midnight returned
alone In wagon.
There's your money, Knauss," he
said to the farmer who came out to
meet him - "in one hundred dollar
bills. All you have to do now is help
me load him into the wagon"
Before dawn DIR. Shumate had his
mummy safe on the floor of his room
In San Jose. He put newspapers over
the uncurtained window and locked
his door. Then he removed the old
blankets with which lie had covered
the mummy, brought the coal-oil
lamp nearer, pulled out another pair
OF spectacles and chuckled: "It's a
treasure! wonderful example
Of"
"For Gods sake cut the ropelS
said the corpse, 81 fell like mummy
for suTei"
The doctors glasses fell to the
floor as he jumped up, but the Abbot
quite calmly, as becomes a deceased
clergyman, continued:
Don't get excited, daddy. I'm
Maurice, all right, your son, Maurice
/ fixed It up with Matilda. She's my
wife, daddy. When you came round
here looking for mummies I heard
about you, and-well, / had the wife
then, and thought IL 1 only had the
thousand dollars-that first thou.
sand, you know, daddy, why may
be you'd take me, that is, us, hom(
with you. lilly is outside there now
daddy, with the-the thousand yol
paid for the mummy! Come, dad
cut the rope, please do"
And daddy cut the rope.-Chicagc
Record-Herald.