The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-09-17

II Il
and eager to investigate. hoping
against hope that he might become
the possessor of the mummy. 1t was
seven-mile drive to the mission
nome or Knauss. but the doctor was
there beforJ o'clock in the morning
after his arrival at the railroad sta
ton. Knauss was from home. Frau
lein Matilda, the daughter, who was
very pretty and spoke English per-
fectly. didn't know. The women
stared at DR.. Shumate. He decided
to keep secret the purpose of his visit
and was driving Off, when Matilda
came furtively through the hedge OF
mesquite and said:
1T is a 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 in
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
sunken entrance.
You must only look, DOCTOR" ex-
planned Matilda when they had tied
the horse and alighted. Papa says
you may not touch the-he calls IL
The Abbot because there is a gold
ring on the flnger-that you may
only look at it."
lie followed her down into the
dark hole, stepping among CLAW
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. 1t was the
BODY OF 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
head was shaver, the thick wooden
cowl was back, disclosing the ascetio
but life-like face of the Abbot. The
Dony hands, clasped across the
breast, held a rosary and a cross.
only the cord, peculiar to the Fran
ciscan order, showed signs that the
remains had been prepared for burial.
1t was wrapped about the arms and
lower extremitles 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 tho excited scientist had satis-
fled whit of his curiosity, "he may
be home now"
They drove back to the mission
and Knauss 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 Tin one hundred dollar
bills. All you have to do now is help
me load him into the wagon"
Before dawn DR.. Shumate had his
mummy safe on the floor of his room
In San Jose. He put newspapers over
the uncurtalned window and locked
NN N~NA' AhSh hC lCluONGu Iu0 Olu
blankets with which he had covered
the mummy, brought the coal-oiI
lamp nearer, pulled out another pair
of spectacles and chuckled: "It's a
treasure! A wonderful example
Of"
"For Gods sake cut the rope,'
said the corpse, II fell like a mummy
for surei"
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 1t up with Matilda. She's my
wife, daddy. When you came round
here looking for mummies 1 heard
about you, and-well, l had the wife
then, and thought II / only had the
thousand dollars-that first thou.
sand, you know, daddy, why may
be you'd take me, that is, us, homt
with you. Tilly is outside there now
daddy, with the-the thousand yot
paid for the mummy! Come, dad
cut the rope, please dol"
And daddy cut the rope.-Chicagc
Record-Herald.