The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-15
HERMITS AND
HUMBUGS
By JESSIE E. sHERWIN

Fads and cults came only OCCASION
ally TO Brookton, but when they did
they found ready high priestess in
the shape OF Miss Alice Wade. She
was thirty. comely still. and prided
herself as the object of alteration Of
several widowers and bachelors, but
so far had disdained all suitors except
Robert Slmms
And she keeps me trifiing along"
SImms told his sister Ruth, "as though
We were going TO be young forever"
Alice loves youth and variety and
excitement" Ruth reminded Robert
indulgently- "She has plenty of mon
ey and enjoys spending it."
''Frittering 1t away, you mean" cor
rscted 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 nowg' inquired
Ruth.
"Oh. a new exponent of spiritistic
science-caIls 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.
ideallsms and illusiNeisms.
But Professor Aboukar Hamad had
no idea of departing from the rich
field he had wandered into He pro-
fessed 10 have found in these new
devotees mystic mediums" capable.
under culture along psychological
lines, of aiding him in his great experi-
ments.
at is only by segregation that a
revelation from the spirits can ma
ferialize." he pronounced. Il 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-
gestion-"
The ''herInit'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 a rich
place. hut 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 wagonload Of provisions
brought to the place by three asso-
clate 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 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 every evening
against the faddists and declared that
all was over between himself and the
lady he loved.
"why. those infamous swindiers. /
learn, used to travel about the country
with a cheap show. playing the clair
NONnnI ana ttltNtlitTAElllE ~
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 IL
Iustrious professor and his fellow
scientists were having a regular jam
horee'
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 commotion in the street
outside. Then the doors were hurst
open In Mortified amaZement the
ladies >hrank back as the professor
reeled into the room. His nose, always
red. was more ruhicund than ever; his
long hair was matted and IN disorder.
lie was followed by his three devoted
assistants. and the quartette 'feli
against one another aud engaged in
the maudlin chorus Of "A drinking song
as they staggered towards the plat
form.
Great naturalization. ladies'" pro
nounced the erudite professor. Spirit
OF Plato fully materialized. l will nov
make my famous address .on the
divinaiion of spectral entities.
Not here yon won't" announced
the village marshal. coming forward
with several assistants. You and your
crew are wanted by the police of May
willie for passing counterfeit money.
Peter Potts. alias Professor Aboukar
Hamad, your career Of glory is over
Miss Wade rushed from the hall in
80. Shn f.h nNan frnin her humlli-