The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-06
By The Sign Of Three
By ALFRED HENRY LEWIS,
Author O.
By ALFRED HENRY LEWIS,
Author of WolIville Stories.

money at i've hundred per cent merely
because one knows in advance the meas
ure Of his risks and profits. 1 want a
chance TO win and a chance to lose: for
l Mold with the eminent gamester Chas.
foX mat while to win offers tho finest
sensation of which the human soul is
capable. the next finest comes when you
rose. Congenitally 1 was a courtier OF
fortune. and follower of the gospel OF
chance. And this Unborn mood has car
RED me through a score of professions
until, as ! tell you this, 1 grow rich and
richer as stock Spectator and hang
over the markets. a pure gambler OF
the tape I make no apology; L simply
point to the folk who surround me.
My vocation OF a Eambler-for what
else shall one call a Spectator in stocks
has doubtless fattened my tendencies
towards the superstitious. I've witnessed
much surely, that should go to their
strengthening. Let tell you story
somewhat in line with the present cur
rent of my thought: it may reach some
distance to teach YOU with Horatio that
there are more things in heaven and
earth than are dreamed OF in our phil
osophy After all. it is the cold record
OF one of a hundred score of incidents
that encourage my natural belief in the
occult and the supernatural.
There is 4 gentleman of stocks-1've
known him twenty ycars-and he has n
weakness for the mineral three. Just
ho,y far his worship of that charmed
number enters into his business life no
one may certainly tell: he's secretive
and cautious and furnishes no evidence
on the point that may be covered up.
Yet this weakness. If one will call it so.
crops up in sundry fashions. His offices
are suite three in number thirty-three
Blank Street: his telephones are 3333 and
$3.50. respectively: his great undertakings
are Invariably deferred in their COM
mencements until the third of the month.
His peculiar and particular fetish.
'however. is a chain of three hundred
and thirty three gold beads. This was
made for him and under his direction
by Tiffany, and cost one workman some
thing over a year Of his life in its con-
struction. It is all fhand and hammer
work. this chain. and on each bead is
drawn with delicate and finished art. q
gypsy girls head. Under q. microscope
this gypsy head is perfect and the jewel
is we'll worthy the boast of the Tiffany
house as a finest piece of gold-beater's
work turned out in modern times.
1t is n listiess. warm evening at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. Our believer in
the Three is gathered casually with two
of his friends. There is no business
abroad: those mission which called our
gentleman Of the gypsy chain to New
York are all discharged; he is off duty
unbuclled. as it We're, in cheerful. light
converse over n bottle OF wine. Let us
name our friend of the Three TON Of
the Beads" while his duo Of comrades
may be Reed and Roche, respectively.
Such is mans Inconsistency that Tom
of the Beads is railing at Reed. who
has told-with airs of veneration. If not
of faith-of system that day laid
{nI 70 in,
excellent rich advance, the names of the
winning horses IN next days races Tom
OF the Beads laughs while Reed feebly
defends 'his credulty in lending the
ccuntenance of a half belief to the "sys-
tenn he describes. Then a sudden inn
pulse takes Tom of the Beads. His face
grows grave while his eye shows deep
est thought
Tomorrow is the third of the month";
observes Tom of the Beads. Then with
emphasizes: Gentlemen. III show You
how to select a horse" Then to Reed,
who holds in his hands the racing list.
Look for to-morrows third race!"
Reed finds it.
What is the third horse?"
'RdySterer."
'Roysterer!" repeats Tom of the Beads.
Good! There are nine letters in the
name; three syllables; three 'r's'!'
Then Tom of the Beads seizes with
both hands. in a sort of ecstatic catch
as catch can fashion, on the gypsy chain
of magic. he holds Il bead between the
thumb and forefinser OF each hand.
Softly he counts the little yellow globes
between.
Thirty thrce!" calculates Tom Of the
Beads Deeper lights begin to glow in
his eve One test OF the chain, how
ever, is not enough. He must make
three. a second time he takes a bead
between each forefinger and thumb;
this trial the two beads are farther
arart. Again he counts. feeling each
golden bullet with his fingers tip as the
tally proceeds.
''Sixty-siX."
There arrives a glow on the brow OF
Tom of the Beads to keep company With
the gathering sparkle Of his eye. me
questioning of the witch-chain goes on
Again he seizes the beads; again he
tells tho number.
''Ninety-nine.
The prophecy is made: the story Of
success is forctold Tom of the Beads
is on fire: he springs to his feet Roche
and Reed regard SHIN in silence curious
" He walks sharply to a Wlndo" ana
gazes out on the lamp-sprinkied evening;
..Twenty-third street! Fifth Avenue!
13,,oa dvav!' he mutters. Sun thTee-
always three"
1Tnconscio,sly Tom Of the Beads seeks
tho win5ow-shade with his hand lie
would raise it a trifle; it is low and IN
+arcents the eve as e'stands gazing INTO
tba Trio OF thorouShfares. The tasses
he crasy,s IS old--tte house was punt IN
1e5o and the shade, mayhap. had eirth
With the structure-and comes Off IN ms
fingers. Tom of the Beads turns MS