Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25


from the Criterion, lighted a cigarette,
looked up and down Piccadilly, then crossed
the Circus, and swung lazily up Regent-st.
Presently his eye, stunning the throng,
nauseating in its insstent sameness, was
attracted by medley of humans who had
congregated in and overhowed from little
curio shop some half-dozen doors down a
small side street. More than once Captain
Frank had picked up seal or an old snuff
box that later on he had obligingly let slip
at profit; SO he entered the low-ceilinged
den of antiquities it would ut least afford
a hiatus in the time so void OF interest.
A pudgy, pcrspiring little man stood be
hind long, narrow, green and red box
exhorting his audience to give him start
ing bid on its contents, mummy. he
auctioneer assured the good people that 1t
was the chance of lifetime: mummles
were not sold every day. The people
seemed to hang fire, and he worked himself
up to high pitch of oratorical endeavor.
"Of all the rummy goes!' Captain Frank
muttered. He wished somebody would start
the sale: he wanted to see people bidding
against one another for dead Pharaoh.
"Shall | say a sovereign beseeched the
auctioneer. "Give me start, Gents! and
his small gimlet eyes looked appealingly
at Captain Frank.
had caught him mentally overbalanced.
However, somebody would bid little
higher presently, and he'd let them hight
it out But nobody did. In vain the
croupy-voiced mummy seller appealed to
them not to sacrifice this Egyptian, who
was without doubt of a long line Of Kings.
He painted in glowing colors the deslrability
Of having a mummy on hand. One could
present it to his club or to museum, or
even tour the country with 1t as a show.
And to be sacrificed for a sovereign. 1t was
a shame, disgrace, an insult to the khe-
dive of Egypt! Why, it was worth more as
fuel, being soaked in paraffin!
But there was no response: nothing but
patient tolerance as the spectators waited
until the mummy might be brushed to one
side, giving them a chance at some Of the
smaller trinkets.
at is yours, my friend" declared the
auctioneer as his nallet fell, "and you
have got it dirt cheap
Quite uncheercd by this gratifying infor-
nation, Captain Frank solemnly paid his
money, and, telling the man he would send
for his purchase, swung out Of the place.
Back along Regent-st. he cross-examincd
to see if in all its Kaleidoscope transitions I'll
act quite 50 gratuitously asslnine as the pr
There wasn't. Also it was Friday, and hi
OF seven POUNDS WOulu DC que odluTldE Il
jingled a few coins in his pocket, countr
sense of touch. Two shillings and fourpenc
all he had, that and the mummy; but he
the mummy. Curse the leatherfaced relict
of it was in his throat, the dust Of all the pyl
entered the Criterion, and sitting down
ordered drink This left him with one-s
his dinner-a sandwich or a bowl Of soup.
Leigh Mcrvyn generally managed to h;
dinner; but then it was calculated for
Now he had suddenly been thrown on his be
a mummy. His mind wandered tantalizin
from one eating place to another, leaving I
tenement hungrcr at each mental review.
the large juicy mutton chops down in tn
or, better still, providing he had not waste
eign a modest dinner for five shillings at the
where there was good music.
A MAN. sauntercd up to the Captains
slipping into chair, said "Order 0
Frank, my dear boy. I'm like Saint Pc
neither gold nor silver"
In the service Captain Frank had always
and straight, 4 cynical smile on his lips; nc
his dinner across the bar for Grandon's
soda, saying, "Glad to see you, old man.
you must have won rare bit over X
Frank. / see he started at sixty to one.
,-,,, on. for u.pt horroU connie re m,