The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-09-14

"Nor was this ali, the coins might not
come TO us as a kopeck piece, or as a
ruble, as marks or pfennigs, as francs
or confines, as anything, wherever it
might be. We should never know
when they were coming; we should
take them in the ordinary way; we
should handle them, but only for one
moment, the next moment we should
be dead"
One day Tom sent for me, and it was
to tell me that he was going to be
married. This struck me as something
peculiar, for l had thought Tom Nor
ton was one of the last men likely to
fall in love. The wedding duly came
off, everybody was pleased, and Tom
and his bride went away to the south
of France. A few more weeks rolled
by and Tom returned. There was to
be a reception at their London house,
and the invitation which was sent me
was one which | could not well refuse.
In the evening had the opportunity
Of a chat with Tom. We had gone out
on the balcony, which overlooked the
garden. and there l purposely made
reference to the superstition which he
had for the llama's coin.
Perhaps" said l, now that you
have gone unscathed all these years,
you are beginning to lose faith in the
potency of that prophecy"
"Well, to tell you the truth" said
Tom, Il am getting a little shaky
about it, and when one begins to rea
son superstition on any subject is like
~ to get knocked out. 1t has struck
me that, after all, it may be but mere
foolery."
We entered the room once more. but
l was dying for a smoke, and, making
some excuse, | slipped away to the
smoking room. l had been sitting there
about five minutes when Tom Morton
came in.
what do you think?" he said. MY
wife has got this Monaghan story into
her head so much that she is perfectly
ridiculous. She has been telling every
DOhN dbOul II, anu, VI NOuISt. lutN are
all laughing. and the worst of it all Is
that she is laughing with them at me.
But come, come, old fellow. l want to
show you something"
rose. threw my cigarette end away
and followed him. We went along the
corridor to the drawing room, which
was crowded, and even as we entered
l heard Mrs. Morton's voice
81 really do believe it will be such
fun" she was saying. Here comes
Tom, and now we will try A coin,
if you please, from each of you. Let
me see-how many are there here?-
90. Good. Then l want 20 coins.
Now, Tom" she said, take off that
wretched glove and let us demonstrate
that you can touch money with your
ungloved hand"
Tom was pale, and l saw his brow
shining with perspiratiOn. He mutter-
ed something, but what it was was lost
in the laughter and banter which went
around the ROOM With quick. impul-
sive movement he drew off his right
glove.
"Well," he said. and l saw his lips
wrcathe into a hard, unmirthful smile,
81 will take the coins just to show you
that | am not afraid"
Then, one by one, his wife counted
out the coins into his hand. Twenty
were already there, when, unable to
control the impulse which came over
me, | started up and cried: Drop it,
TNm! Why challenge such a thing as
that?'
He looked at me, and l saw how pale
and how stern was his face. He said
nothing to me, but merely turned to his
wife with the whisper. Go onr'
"Twenty-one, %, 23, p, %, 26 or
Twenty l cried, "what is
that, there are only 26 people her, there
is mis- But could get no further
Tom had staggered back, his body
shrunken in size. He fell to the floor
a deathlike silence fell over the as
semblage. l strobe over to my friends
PROSTATE form.
Tom was dead and cold, and in his
right hand there were 81 coins. | look,
ed at the top one; it was a German
piece, value 20 marks. took it to the
light and gazed upon it. Across the
profile of Emperor William II l saw q
mark which described n true square
and then l knew that the llamas curse
at length had had effect.-Penny Pic
torial Magazine.