Hutchinson gazette., 1901-12-19

svs THE FOOTBALL OF FATE,

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Svs THE FOOTBALL OF FATE,
SCeNgNjNN,N,NNN,NNNN%NNNtN,AN,SS
Arthur Billings rose from the nigh;
Sunday evening supper, which supDie'
mented the heavy noon dinner on tha'
day at the hotel where he boar1Cd, ant
hurried 10 his room TO hold a lvlepathIc
conference with his sweetheart In an
other state, who was supposed to bg
holding at the same moment 'clepathlC
communication with him, Ths lour be-
tween 7 and s D, m, had been agreed
upon by letter, and Arthur had moi
missed the clalre-audlent privilege ono D.
although no results had indicated any
wave OF thought transference between
their souls, II his sweetheart Kitty
Lincoln, had--but her experience will
come later.
Arthur was one Of those excellent
youths who are born to be the footballs
OF fate, lie did right, not from conyic'
ton but simply because he could not dc
otherwise, Goodness was temperamenta
with him, He was 80 amlablc tnat he
would not strike back for fear OF hurt,
Ing his enemy Old ladies' AM babies
adorcd him, lie was docked part OF hls
salary every day while he was Iesculng
the persAIng from under the f,et of
lractlous horses or from trolley cars, IL
was natural for him to do all things be.
sides Going on nnumerablo errands for
idle people who knew OF his good tenn
per and his utter inability to say mo"
1t lsno; saving grace to be cDhglng
and seli-eftacIng and amlablc, especially
II these cardinal virtues are exploited at
the expense Of those POSSESSING them,
and the generosity that exceeds justice
Is seldom appreciated, As Arthur BIZ
llngs ioit the supper-room he tncount
cred an old lady carrying a handful ot
railroad folders She intercepted him,
"Oh, Mr., Billings, was Just looking
for you, | am going to California to
visit my daughter, and want you to
show me the best route and figure up
just how much II costs and how long the
trip will be, and where the eating sta
tons are, You have been there and
know all about IT,"
Now, Arthur was working overtime
on his ttlepathlc hour, but he could not
say no to the inconslderate demand of a
helpless woman. So, he sat dawn and
patiently traced on the railroad map the
route to California, marked the s,sIons
and stopping places with a red pencil
figured up the cost Of the trip, and an
swered all questions with that consider,
ate gentleness which he had acquired
with his hair and eyes. Then the clock
struck $, His telepathic circuit was
broken, What II Kitty felt his defec.
ton and missed the transfefence O'
those thought waves for which she wait.
ed. He would explain In his letter.
This Sunday night letter had no:
bumped up against any snags OF fate
since their engagement 1t held all the
news OF the week that interested them.
as we'll as the love of his heart. 1t often
bdrely escaped not being written, or
was written at railroad speed in order to
be mailed that night, and the one he was
writing on this occasion was rushed aS
usual. Actors and sporting men whc
believe in hoodoos nave panic IL they
encounter a black cat on the eve Of al
event. Arthur Billings was no. waylald
by any black cat, nevertheless he
encountered hoodoo, when he stepped
out with his sweetheart's letter address
ed and stamped in his hand. II 1t vert
out that night 1t must be mailed at once,
and he was hurrying to the postofflce
when he was nearly upset by man go
ing the other way at a high rate OF
speed. He recognized fellow clerk,
Hello, Billings he cried, "hcard thu
news? Sterling has been run over b.
an automobile and is dangerously hurt.
Sterling was their head bookkeeper
and popular man. Billings was lmme
diately crushed, "Pll go with you," he
said, as soon as / mail this letter."
oh, never mind the letter. come
along and drop 1t in the first box wa
see."
"The last mail has been taken up.
Here, boy" to passing youngster,
take this letter to the postcffite and
drop 1t in the box at the door. and here
is 10 cents for your trouble, DO you
understand"
The boy looked at the letter and then
at the 1O-cent piece. '''
"You bet do" he said with a grin
and ran off.
When the two men reached the book
keeper they found that the accident had
been greatly mlsrepresented the victim
being mere frightened than hurt No