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a typewriting machine from an adjoining room。
MUMMY'S CURSE KILLS
STRATFORD SHIPPING MAGNATE
〃RAMSES THE DAMNED〃 STRIKES DOWN
THOSE WHO DISTURB HIS REST
How the tragedy had caught the public imagination。 Impossible to walk a step without seeing a front…page story。 And how the popular newspapers elaborated upon it； indulging in hastily drawn illustrations of pyramids and camels； of the mummy in his wooden coffin and poor Mr。 Stratford lying dead at his feet。
Poor Mr。 Stratford； who had been such a fine man to work for； remembered now for this lurid and sensational death。
Just when the furore had died down； it had been given another infusion of vitality：
HEIRESS DEFIES MUMMY'S CURSE〃 RAMSES THE DAMNED〃 TO VISIT LONDON
The clerk turned the page now quietly； folding the paper into a narrow thick column width again。 Hard to believe Miss Stratford was bringing home ail the treasure to be placed on exhibit in her own home in Mayfair。 But that is what her father had always done。
The clerk hoped that he'd be invited to the reception； but there was no chance of it； even though he had been with Stratford Shipping for some thirty years。
To think； a bust of Cleopatra； the only authenticated portrait in existence。 And freshly minted coins with her image and name。 Ah； he would have liked to see those things in Mr。 Stratford's library。 But he would have to wait until the British Museum claimed the collection and put it on display for lord and moner alike。
And there were things he might have told Miss Stratford； if ever there had been an opportunity； things perhaps old Mr。 Lawrence would have wanted her to know。
For instance； that Henry Stratford hadn't sat behind his desk for a year now； yet he still collected a full salary and bonuses； and that Mr。 Randolph wrote him cheques on the pany funds at random and then doctored the books。
But perhaps the young woman would find out all this for herself。 The will had left her full control of her father's pany。 And that's why she was in the boardroom； with her handsome fiancé； Alex Savarell； Viscount Summer…field； right now。
Randolph could not bear to see her crying like this。 Dreadful to be pressing her with papers to sign。 She looked all the more fragile in her black mourning； her face drawn and shimmering as if she were feverish； her eyes full of that odd light that he had first seen when she told him that her father was dead。
The other board members sat in sullen silence； eyes downcast。 Alex held her arm gently。 He looked faintly baffled； as if he really didn't understand death； it was just that he didn't want her to suffer。 Simple soul。 Out of place among these merchants and men of business； the porcelain aristocrat with his heiress。
Why must we go through with this？ Why are we not alone with our grief？
Yet Randolph did it because he had to do it； though never had the whole thing seemed so meaningless。 Never had his love for his only son been so painfully tried。
〃I simply cannot make decisions yet； Uncle Randolph；〃 she said to him politely。
〃Of course not； my dear；〃 he answered。〃 No one expects you to。 If you'll only sign this draft for emergency funds and leave the rest to us。〃
〃I want to go over everything； to take a hand in things；〃 she said。〃 That's clearly what Father intended。 This whole situation with the warehouses in India； I don't understand how it could have e to such a crisis。〃 She paused； unwilling to be caught up in things； perhaps utterly incapable of it； and the tears flowed silently again。
〃Leave it to me； Julie；〃 he said wearily。〃 I've been handling crises in India for years。〃
He pushed the documents towards her。 Sign； please； sign。 Do not ask for explanations now。 Do not add humiliation to this pain。
For that is what was so surprising； that he missed his brother so much。 We don't know what we feel for those we love until they're taken。 All night he'd lain awake remembering things 。。。 the Oxford days； their first trips to Egypt…Randolph； Lawrence and Elliott Savarell。 Those nights in Cairo。 He had awakened early and gone through old photographs； and papers。 Such marvelously vivid memories。
And now； without spirit or will； he tried to cheat Lawrence's daughter。 He tried to cover for ten years of lies and deceit。 Lawrence had built Stratford Shipping because he really didn't care about money。 Oh； the risks that Lawrence used to take。 And what had Randolph done since he took over？ Hold the reins and steal。 To his utter amazement Julie lifted the pen and signed her name quickly on all the various papers； without so much as reading them。 Well； he was safe from her inevitable questions for a little while。
