Iron County register., 1894-08-16
A FRENCH JONAH.
Everything He Put His Money on "
SurR tn Fall Dead.

Everything He Put His Money Was
Sure to Fall Dead.
It is no wonder that men who 'fol-
low the races believe in ''hoodoos"
and s'jonahs.'' There are people who.
when about to make bet will turn
away from a bookmaker's stand when
they see ''hoodoo' in front of it. In
tending to bet on certain horse they
change their plans instantly, and
would not touch that horse with ten
foot pole when they learn that
'sionah' has made bet on him. They
condemn their luck when they meet
the ''hoodoo," and they shiver when
they see him making a bet for tear II
should be on their horse.
Now the writer does not believe in
''hoodoos," but he does know a man
who has an astonishing faculty for al
ways being on the wrong thing" He
is we'll known to the public as
an opera singer. Born where the
sun shines with warmth. his heart
glows with enthusiasm. His friends
like him for his excess of elation when
he is cheerful. and for his deep, mourn
full. enshrouding despair when he is
gloomy. They like him because he is
so warmly attached to his friends, and
SO satanically opposed to his enemies.
They admire his enthusiasm, they are
proud of his loyalty, they delight in
his singing, and they applaud his faith
i'll the impossible. But they weep
when he tries to pick winner
A man who does not often go to the
racetrack meets him early in the sea
son. He stands against a supporting
post of the grandstand. A melancholy
light plays on his dark face, and deeI
fire burns in his eye. There is sad.
reminiscent expression around his
plant mouth.
''How are you, signor; what luck?
says his friend.
Il sue them" he answers, briefly.
''Sue them? Sue whom?"
''It ees robbairee,' he answers, cast
ing his dark glance longingly in the
direction Of Sing Sing.
what is?''
"Yes," he said, with deep sigh, 81
they scr-r-r-atch him! Yes, l get not
even any money for my run. Ah. ha
| sue them
Making another trip to the track. the
friend finds the signor pacing the walk
after the first race. His eye is cleaning
savagely. Now and then he catches
his breath quickly. His dark face is
almost pale.
''Ah, ha.' he cries, dramatically.
catching sight of his friend, ''have you
seen him?''
''Seen him?"
''Yes. my horse. He ees a sure weener,
and he has been leave at the post! That
star-r-r-ter. All, ha! He can not star-r-rt
horse-cars!''
Yet another time. and the signor's
face has changed. A bright light
| flashes from his eye, his mouth is
| wreathed with smiles, and his white
teeth show brilliantly as his lips part
in ecstasy.
''Ah. signor, you have won a bet?"
Eyes, l have ween. He ees a sure
| thing. know it well. l have ticket
| in the mutu-el.'
Two minutes later black cloud Oh.
scures his brow. His eyes have steely
glitter.
''Ah, ha. Have you seen it?" he cries.
''Seen what?'
''That mutu-el ticket" he says. grind
ing his teeth. ''He pay me thirty
cents! All the world buy him.
Yet another day and another track
| find the undaunted signor, faithful tc
| his passion. at the track.
''Ah, ha.' he cries, with burning
| glance, have you seen it?"
| Il just got here, signor Haven't
seen anything"
| "Atropine! Have you seen him? He
hurt his leg in the race, and have bet
on him.
Still another time the signor and his
friend meet. This time it is not at the
racetrack, but in Broadway. He is
striding along with an impatient step.
His arm swings rapidly, his lips are
| closed tightly, the fire in his eye is
deep red.
''Ah, ha!' he cries. espying his friend,
and clutching his arm in a fierce grip,
''have you seen it?"
| Haven't seen a thing to-day, signor.
Too busy to see anything. What is it"'
81 have the teeth-ache," he says
| grimly. Il can not go to the track.
| And, here-have you seen it? An. ha!
Thees banknote when at feefty to one,
feefty to one.'
| well, know, signor, but
| "Ah, ha. but eef | have gone l have
| ten dollars on him. He was dade sure,
| dade sure. My teeth ache have cost
| me five hundr-r-red dollar!''
'Poor signor,' as his friends have
| said. 1--WE love him for the bets he has
| LOST
But with undaunted courage, un-
| wavering faith and hope that shines
eternal he goes and goes and--.-N
Y. Tribune.
A Desperate Case.