Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-09-10
HERMITS AND
HUMBUGS
By JESSIE E. SHERWIN

was thirty, comedy still, and prlded
herself as the object of alteration of
several widowerS and bachelors, but
so far had disdalncd all suitors except
Robert Slmms.
And she keeps me trlillng along"
Simms told his sister Ruth, "as though
we were going to be young forever"
"Allce loves youth and variety and
excitement" Ruth reminded Robert
indugently. "She has plenty of mon.
ey and enjoys spending It,"
"Fritterlng 1t away, you mean" cor
rected Sinms with some asperity.
There was that moon-faced prophet
of the stars, that astrological humbug
who won her over as patroness OF the
occult light Of the Great Bear. lie
managed to swindle her out of a cool
thousand.
"What is the trouble nowY inquired
Ruth.
"Oh, a new exponent OF splrltistic
sclence-cals himself Professor Abou-
kar IIamad. He has delivered lee
ture on his new theory Of soul cul-
ture, and Alice and the society Of
which she IS secretary have gone wild
over his economic and social nostrums,
idealisms and illuslyesms.
But Professor Aboukar lIamad had
no idea Of departing from the rich
field he had wandered into. lie pro-
fessed to have found in these new
devotees "mystlc mediums" capable,
under culture along psychological
lines of aiding him in his great expert
mentS.
ut is only by segregation that a
revelation from the spirits can ma
teriall2e," he pronounced. ~ have dis
covered a natural hermit cell over at
the edge Of the town, and a week Of
solitary reverie may fit me to reveal
absolute demonstration of ghostly sug-
gestlon."
The "hcrmits cell" proved to be an
abandoned hablation on the lonely
summit of Prospect hill known TO
every resident. 1t had been the home,
or rather den, of an eccentric old man
who lived all TO himself. After he
died the rumor that he was a rich
miscr lead to the ransacking of the
place, but no hidden treasure was
found, although the professor indl-
Gated that by his magic art the same
might come to light.
A generous purse was made up for
him and wagonoad of provisions
brought to the place by three asSo-
ciate mystcs, as he termed them.
Some marvellous developments We're
pledged by the professor rs the result
of his isolation. His faithful sponsors
looked learned and solemn as they
spoke of the week Of retirement and
reyerle to which the professor had
sacrificed himself for the good of the
cult.
Robert Slmms went out of his way
to cvade passing the Wade home. lie
rallied to his sister every evening
against the faddsts and declared that
all was over between himself and the
lady he loved.
"Why, those infamous swindlers, |
learn, used to travel about the country
with a cheap show, playing the clair
voyant and mesmcrizing fakes to
credulous audiences have found out
that the money donated for their reye-
lation racket WAS invested mostly in
liquor and cigars, and Farmer Albin
told me that he drove past the old
hermit place last night and the IL
lustrious professor and his fellow
scientists We're having regular jam
boree"
The special committee of the club
that had financed the retirement OF
the professor was in session In their
quarters two nights later, when there
was great connection in the street
outside. Then the doors were burst
open. In Mortified amazement the
ladies shrank back as the professor
reeled into the room. His nose, always
red, was more rubicund than ever; his
long hair was matted and in disorder.
He was followed by his three devoted
assistants, and the quartette fell
against one another and engaged in
the maudlin chorus Of drinking song
as they staggered towards the plat
form.
Great naturalization, ladies" pro-
nounced the erudite professor, spirit
of Plato fully materiaIlzed. | will now
make my famous address on the
dlvlnation of spectral entities"
mot here you won't" announced
the village marshal, coming forward
with several assistants. You and your
crew are wanted by the police of May.
Vile for passing counterfeit money
Peter Potts, alias Professor Aboukar
Hamad, your career Of glory is over"
Miss Wade rushed from the hall In
tears. She fled even from her humill-
ated sisters. A crowd outside jeered
and yelled. Some one caught her arm
and led her out of the hubbub and
connection.
"Oh Robert she sobbed, looking up
and recognizing her rescuer. "lioW
can look respectable people IN the
face again|
Look me in the face" directed Rob-
ert seriously, "and assure me that this
is your final faddst experiment, and
| will see that the incident passes into
oblivion"
She obeyed him, and SO pleading, so
penitent was the expression of that
tear-stained face that Robert Simms
bent down and kissed 1t and felt sure
that his bride soon to be was safely
n ell.