The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-23
A Close Gall.

''Do you see that man going up on
the other side of the street? Well, sir,
that identical man was as near death one
day last week as a man ever gets to be
andaive. l tell you it was narrow
escape"
GLOW was it? Was he in n railroad
smash up. or did he get choked trying
to swallow one of your fish stories?"
''No, sir; he was in tight place,
but superstition saved him. You have
heard of people dying from the effects
of superstitious beliefs, but I'll bet that
is the first man you ever saw whose life
was saved by superstition. confess /
am superstitious. 1t is very foolish, but
acknowledge my weakness. This is
how it happened: That man over there
his name is Culcut-he met me on
the street and cussed me, and told me
| was liar. 1t was all on account OF
an old trouble. got blazing mad and
was just ready to jump On him when
| remembered"
THAT he was bigger than your"
'No, it wasn't that"
'Afraid that he had pistol?'
mo, sir; but just as | was about to
hit him fatal blow at the butt of the
that it was Friday, and you know Fri
day is an unlucky day to begin any
thing on. was. therefore, baked OF
my revenge, and Culcut was saved for
the time being. But he was rash, reck-
less, and foolhardy. He did not realize
the close call he had, and he reached
out for me and hit me against the gro
Gerry store, jarring the establishment,
from the soap boxes in the cellar to
the damaged coffee drying on the roof.
was mad, tell you, and was about
to pound him into jelly when l thought
Thought he might hit you again, did
you?"
''No; l thought of dream I had the
night before. l had dreamed of eggs.
In my dream ! saw pale youth eat six
dozen hard boiled eggs. Knowing that
everything one does the day after dream-
ing about eggs is unlucky and turns out
badly, let him off again. but he did
not appreciate my leniency. With q
hair-brained temerity that was worthy
| of nobler cause, he caught me by the
neck and banged my head on the side
walk. This time was determined to
| end his brief earthly career. When
got up went for him. l was just rag
ing and | could hardly see for the sparks
that were flashing from my eyes. AS
was about giving him coup de grace
with my left hand, it all at once occur
| red to me that
THAT YOU had had enough?''
mo; that / had that morning spilled
the salt at breakfast. You know that
there is nothing presageS such disaster
| as that. | held off on that account, and
was turning to go away when, appar.
! emily with an insane desire to throw
away his life and die in his tracks, Cul-
| cut knocked me down and stamped on
me. When l got up Ididn't care cent
| for Friday, or egg dreams, or anything
else. My blood was up. Twas determ
ined to wipe him out of existence, let
ting his blood be on his own head, but
just as l was in the act of gathering my
self together for spring at him re-
allied"
THAT you were dodgasted fool fol
not running away?"
mot at all 1 realized that this would
be my thirteenth fight. l had been
licked twelve times during my short
life, and thirteen being an unlucky
namber, did not wish to risk myself
in the thirteenth difficulty just then, SC
l yelled for the police, and they came
and prevented Culcut from exasperat
ing me beyond endurance. | assure
you, sir, he had close call. If it hat
not been for my superstitious feelings
nothing could have saved him. "-9sx
as SItings, -7r-.-~'-