Papi^e Twenty-one 



Was, in spite of the ages, quite well preserved. 



And then through his well-embalmed noodle there ran 



The "come-back" idea, so common to man. 



Now spirits of those long and thoroughly dead 

 Find means to comminiicate— so it is said — 

 And so, in a manner which mortals ken not. 

 These two planned a tryst in a well-chosen spot — 

 In fact, in the tomb of one Ra-Em-Kai — 

 In the Third Egyptian Room, near by. 



"Meet me, dear Neppy," the swain possibly said, 

 "At the stroke of midnight; too long we've been dead. 

 "Let us have a good time and shake off our gloom 

 "By reading the 'glyphs' on Ra-Em-Kai's tomb. 

 "And mayhap if no mortal ir spying on us, 

 "We can shout into Har-Khebit's sarcophagus." 

 And thus it was planned — or so we suppose; 

 A frivolous program, kind Heaven knows. 



Well the night came around, as nights always do, 



And Hotep prepared his fair lady to woo. 



Just at midnight exactly — light-saving time — ■ 



He emerged from his case, with spirit sublime ; 



He dodged through the gloom to the scene of the tryst, 



Serene in the knowledge he'd never be missed. 



He eagerly waited for Miss Nep to arrive, 

 'V\Tiich she quite failed to do up to twelve forty-five ; 

 Then, patience exhausted, he frowned in disgust. 

 And stiffiy sneaked back — and, possibly, cussed. 

 Toward the case of Nephthys he scowled darkly, too, 

 And remarked with much feeling, "It's all off with you." 



"You were a game kid in the land of the Nile, 



"But a dead one y'are now, and you'll stay dead awhile. 



Then with care he adjusted himself in his case, 



And of that night's adventure left never a trace. 



