The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-05-20

book that rested on his knee. The atti-
tudc was lite-like, bnt at the very first
glance Roger felt that his brother was
dead. The doctors said he had died of
disease of the heart. Perhaps they were
right. More people die of that malady
than the world kLOWs ct. H.
CURIOUS SUPERSTITION.
ARomance Of the Billiard Cue.
A great deal has been written about
the odd superstition of gamblers, hut
nothing concerning those equally inter-
esting monomanlacs, billlardicts. The
other evening, as the writer was impa-
tient!y brushing away one of those moths
called "millers,'' so frequently found
buzzlng around billiard hall gaslights,
and which was seriously disturbing the
accuracy of our caroms, the proprie-
tor of the saloon advanced, and carefully
catching the fut ering insect in his hat,
put it outside the window rnharmed.
EXCUSE me, gentlemen" he said, "but
l am very superstitious about those little
fellows. Wouldn't hurt one OF them for
the world. They bring the place good
luck"
"What makes you think that2"
'Weli, you sec, gentlemen, wasn't
always as we'll fixed as am BOW. Five
years ago l was professional player.
Not one Of the way-up sharps, but about
second rate. All the same had got the
billiard fever, and in spite of everything
my poor old mother and wife could say,
l spent my time in trying to become q
great player, When l should have been
working at my trade. Things went from
bad to worse. Every time I'd manage
to scrape up stake, and get match on
with some Of the big cues, I'd get beat,
and we'd all have to face starvation
again: Well, after while, I took to
drinking Though misery and despera-
ton, and I'd got about as low and seedy
and broke up as you often see man. l
was sick of the balls by that time.
hated 'em with all my heart, but what
was the use of starving man trying to
brace up and rotorm7 I'd forgotten most
of my trade then, and nobody wanted to
hire man that wasn't steady. So I just
kept away from my miserable home, and
was inst about to lump of the dock, when
one night, while was moping in a bill
liard-room, one of the big professional
players who had just made a lot of money
hirpodroming, came up and began chatf-
ing me On my playing. didn't look up
or pay any attention, as I was used to be-
ing made game of in those days, so pre-
sently he says:
"'lell you what I'll do with you, Bob;
iii bet you five thousand to one hun
dred that I can beat you so points in 500
French game.'
'"Of course he knew hadn't hun
dred cents, but just then up steps halt.
tight sporting man, who had overheard
the bet, and slapping down the money,
he said:
"'WeE, that's pretty good odds; I
guess I'll take 'em, stranger
"The expert wouldn't be bluttcd. Be.
side he thought playing me was about
the same as picking up the hundred in
the street. There wasn't the least dan
ger in such ratified and let-down cuss
as I was, so the match was made to come
off on the next evening, and the money
put up-every cent Of it-right on the
spot.
"You can reckon didn't sleep much
that night, and the next day l was al
most crazy with nervous excitement.
Somehow l got the idea in my head that
perhaps after all something would hap
pen that could win. There didn't seem
to be the ghost of a chance on the merits
of the thing, because my opponent was
the State champion, and had beaten men
who could almost discount me, but still
I couldn't help hoping, don't you see2
couldn't eat, no more than sleep, and I
even forgot to drink, was in such fe-
yer.
swell, when the game began, at the
very first shot moth flew into the light,
and fell down on the table. It has
burned off halt OF one Of its wings; and
as it futtered of on the floor, the marker
raised his foot to crush 1t. Somehow
something made me stop him, and I
picked it up and put 1t out Of the open
window. You see I had a kind of fel-
low feeling for the poor, triendless little
thing. It was III hard luck like mo.
knew that if that game went against me
it was my last on earth; that I should
kill myself before morning, sure! and T.
we'll, l aortcr want to think that my last
act had been kind one, if only to an in
sect. l don't suppose, though, you get
on the idea exactly"
We said we ''g0t on" perfectly, and the
proprietor continued:
"Well, they all laughed at my being
so ft-hearted-thOugh me crazy, sup
pose, and the game went ahead. I new
er played in such good form in my life
as did that night; but it was no use all
the same. Before I had scored three
hundred, the other was within twenty
five Of going out; and when he slipped
up at the end of a run Of ninety-six, and
I chalked my cue for the last time, 1
knew he'd never give me another show,
and that next time he was bound to run
out. l fired away and my first shot got
the two red in the jaw. As I had to
pjay clear down the length of the table
to count on them, I expected of course
to knock them apart the next shot. NV
hand trembled like the ague, and could
hear my own heart beat as I played.
Bless your soul, the reds stayed toecth-
er in the crotch as though they had been
glued there. kept On playing on them;
sometimes tapping them little harder
than meant, in my nervousness; but
still the balls didn't move. 1 kept on
and On; three hundred-twenty. five fif.
ty-four hundred. And so on
I crept along the string, one by
by one, until -Four ninety.nine,' said
tic scorer; and as my eyes failed and my
head spun round, made one final shot
and fainted-fve hundred land then
faintedl"
''That was big luck,'' we said.
Eyes, but let me tell you where the
luck came in. When the stakes had
been paid, and the crowd gone, I went
back to the table and examined the balls,
and gentlemen, hope I may never stir
if night under one Of them wasn't that
very same singed moth. The little cuss
must have futtered in again, and got
mashed under the ball in such way as
to prevent its rolling, and but for it l
wouldn't be here tonight. set myself
up in this saloon with the stake won