I'm sorry； Lawrence。 It was like a silent prayer。 Perhaps if you knew the whole story。
〃In a few days； Uncle Randolph； I want to sit down and go over everything with you。 I mink that's what Father wanted。 But I'm so tired。 It's really time to go home。〃
〃Yes； let me take you home now；〃 Alex said immediately。 He helped her to her feet。
Dear good Alex。 Why couldn't my son have had a mere particle of that gentleness？ The whole world could have been his。 Quickly Randolph went to open the double doors。 To his amazement he found the men from the British Museum waiting。 An annoyance。 He would have spirited her out another way； if he had known。 He did not like the unctuous Mr。 Hancock； who behaved as if everything Lawrence had discovered belonged to the museum and the world。
〃Miss Stratford；〃 the man said now as he approached Julie。〃 Everything has been approved。 The first showing of the mummy will take place in your home； just as your father would have wished。 We will of course catalogue everything； and remove the collection to the museum as soon as you wish it。 I thought you would want to have my personal assurance。 。 ； 。〃
〃Of course；〃 Julie answered wearily。 This interested her no more than the board meeting； obviously。〃 I'm grateful to you； Mr。 Hancock。 You know what this discovery meant to my father。〃 There was a pause again as if she would begin crying。 And why not？〃 I only wish I'd been with him in Egypt。〃
〃Darling； he died where he'd been most happy；〃 Alex offered lamely。〃 And among the things he loved。〃
Pretty words。 Lawrence had been cheated。 He'd had his momentous find for only a few short hours。 Even Randolph understood as much。
Hancock took Julie's arm。 They moved towards the door together。
〃Of course it's impossible to authenticate the remains until we make a thorough examination。 The coins； the bust； these are quite unprecedented discoveries。 。。。〃
〃We'll make no extravagant claims； Mr。 Hancock。 I only want a small reception for Father's oldest friends。〃
She offered her hand now； in effect dismissing him。 She managed such things so decisively； so like her father。 So like the Earl of Rutherford when you thought about it。 Hers had always been an aristocratic manner。 And if only the marriage were to take place。。。
〃Good…bye； Uncle Randolph。〃
He bent to kiss her cheek。
〃I love you； darling；〃 he whispered。 It surprised him。 And so did the smile that spread across her face。 Did she hear what he had meant to tell her？ I am so sorry； sorry for everything； my dear。
Alone at last on the marble staircase。 All of them gone but Alex； and in her heart of hearts； she wished that he were gone too。
She wanted nothing so much now as the quiet interior of her Rolls…Royce limousine with the glass shutting out the noise of the world around her。
〃Now； I'm going to say this only once； Julie；〃 Alex said as he helped her down the stairs。〃 But it es from my soul。 Don't let this tragedy postpone the marriage。 I know your feelings； but you're alone in that house now。 And I want to be with you； to take care of you。 I want us to be husband and wife。〃
〃Alex； I'd be lying to you；〃 she said；〃 if I told you I could make a decision now。 More than ever I need time to think。〃
She couldn't bear to look at him suddenly； he seemed so young always。 Had she ever been young？ The question would have made Uncle Randolph smile perhaps。 She was twenty…one。 But Alex at twenty…five seemed a boy to her。 And it hurt her so much not to love him as he deserved to be loved。
The sunlight hurt her eyes as he opened the door to the street。 She brought the veil down from the brim of her hat。 No reporters； thank God no reporters； and the big black motor car there waiting with the door open。
〃I won't be alone； Alex；〃 she said gently。〃 I have Rita and Oscar there。 And Henry's moving back into his old room。 Uncle Randolph insisted upon it。 I'll have more pany than I need。〃 Henry。 The last person in the world she wanted to see was Henry。 What an irony that he had indeed been the last person her father saw before his eyes closed in death。
The reporters mobbed Henry Stratford as he came ashore。 Had the mummy's curse frightened him？ Had he glimpsed anything supernatural at work in the little rock chamber where the death of Lawrence Stratford had taken place？ Henry fought his way through customs in silence； ig