Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-18
FORTUNE SMILED.

taking me into quiet place where we
could talk, he told me this story:
~ was In Venice, sitting on round,
rnthor unstable stone at nm angle Of q
canal, smoking an American cigar to con-
real the spoiled, oloso smell Of the contigu-
Gus waterways, when a man anywhere
from less than 30 to 30, decently well
dressed and carrying himself with the Pc
,ulior jaunty air Of AN Italian Of the mid
die class, approached me and, removing
his hat politely, sold In sufficiently good
French:
Mr.. TborntonY
THE same, was my reply.
Gould l ask you as favor the price
Of ticket to InterlakenY'
Why do you wish to go to Interlakeny
TO sec my sick brother
What Ia he sick OFF
He ia sick--oh, most griovously ILL
at not having seen inc for so long
rnoDthsl He Is desolate--what you say
all ripped open with grief.
What is the damage-the cost of
making this transit5
q i can do it ON 10 francs; perhaps a
little less by economy. Three dollars Is
not much for a MILFORD Americana
Well, said. ~ you will tell me hon
4
will lot yon have 1t It's merely d matter
of curiosity. I was not aware that l
showed SO plainly how I can be separated
from the crowd and touched for loan.'
" I will tell you 1t is easy for me-
| oh, so easy--but not for every one. Some
| people are born lucky just as others are
born bumpbacked or dull. You are born
lucky. II you should buy lottery ticket,
| now, you would win. See that stonef
| Another man sitting where you are would
have fallen into the canal. 1t is a treach-
| erous seat. There have been men--two---
| no, three-this week who have slipped off
| not drowned, but got wet and foul-uff-
quito worse'
"'That is interesting
"'Then you are an American. Ameri-
cans like to show oil, to appear generous,
to throw down money and say "No
change" How know you Americana
| Quito plain, every way--dress. hair, com
plexion, hat You've got your hat on
wrong side front. No Engllshman's hat
| will 1T that way
~ took of my hat, looked at it, SAW
| that the bow was on the ri2ht--that is,
tho wrong side--put it on the same way
| and said:
:" i wear IL that way for luck. Here's
your money. If you should decide to
| postpone your journey for week, would
like you to call on me. Here is my ad.
dress. 1t may be your brother will Tor
give the delay
"My acquaintance smiled, bowed, wav-
ed his hat and withdrew.
"I had been struck with o word he had
uttered-lottery. In Italy the lottery is a
| prop of the government. 1t is the refuge
of every deorepit and decaying state the
| world over. But somebody wins. was
| ashamed to appear openly in this business,
but II could employ my chance acquaint-
ance as a negotiator, q go between, was
not unwilling to risk a few dollars on for
tune. My travelling expenses had been
| less than expected. could afford a lit.
tie excitement. shouldn't feel ns II
had got the full worth of my 1ourneying
II did not sec this elephant in his native
haunts.
"My friond of the causeway turned up
| promptly the next day.
:" To serve q gentleman, an American,
| would sacrifice even more than the pleas
ure of seeing my sick brother. would
even sacrifice myself, my happiness, my
| time.
II told him what I desired and asked
| his assistance. He would know the proper
| place to apply for tickets and all the ropes
Of the game. Ho listened eagerly to my
condolences and said at once that devotion
| to my interests was the absorbing passion
| of his soul.
" Now for the numbers. Has the senior
a lady friend, o dear lady friend, whose
| age he knows, the month, day Of her birth,
| is near?'
~ thought of one aged 2a, whose birth
day would occur the 25th of the present
month. mentioned these.
" And today is tho goth. We will buy
the tickets with tho numbers 2a, a5, 90.
We will be sure to win
II express no assurance, but told him
to follow his Judgment, and with the
money he went forth to fame and fortune
or the reverse.
| "The drawings took place weekly on
Saturday. On Sunday he presented him
self and handed me roll Of bills, 500
| francs.
II was a6tounded.
"'That is good, said, and divided
the package, Offering him half.
ITO my surprise, he refused to take any.
"'We will wait; wo will try again We
will do better next time. Wewill plunge;
wc will hedge and make scoop. Now,
what have you dreamed? OF what color9
Something not natural
| I dreamed last night l was In a
snowstorm on mountain.
Yes; violet, indigo, blue, green, yell
| low, orange, red, black, white. Snow is
white. We will take nine for one. Seen
anything today?'
40 Tho white flag Of Austria in the
morning sun on vessel in the harbor.
All, diablo Schrv His face con-
tracted in an expression of most terrible
rage Then 1t cleared. No matter;
| white again, nine. And laters'
Therel Yonder flashed light from
the weapon sentry Is carrying
White again. Nine, nipe nine. We
will use 1T. DO not DO surprised If you do
not SEQ inc for week. l will bring you
what you win.'
"'You arc confident
"'I know the lucky star. Oh, were
ms you'll But alas!'
'Ho tore himself away, and ] saw him
no more as the week went by-in fact, l
never saw him again. The next Sunday
| II commissionaire brought mo u package
and a letter. The package contained 900
| francs; the letter contained these words
| in Italian:
'Adieu. am rich. have won a
fortune with your lucky numbers. give
you 10 per cent of what was won.
"Ihe name signed was unknown to me
at the time, but now it-Luohiui-has q
| worldwide notoriety as that of the person
who assassipated the Austrian empress.
"Welll" ! said, somewhat startled by