Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-06-07
NO. So.

One beautiful evening in the summer Of
t8- was seated with my friend Captain
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
drcn, 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
tho setting sun glanced over the housetops,
fiickered upon the green foliage and upon
the white pavement, over which it cast
long, struggling shadows.
For some time we had maintained O 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 secrcted in the back of
q book he had bought tho day before at
one Of the bookstalls.
took the piece of paper and examined
1t. 1t was for 500, 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.
mo. 53!" he murmured, aghast
Not another word could we get out of
him. He sat pale and dumb, like one
turned into stone.
M. Sang placed the ticket inside his
pocketbook, with chuckle, and muttered
loud enough for us to hear:
give hundred Thousand francs! Why,
that is fortune But an old fool like me
will never VIM"
"You will whip suddenly cried the cap
tain in strange, low tones, which made us
both start
"How can you tell, monsieur" whisper
ed the old man eagerly
Il want you to get rid Of that ticket, for
as sure as we are living men at 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.
Tho captain only shrugged his shoulders
and turned to the window.
II KNOW" said M. Sang, THAT could
get good sum for this ticket If 1t were
known had it for SALE However, as the
captain is SO positive it will be drawn,
will retain the ticket and run the risk Of
being the loser. Five hundred thousand
francs Why, see what it is. The captain
is jealous! Ha, han'
Hc went out, and as he went down the
foi, T III
"'You will be the loser in tho end What
can the captain mean, wonder? Five
hundred"-but he gained the street, and l
could hear no more.
turned to Captain P He was stand
ing silent and motianless 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 I 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 mind2 asked myself this ques-
ton over and over again, but l still re-
manned in tho 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.
AL 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 number!"
Il do not understand you, captain"
4 &c. l>~r 49, o.
He remained silent for some time as if
in deep thought, and ! did not interrupt
him.
LISTEN" no said suddenly, land 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 fa-
ther although considered to be very sen
sible man, invested sum of money in a
lottery. His ticket was drawn, and he be
came possessed of 500,0 900 francs. He was
fortunate So everybody said. /, too,
thought SO at the time. One evening he
entered one Of the gaming saloons, and
becoming fascinated by the play he lost all
his ready money in few hours. Then all
his property went, and when he arose from
tho 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 provo
your statement, said. "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
ticket He won, like my father, 500, 900
francs. Poor fellow, 1T was the price Of
his reasonl The sudden rise to wealth
turned his brain, and he is now an inmate
of the K asylum. Now you will I'M
derstand me when tell you his ticket
was No 58P'
shuddered, but remained silent.
The day of drawing slowly came around,
and as the captain had foretold M. Sang's
ticket was drawn. No. SO was announced
the winnerl
When the captain heard 1t, he shook his
head and mur1nured:
"Wait waltz
M Sang forsook the Boulevard M
and bought for himself nice little villa.
He was talked Of as being lucky man and
was envied by all except Captain P.
"You will be the loser in the end, I" the
captain had said. But now began to
think he was mistaken.
One morning, scarcely three months aft
er the drawing Captain P placed q
newspaper before me, and without word
pointed out certain paragraph.
read, with almost stifled heart, that
thief had entered M, Sanr's house the