The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-04-01
HERMITS AND
HUMBUCS
By JESSIE e. sHERwIN

they found q ready high prlestess In
the shape of Miss Alice Wade. She
was thirty. comcly still. aud pridcd
herself as the object of alteration u
several wldowers mud bachelors. hut
80 FAR had dis,ained all suitors except
Robert Slmms.
And she keeps me trifiing along
Slmms told his sister Ruth. "as though
We were going to be young forever"
Alice loves youth and variety and
excitement" Ruth reminded Robert
induigently. 'she has plenty Of mon.
ey and enjoys spending a."
"Frittering u away. you mean" cor.
rscted slmms with some Rsperlty.
There was that moon faced prophet
of the stars. that astrological humbug
who won her over as paironess % the
occult light of the Great Bear. lie
managed TO swlndle her out ~ cool
thousand.
what Is the trouble now :" Inquired
Ruth.
"Oh. q new exponent of spiritistic
science-cnlls himself Professor Abou.
kar Ilamad. Tie has delivered lee.
ture on his new theory ~ soul cui.
ture. and Alice and the society ~
which she Is secretary have gone Wild
over his economic and social nostrums.
ldealisms and illusiveisms.
But Professor Ahoukar Ilamad had
no idea Of departing from the rich
field he had wandered into lie pro-
fessed 90 have found In these new
devotecs mystic mediums" capable.
under culture along psychological
lines. Of aiding him IN his great expert
ments.
1T i only 10y segregation that o
revelation from the spirits can ma.
terlallze." he pronounced. Il have dis.
covered n natural hermit cell over at
the edge Of the town. aud q week ~
solitary reverie may III me Co reveal
absolute demonstration Of gho.ily sue.
gestiop."
The "hermit's ceil' proved TO be an
abandoned habltntlon on the lonely
summit ~ Prospect hill known 10
every resident. II had been the home
or rather den. ~ nm eccentric old man
who lived all 10 himself. After he
died the rumor that he was q rich
miser lead 10 the ransacklng % 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 n wagonioad Of provisions
ciate mystics. 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 rs they
spoke Of the week Of retirement and
reverie to which the professor had
sacrificed himself for the good OF the
cult.
Robert slmms went out Of his way
10 evade passing the Wade home. lie
rallied To his sister every evening
against the faddlsts aud 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
yoyant and mesmerixing fakes 10
cresiulous audiences. I have found out
that the money donated for their reye-
Istion racket was invested mostly In
liquor and cigars. and Farmer Aibln
told me that he drove PAST the old
hermit place last night and the H.
luStrious professor and bis fellow
scientists were having regular Jam
boree"
The special committee OF the club
that--had financed the retirement %
the professor was In session In their
quarters two nights later. when there
was a great commotion In the street
outside. Then the doors were burst
open. In horrified amaxement the
ladies' shrnnk hack as the professor
rseled Into the room. His nose. always
red. was more rublcuni than ever; his
long hair was matted aud In disorder.
lie was followed by his three devoted
assistants. aud the qnnrtette fell
arninst one another and engaged In
the maudlin chorus ~ n drinking song
as they staggered towards the plat
form.
Great naturalization. ladies" pro
nounced IN. erudite professor. spirit
of Plate fully materialixed. viii now
make my famous address On the
dlylnatlon Of spectral entities"
ANot here you won't" announced
the village marshal coming forward
with several assistants. "fOu and your
crew are wanted by the police OF May.
vile for passing counterfeit money.
Peter Potts. alias Professor Aboukaf
Hamad, your career Of glory Is over"
Miss Wade rushed from the hall In
tears. She fed even from her humill.
ated sisters. A crowd outside jeered
and yelled. Some one caught her arm
and led her out 81 the hubbub ana
commolion.
-oh Robert" She sobhed. looking up
and recognizing her rcscuer. How
can I look respectable people In the
face agninf
Look me Ia the face" directed Rob