The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-09-16
A FOOTBALL OF FATE.


Arthur Billings rose from the light Sun
day evening supper which supplemented the
heavy noon dinner on that day at the hotel
where he boarded and hurried TO MS room
10 hold telepathic conference with his
sweetheart in another state, who was sup
posed to be holding at the same moment
telepathic communication with him. The
hour between seven and eight p. m. had
been agreed upon by letter, and Arthur had
not missed the claire-audient privilege once,
although no results had indicated any wave
of thought transference between their
souls. II his sweetheart Kitty Lincoln had
but her experience viii come later.
Arthur was one Of those excellent youths
VINO are born to be the footballs Of fate He
did right, not from conviction, but simply
because he could not do otherwise Good
ness was temperamentAl with him He was
90 amiabIe that he would not strike back for
fear Of hurting his enemy. Old ladies and
babies adored him. He was locked part Of
his salary every day while he was rescuing
the perishing from under the feet Of frae-
tious horses or from trolley cars. It was
natural for him to do all these things besides
going on innumerable errands for idle people
who knew Of his good temper and his utter
inability to say mo"
1t Is not saving grace to be obliging and
self-efacing and amIable, especially if these
cardinal virtues are exploited at the expense
of those possessing them, and the generosity
that exceeds justice is seldom appreciated.
As Arthur Billings left the supper room he
encountered an old lady carrying a handf1
of railroad folders. She intercepted him.
"0h, Mr.. Billings, was Just looking for
you / am going TO California to visit my
daughter, and 1 want you to show me the
best route and figure up just how much It
costs and how long the trip viii be, and
where the eating stations are. You have
been there and know all about it"
Nov Arthur was working overtime on his
telepathic hour, but he could not say no 70
the inconsiderate demand Of helpless
woman. So he sat down and patiently traced
on the railroad map the route to California,
marked the stations and stopping places
with red pencil, figured up the cost Of the
trip and answered all questions with that
considerate gentleness which he had &C.
quired with his hair and eyes. Then the
clock struck eight. His telepathic circuit
was broken. What if Kitty felt his defec-
ton and missed the transference Of those
thought waves for which she waited, He
would explain IN his letter
up against any snags of fate since their en-
gagement. 1t held al the news Of the week
that interested them, as well as tire love Of
his heart 1t often barely escaped not being
written, or was written at railroad speed IN
order to be mailed that night, and the one
be was writing on this occasion was rushed
as usual Actors and sporting men who be
lieve in hOodoos have a panic If they en-
counter black cat on the eve Of an event
Arthur Billings was not Waylaid by any
black cat nevertheless he encountered q
hoodoo when he stepped out with ms sweet
hearts letter addressed and stamped N N
hand. II 1t went out that night It must b
mailed at once. and he was hurrying TO tn,
post office when ne Was nearly upset By 1
man going the other way at high rate o
speed. He recognized fellow clerk.
Hello. Billings" he cried, heard tn
news! Sterling mas been run over BY an au
tomobhe and Is dangerously hurt
Sterling was their head bOokkeeper, ant
a popular man. Billings was immed1atel!
crushed. 'Ill 20 with you" he said, "a
soon as / mad this letter
'.Oh. never mind the letter; come alonl
and drop it in the first box we see"
The last mail has been taken up. Here
boy" to passing youngster, take this let
ter into the post Office and drop it in the BOZ
at the door. And here Is ten cents for you
trouble Do you understand
The boy looked at the letter and then a
the ten-cent piece.
You be, 1 do.' he said. with grin, an,
ran of.
When the two men reached the book
keeper they found the accident had beei
| greatly misrepresented, the victim beini
more frightened than hurt. No bones wer
/ broken, and the bruises would easily heal
/ Billings stayed to comfort him, and wa
/ honestly glad 10 be Of service. What tina
/ service was costing him he never dreamed.
A week passed and ne did not hear from
/ Kitty Lincoln. He wrote, asking If she wer
| i'll, and received no answer. Then he wired
and a laconic telegram, "AH well, came
/ signed with her name. He knew no NOR
/ than the man in the moon what was wrong
/ and waited for enlightenment with his az
customed patience and sweetness.
I In her home in OHIO Miss Lincoln wa
waiting for her Sunday letter from he
/ lover in Illinois. She had skipped tn
I thought transferenee vigil on that evenin
because she had no faith in It anyway, an
/ two girl friends had asked her to 90 wall
ing, which she much preferred to shuttir
herself up alone with bOgy thoughts Dea
Arthur was a little queer at times. an
rather hard to take seriously. When Nor
day failed to bring a letter she va
piqued Tuesday she was angry at its nor
appearance Wednesday the delayed lei
ter was handed TO her in the post office. !
looked like tramp misSive. soiled and
lapidsted, but addressed in Arthur's faml
lar writing. But across the top of the lette
were some words in a strange hand. Th
anvelODe Rad.