The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-11
PECULIAR CONDOLENCES.
Wellington Man Tells Strange Story OF
Popular SupersttIOns

| uSVcE pass tudG uOuS6 WltuOaG GIcUl-
| bling from head to foot" said gentle
man from Wellington to an EAGLE
reporter last night as both of them walked
in front of Gill's undertaking rooms.
| "Why, does that coffin in the window
! frighten your
''To be frank with you. it does. Besides
it recalls to my mind one of the saddest
| periods in my life,'' and the gentleman
said this with husky voice, while a tear
| stood in his eye and painfully sad ex-
preston came over his face
''Tne story is not Il long one," said he,
"and it may interest you"
1.-Two years ago left home for brief
visit to ghboring city-to Hutchinson.
While there / met California actor
named Brennan and he was the most su-
pers.itious individual l ever met. The
number thirteen aud black cat had ter
rors for him that almost drove him crazy.
He invited me to his room in the Santa Fe
hotel to spend the evening after the play.
He called the porter, gave him a letter to
stamp and mail and ordered a bottle of
beer, and IA 10-cent cigar. At the same
time he gave him 80 cents. to pay the
reckoning which amounted in all to 81
cents. The porter returned with the order
and laid the change on the table He
drank bis beer while | smoked the cigar
and he was IN the midst of a very amusing
story when l noticed that he stopped
short and tnrned deadly pale. l,
thinking he was ill. jumped to his assis-
tance, but he waved me away with his
hand, turned his eyes towards the ceiling
and remained perfectly motionless for
fully five minutes. He finally arose,
touched the button. the porter came and
Brennan told him he could have the 13
cents. The porter put the money in his
pocket with broad giggle and thanks
b oss."
A second afterwards loud noise was
heard on the stairway, Brennan jumped to
TO his feet with wild 81 knew it." The
porter had fallen down stairs aud br oke
his arm.
Il knew that Is cents would cause
misch ief ;" said Brennan as We returned to
the room. Il knew it, knew it" said he,
again nr@ again, while strange express
sion i'll covered his features Ten
minutes iater a member OF Breuuau's
company knocked at the door and again
Brennan turned pale while he half
shrieked the words come in." The
visitor announced that the constable had
attached the property of the company and
that it was bursted. Brennan then told
me Of the many instances in his expert
ence when black cat and the number Is
wrought evil aud while the stories were
weird and thrilling l received them with
laugh that made him mad.
II went to my room at the hotel. II was
- and that was the fourth night l had
slept in it. Four into fifty-two goes thir-
teen times, thought |, and for the first time
III my life felt that | was superstitious.
had Just rolled into bed and was think
ing of the things ! had seen and heard
during the evening when knock came
the door and the night clerk handed me
telegram. It said Come home Oh the first
train. Your wife is very low. Answer
Immediately. Is collect Thirteen col
lect, thought I. and the cold perspiration
stood on my brow. / ran to the depot,
took freight train and arrived
IN Wichita about O'Clock. I
didct go TO bed. was actually
afraid OF being assigned 10 room I3 II
was nearly daylight as ! was going down
depot, and when passing Gillis u1dertak-
ing rooms l distinctly heard a rap at the
window. turned my head and my eyes
rested on that coffin. My whole frame
shook. / have passed the place fifty times |
since and my experience Is precisely the |
same went 10 the Rock Island depot. |
laid down a dollar and got ticket to |
Wellington and l3 cents in change. Ten /.
hours before ! laughed a. Brennan be- |
cause be wouldn't touch his = cents ia !
change, bHt 1 must confess that left my |
change where the agent placed IL. He !
called NE back for il. but ! pretended no; /
20 hear him. Arriving az Wellington, |
went cross lots To my home, along a Ear
row path, and to my horror black cat /
jumped out of the grass before me, turned /
his fiery eyes full upon me AID vanished. 4
Ny wife died az O'Clock that afteEoooo. - 1