Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-14
FORTUNE SMILED.

Thornton, VINO hau JUST returned from
abroad. "Have any luck?"
81 had one adventure" he replied, and,
taking me into a quiet place where we
could talk, he told me this story:
II was in Venice, sitting on a round,
rather unstable stone at an angle of a
canal, smoking an American cigar to con-
ceal the spoiled, close smell of the contigu-
Gus waterways, when a man anywhere
from less than 30 to 80, decently well
dressed and carrying himself with the Pc
culiar jaunty air of an italian of the mid
die class, approached mt and, removing
his hat politely, said in sufficiently good
French:
"sMr. Thornton?'
"sThe same,' was my reply.
"'Could I ask you as q favor the price
Of a ticket to Interlaken?'
"'Why do you wish to go to Interlakenf'
ITO see my sick brother
" What is he sick OFF
"'He is sick-oh, most grievously ILL
at not having seen me for SO long
months! He is desolate-what you say
all ripped open with grief
What is the damage-the cost of
making this transit?'
=" 4 can do it on 10 francs; perhaps q
little less by economy. Three dollars is
not much for a MILFORD Americana
"sWell, ; l said, If you will tell me hon.
estly why you struck me for this lift, I
will let you have it. It's merely a matter
of curiosity. I was not aware that l
showed so plainly how I can be separated
from the crowd and touched for a 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 h~umpbacked or dull. You are born
lucky. If you should buy a lottery ticket,
now, you would win. See that stonet
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-uH-
quite worse!'
"'That Is interesting
"'Then you are an American. Ameri.
cans like to show off, to appear generous,
to throw down money and say mo
change" How I know you American'
Quite plain, every way-dress, hair, COM
plexion, hat. You've got your hat on
wrong side front. No E~nglishlnan's hal
will fit that way
81 took off my hat, looked at 1t, saw
that the bow was on the right-that Is
the wrong %side-put it on the same way
and said:
"'I wear it that way for luck. Here's
your money. If you should decide tt
postpone your journey for week, Iwould
like you to call on me-. Here is my ad
dress. 1t may be your brother will for
give the delay
"My acquaintance smiled, bowed, wav
ed his hat and Withdrew.
II had been struck with a word he hat
uttered-lottery. In Italy the lottery is
r of the government. 1t Is the refug'
Of every decrepit and decaying state tn
world over. But somebody wins. I wa
ashamed to appear openly in this business
but II I could employ my chance acquaint
ance as a negotiator, a go between, I wa
not unwilling to risk q few dollars on for
tune. My travelling expenses had beel
less than I expected. I could afford a lit
tie excitement. ! shouldn't feel as If
had got the full worth Of my journeyinl
II I did not see this elephant In his nativ
haunts.
"My friend Of the causeway turned u,
promptly the next day.
"'To serve a gentleman, an American
/ would sacrifice even more than the pleas
ure of seeing my sick brother. I woul
even sacrifice myself, my happiness, m
time
II told him what / desired and aske
his assistance. He would know the prope
place to apply for tickets and all the rope
Of the game. He listened eagerly to IN
condolences and said at once that devotio
to my interests was the absorbing passio
of his soul.
CHOW for the numbers. Has the seno
q lady friend, a dear lady friend, who's
2 he knows, the month, day of her birth
is near?'
II thought Of one aged %, whose birth
day would occur the 25th of the presen
month. I mentioned these.
And today is the goth. We will blu
the tickets with the numbers %, 25, II
We will be sure to win
II expressed no assurance, but told hiI
to follow his Judgment, and with tn
money he went forth to fame and forum
or the reverse.
1.-THE drawings took place weekly 0
Saturday. On Sunday he presented hin
self and handed me a roll Of bills, &C
francs.
II was astounded.
:" THAT is good I said, and I divide
the package, offering him half.
"To my surprise, he refused to take an.
"'We will wait; we will try again. "
will do better next time. We will plungt
we will hedge and make a scoop. Nov
what have you dreamed? OF what colol
Something not natural
81 dreamed last night I was in
snowstorm on q mountain
Eyes; violet, indigo, blue, green, ye
low, orange, red, black, white. Snow
white. We will take nine for one. See
anything todayf'
"sThe white flag Of Austria in til
morning sun on a vessel in the harbor.'
"'Ah, diablo! Schr! His face COL
tracted in an expression Of most terrib
rage. Then II cleared. No matter
white again, nine. And later?'
"'There! Yonder flashed q light frol
the weapon . sentry is carrying
White again. Nine, nine, nine. v
will use 1t. Do not be surprised II you {
not see me for a week. I will bring yo
what you win
"sYou are confident.
: !" know the lucky star. Oh, were
as you'll But alasV
HE tore himself away, and I saw hi
& no more ~ the week went by-in fact,
!, never saw him again. The next Sunds
q commissionaire brought me a packal
and letter. The package contained 1,0i
francs; the letter contained these wort
In Italian:
:, "sAdieu. I am rich. I have won
y fortune with your lucky numbers. I 81,
y you 10 per cent Of what was won.'
1.-The anne signed was unknown to n
ct the time, but now it-Luchini-has
worldwide notoriety a. that Of the perse
who assassinated the Austrian empress.
"Well!' ! said, somewhat startled |
this conclusion.
1.-THE question seems to be, Where d