The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-09
Fortunes Eayorite.


four or five months at an exrense OF.
say. 1900. Now. at sl2 a week.. suppos-
ing he saved all his wages, it would take
two years to realize that sum. II ne
saved half IL would take four. He ce-
cided 10 tempt fortune.
He learned that Montreal had a num-
Der of gift enterprises Of the lottery type
You were offered prize or picture
worth, Ii might be- 500. II you were Tor
tunate and did not care for the article,
you could dispose OF the picture inside
and unseen for 80 per cent on. cash-
Thornton blew in a dollar every week IN
this way. and being far more lucky tnan
you or / would be, had. as the result OF
a number OF prizes. the sum OF sSO0 20
a little over year. Re put 800 ne nad
saved with it and took the trip.
Meeting him soon after his return. 1
Immediately requested TO be informed OF
the result OF his peregrinations-
Gamble sny?" ! asked. knowing hrs
prediction. Have any luck?"
Il had one adventure" he replied. and
taking me into quiet place where we
could talk. he told me this story;
I was in Venice, sitting on round,
rather unstable stone at an angle OF
canal smoking an American cigar TO con-
ceal the spoit, close smell or the CONT
guous waterways, when man anywhere
from less than 20 TO 80. decently Wen
dressed. and carrying himself with the
peculiar. jaunty air OF an Italian of the
middle class. approached me, and remov-
ing his hat politely, said in sufficiently
good French:
MIR. Thornton?'
i" The same was my reply.
"'CouId l ask you. as a favor. the price
of a ticket to Interlaken?
why do you wish TO 60 TO Interla-
ken?'
- TO see my sick brother
What is he sick Off
a. He IS sick. o. most grievously ill. at
not having seen me for SO long-monthsi
He is desolate-what you say-sll ripped
open with grief
what is the damage-the cost Of
making this transit?
81 can do it on Is francs, perhaps
little less by economy. Three dollars is
not much for a MILFORD Americana
Well 1 said. If you will tell me hon.
estly why you struck me for this lift
1 viii let you have it. It's merely mat
ter OF curiosity. 1 was not aware thas
l showed so plainly how 1 can be sepa-
rated from the crowd and touched for a
loan
- will tell you. 1t is easy for me. o,
so easy! but not for every one. Some
people are born lucky just as others are
born humpbacked or dull. You are borf
lucky. If you should buy lottery ticket,
now, you would win. See that stone.
! Another man sitting where you are would
have fallen into the canal. 1t IS a
| reacherous seat There have been men
two, no, three-this week who have
slipped off. Not drowned. but got wet
and foul-uff! quite worse
d" That is interesting.
Then. you are an American. Ameri-
cans like to show off, to appear gener-
GUS to throw down money and say no
change How 1 know you Americans?
| Quite plain, every way, dress, hair, COM
p;exion, hat You've got your hat on
wrong side front No Englishmans hat
will fit that way
Il took off my hat, looked at il, saw
that the bow was on the right that is
the wrong side, put it on the same way,
and said:
~ wear it that way for luck. Here's
your money. If you should decide upon
postponing your journey for week, L
would like you to call on me. Here IS
my address. 1t may be your brother will
forgive the delay.
My acquaintance smiled, bowed,
waved his hat, and withdrew.
Il had been struck with a word he
had uttered-Lottery. In Italy the lot
terry is the prop of the government. 1t
/ is the refuge of every decrepit and de-
caying state the world over. But some
body wins. I was ashamed to appear
/ openly in this business, but il I could
! employ my chance acquaintance as a ne
gotiator, a go-between, 1 was not unwiI-
/ ing to risk a few dollars on fortune. My
travelling expenses had been less than l
I expected. 1 could afford a little excite
ment I shouldn't feel as If 1 had got the
/ full worth Of my journeying IL l did not
| see this elephant in his native haunts.
MY friend of the causeway turned up
promptly the next day.
| ITO serve a gentleman l would sacri-
! fee even more than the pleasure of see
1 ing my sick brother. / would even sac
rifce myself, my happiness. my time
Il told him what l desired, and asked
( his assistance. He would know the prop
/ er place 10 apply for tickets and all the
ropes OF the game. He listened eagerly 10
my condolences, and said at once that
devotion to my interest was the absorb
/ ing passion of his soul.
- Now for the numbers. Has the senior
a lady friend. a dear lady friend. whose
/ age he knows. the month. day Of her
/ birth. is near
II thought OF one aged 2. whose birth
/ day would occur the 18th OF the present
month. I mentioned these.
/ And today is the 20th. We viii buy
! the ticket, with the numbers twenty-five.
/ twenty -dve, twenty. We viii be sure TO
win
/ i expressed no assurance, but told him
! 10 follow his judgment. and with the
/ money he went forth 20 fame and fortune
or the reverse.
The drawings took place weekly. on
/ Saturday on Sunday he presented him
self and handed me a roll Of bills, So
francs
| 4 was astounded
| THAT is good I said, and 1 divede5
( the package Offering him haf
TO my surprise he refused 20 take
any.
We will wait; we will try again We
VIII do better next time We will plunge.
we viii hedge. and make SCOOP. Now.
( what have you dresmed2 OF what co4or !
/ Something not natural
{ 81 dreamed last night l was IN a
snow-storm on a mountain
Yes; violet, indigo, blue. green. ysi-
low. orange. red. black, white snow
is white We viii take nine for one
Seen anything today
The white flag OF Austria in the morn
ing sun on q cessel IN the harbor.
All. diabl0. Schr. his iacs con
( tracted IN an expression OF most teri
. BILE rage Then l. cleared No
vhite again. nine. And la'H
THERE Yonie- A Hsat rom
( the weapon = - s esrr1lng
White again. Nine. nine. nine We
VIII use IL. Do Tot be surprised x you
Go not see me for week l Vii bring
You What you Ein
o. You are confident
- nov tbs lucky star o. were a.