Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-06-13
NO. So.

p, at the open window of his room,
situated on the second story Of the end
house in the Boulevard M. Outside,
in the square, band was playing some
lively music. Nursemaids, with little chill
dren, ran races to and fro.
An old veteran in large straw hat was
describing, with frantic gestures, how he
had lost his arm. In q corner beneath
some trees, flock of youngsters were
romping with monkey, and the rays of
the setting sun glanced over the housetops,
flickered upon the green foliage and upon
the white pavement over which it cast
long, struggling shadows.
For some time we had maintained pro-
found silence, when the door of our apart
ment was thrown open and admitted our
old neighbor-M. Sang.
He showed us lottery ticket, which, he
said, he had found secreted in the back of
q book he had bought the day before at
one of the bookstalls.
took the piece OF paper and examined
1t. 1t was for 500, 600 francs and would
be drawn for in five weeks time.
Captain P, leaning out of the win
dow, with his chin resting on his hands,
had scarcely noticed the entrance of the old
man, but when called him and held the
scrap Of flimsy paper out toward him he
turned terribly pale and sank back in his
seat.
"No. 53p' he murmurcd, aghast.
Not another word could we get out of
him. He sat pale and dumb, like one
turned into stone.
NJ Sang placed the ticket inside his
pocketbook, with q chuckle, and muttered
loud enough for us to hear:
"Five hundred thousand francs! Why,
. that is fortune! But an old fool like me
will never win."
"You will win!" suddenly cried the cap
tain in strange, low tones, which made us
both start
"How can you tell, monsieur" whisper
cd the old man eagerly.
II want you to get rid of that ticket, for
as sure as we are living men ct this mo-
ment you will be the loser in the end"
''Ah! Perhaps you would like to secure
the ticket, monsieur?" said the old fellow,
with peculiar smile.
The captain only shrugged his shoulders
and turned to the window.
II know" said NJ. Sang, 'that could
get good sum for this ticket if it were
known I had it for sale. However, as the
captain is SO positive it will be drawn, I
will retain the ticket and run the risk of
being the loser. Five hundred thousand
francs! Why, I see what 1t is The captain
is jealous! Ha, hal"
He went out, and as he went down the
stairs heard him mumbling:
"You will be the loser in the end. What
can the captain mean, wonder? Five
hundred but he gained the street, and
could hear no more.
turned to Captain P He was stand
ing silent and motionless at the window.
Although his eyes were directed to where
the performers stood, knew from their
fixed and steady gaze that he saw none,
nor did he hear the music.
For long time l sat watching him,
standing there SO pale and SILENT all the
while raking my brain how to account for
his strange conduct on seeing the number
of the lottery ticket-No. SO. What pain
full recollections did these two figures re-
call to his mindP asked myself this ques-
ton over and over again, but still re-
manned in the dark.
The captain still continued to gaze out
of the window. The music had ceased, the
sun had disappeared, and the square was
almost deserted.
All at once he closed the window and
simply said, as if speaking to himself:
"There can be no doubt about it! No
So is an accursed numberl"
IL do not understand YOU. captain. I" I
said. for began to feel curious.
He remained silent for some time as If
in deep Thought, and 1 did not interrupt
him.
'Listen," he said suddenly, lana you
can judge for yourself as to the truth of
my statement"
He lit cigarette and drew his chair
closer to the table.
eleven years ago." he began, "my IA
ther although considered to be very SEN
sible man, invested sum of money in
lottery. His ticket was drawn, and he be-
came possessed Of 500, 900 francs. He was
fortunate So everybody said. I, too
thought so at the time. One evening he
entered one of the gaming saloons, and
becoming fascinated by tho play he lost all
his ready money in few hours. Then all
his property went, and when he arose from
the table at midnight he was beggar
Maddened by his losses and rendered In
sane by the knowledge of the grief of his
family, he shot himself through the heart
His ticket was No. 53!"
"Yet cannot see how that goes to prove
your statement, said. 1.-THE same thing
could happen with any number.
True" he replied. II attached no i'm
portance to the number at tho time. -Four
years went by, and had almost forgot
ten No. SO, when friend Of mine in poor
circumstances managed to buy lottery