The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-04-18
HERMITS AND
HUMBUGS
By JESSIE E. sHERwIN

the9 hVuilu te"ug hlsh pfleSteSS N
the shape Of Miss Alice Wade. She
was thirty, comedy still, and prided
herself as the object of alteration OF
several widowers and bachelors, bat
so far had disdalned all suitors except
Robert Stmms.
"And she keeps me trihing along"
Simms told his sister Ruth, 'as though
we were going to be young forever"
Alice loves youth and variety ana
excitement" Ruth reminded Robert
indulgently. "She has plenty Of mon
ey and enjoys spending It."
"Frittering It away, you mean" cor
reeted Simms 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. He
managed to swindle her out OF a cool
thousand.
"What is the trouble now!" inquired
Ruth.
"0h, new exponent Of spiritistic
science-calls himself Professor Abou-
kar Hamad. He has delivered a 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 illuslveisms.
But Professor Aboukar Hamad had
no idea Of departing from the rich
field he had wandered into. He pro-
fessed to have found in these new
devotees mystic mediums" capable,
under culture along psychological
lines, of aiding him in his great expert.
ments.
1T is only by segregation that q
revelation from the spirits can ma.
terialize," he pronounced. Il have dis
covered a natural hermit cell over at
the edge Of the town, and q week Of
solitary reverie may fit me to reveal
absolute demonstration of ghostly sug.
gestion."
The "hermlt's cell" proved to be an
abandoned habitatiOn on the lonely
summit of Prospect hill known to
every resident. II 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 rich
miser lead to the ransacking OF the
place, but no hidden treasure, was
found, although the professor indi-
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 nystics, as he termed them.
Some marvellous developments were
pledged by the professor as the result
OF his isolation. His faithful sponsors
looked learned and solemn as they
spoke of the week Of retirement and
reverie to which the professor had
sacrificed himself for the good of the
cult.
Robert Simms went out Of his way
to evade passing the Wade home. he
rallied TO his sister eve.y 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 cheap show, playing the clair
voyant and mesmerizing fakes to
credulous audiences. have found out
that the money donated for their reve-
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 H.
lustrious professor and his fellow
scientists were having regular jam.
b0ree."
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
MS they staggered towards the plat
form.
"Great naturalization, ladies'" pro
nounced the erudite professor. Spirit
Of Plato fully materialized. win now
make my famous address on the
divination of spectral entities"
"Not 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 Hed even from her humili-
ated sisters. A crowd outside jeered
and yelled. Some one caught her arm
and led her out Of the hubbub and
commotlon.
'oh Robert" she sobbed, looking up
and recognizing her rescuer. How
can look respectable people In the
face agalnf"
"Look me in the face" directed Rob-
ert seriously, "and assure me that this
Is your final faddist experiment, and