The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-29
LUCK AGAINST Him.
RS. NJ. L. Bayne, in Detroit Free Press.

Mrs NJ. L. Bayne, in Detroit Free Press.
"Just my lucl!"
Jack Mantel threw down the paper he was
reading and began to pace the room gloomily.
II might have known when saw the moon
over my left shoulder, but went on and in
vested that money in wheat deal, and now
wheat has taken a tumble and I will lose my
$500"
"oh jack" said the patient little wife,
"why didn't you invest that money in real
estate? We could have bought small lot
with it, and that would have been the begin
ningof home"
CHATS all you know about it, Molly"
answered Jack; "if L had invested in real
estate land would have gone down to China.
i tell you, it's luck that makes men rich.
Heads you win, tails lose. It's just tho toss
of penny"
Mrs, Mandel talked and worked both She
was busy trimming n hat--not her own-she
wore somber black, but gay little affair for q
neighbours head
Jack" she said, presently, "there isn't a
bite to eat in the house."
Warm it upl Make hash Of it," said Jack,
in an absent-minded way; when we get the
money on that lottery ticket well go to board
''Oh, Jackl have you bought another
ticket? You promised me you would never
be drawn into any gambling speculation
again."
"Gambling, you innocent! There is nogam-
bling about that. All the boys in the bank
bought one. But, Mollie, il / draw blank
that ends it. I'll know then that luck is
against me-"
Mollio smiled family; then the troubled look
returned to her face. Why was it that they
were existing like beggars ON an income that
ought to keep them comfortably?
II cannot understand il" she would say to
Il n cit IN fLo
bank, yet we have neither home nor the COM
forts of home. There is something wrong
what is it?"
Mrs. Mandel trimmed bonnets for her
neighbors and helped in other ways. She
would not admit even to herself that it was
| Jacks improvidence that caused all the
| trouble. That indehnable something which q
| consecrating sorrow impresses on the charac-
| ter made her face an interesting one She
Wore mourning for n child who had died q
victim to its fathers carelessness. She had
left the little fellow with Jack, who, in his
usual irresponsible way, forgot to put his
wrappings when he took him out in the chill
air.
"Just our luck" he said bitterly, when the
doctor told them the Child must die.
Then his wife turned on him, her eyes
blazing with righteous anger.
"Jack," she cried, chow dare you? II is
your fault alone-,you are to blame--you
father--you-you!
The doctor said it was hysteria, and when
| him to forgive her cruel speech he did SO In
| thoroughly generous manner.
SO her brief anger did him good And
| his belief in the fallacy of luck strengthened
| and grew until he became almost monoma-
niac on the subject.
Over every door in his house no fastened
| horseshoe to hold the good luck he believed
was coming TO him. And he tossed pennies
for every move he made.
Finally he consulted astroogers and soothU
sayers who took his money and predicted
wonderful things that never came true
lie carried lucky piece with a persist
ent spirit Of determination that might have
been turned to good account in business, but
when inan goes into partnership with Luck
he invariably loses his good Judgment
He still held his position at the bank, where
his duties were not ardqous but one morning
he presented himself there IN such q plight
that he was at once discharged and sent homo.
Mollle was Ill. She had not seen Jack go
out that moThing, but had lain still with closed
eyes and aching head while he ate the repasE
she had prepared for him the night before.
When he returned she was up, and the little
house was SGT in order.
"Jack" she cried, when she saw him, "Jacl
Mapdel, what have you been doing?"
Nothing, Mollie. Luck is against me. Two
been discharged"
"But your coat, Jack P"
eyes, know. ] put it on wrong side out,
and of course, / wouldn't turn it, for it meant
good luck. Ihoped to get raise in my salary"
"Oh. Jack, you must be out OF your head.
How are we TO live noW?"
"The luck will turn. 1t must after this, for
it's dead against us now. Mollie."
Whether it was the crisis of the fever called
living that was drawing near, or some actual
disease that was working against him, no one
knew. But Jack Mandel was very i'll and his
distranght mind went under cloud that only
lifted at the last to show the silver lining.
Mollie, white and fearless, was bending over
him when he awakened from that long de-
li7um.. He looked up at her with the old
hopeful smile.
"Luck has changed" lie said gently, the
light shifting his TRANSPORTED face. al can
sec it all now. Heads ! win"
The silence was only broken by MolIies
gobs.
This time Jack had won