Evening journal., 1903-01-03
CHE UCK OF
BLACKBOAR RD
HANNIGAN

Blachboards of the right kind were
getting scarcer and scarcer and the
November air had way of nipping the
ears and nose which was not pleasant.
Hannigan was n wandering painter.
lie had once been proficient as de-
spoiler OF scenery, as many of the leg
ends which now adorn the Buckeye
landscape and proclaim The merits Of
pink pellets and condition powders viii
testify. Rum had got the upper hand
of Hannigan. His hsnd was no longer
steady enough to follow the conhgura-
ton Of letters. even when they were
chalked out by steadier fingers, but
Hannigan could still paint blackboards.
There was q time when around the
walls of every district school in south
ern Ohio there was painted dark
dado on which the pupils worked out
their arlthmetical salvation.
Mr.. Hannigan as he strobe along the
tracks was muttering to himself about
the perverslty of fortune. lie had
spent nearly his last cent for material.
He had been to three schoolhouses, and
In each he had been confronted with
slabs of smoothly polished slate which
covered the plastered wall The agent
Of Chicago school supply company
had preceded Ifannigan and had done
him much injury. At the last school
house the teacher had smiled pityingly
when the decorator talked of the evil
which had come upon him. She had
unclasped from long chain which she
wore a silver mounted rabbits foot and
had insisted upon the astonished paint
er's accepting it.
Now that Hannigan was alone again
his thoughts went back TO the little
schoolhouse, and the more he thought
about the duplicity Of the trustees and
the slate blackboards the more angry
he became. He drew from his pocket
the fuzzy fetch which the teacher had
given him and in the half darkness con-
templated it with a look Of fine scorn.
Hannigan was walking on the railroad
track with the measured tread common
to the experienced wanderer who avails
himself of that courtesy Of the compa-
ny known as the ''tie pass"
"Luckw muttered Hannigan. "Jim
Hannigan walking the track with not q
thing in his pocket but rabbits foot
has run of luck, hasn't he? Where's
that fool thipg?"
Hannigan took the talisman from his
pocket and threw it ON the track. II
dropped near q rail, where the CLINT
from its mounting revealed its pres
ence. Hannigan stopped as though tC
pick it up again. Then he reconsid
cred.
mo-" said he; "don't want It; wont
have It. Let some fellow find it who
wasn't born to be unlucky."
Hannlgan heard a shrill whistle aut
the rumble of wheels. He stepped aside
in mechanical way just in time t
evade a train. He stood for momen
contemplating the two fiery eyes Of rec
which were diminishing in front o
him. Then he looked around him.
Il was crossing the long trestle, ant
l didn't know it," said Hannigan
''Now, by gum. that is what / call lucl
crossing the trestle with no chance il
the world to get off it and spikes on III
sides OF the track to make it uncom
Portable for us hoboes; crossing tn
trestle. by jingl If l had jumped,
would have been drowned in twent
feet of water, and II had stayed the
would never have recognized me e1
cept for this can of sawdust cocktails
Jim Hannigan. you are an ungrateft
cuss. That rabbits foot saved you, an
+ you threw it away. This is where yo
see a crayon enlargement Of Jim HaI
nigan going back to find the only thin
which ever brought him luck"
( He went back over the ties. dodgln
] the spikes, looking for the rabbit
, foot. he could see no trace Of it. II
glanced up in time to see two bulgin
eyes Of red which were growing bigg,
with every second. James Hanniga
jumped and shrieked. The "Canno
Ball" was backing down ON him, an
= he was in the middle Of the trestle. i
n threw himself on the track, rolled owe
S clasped the end of tie in his arms an
n swung himself of Just as the EXPIRE
whizzed over his head. Above him W.
the roar Of the train. and beneath hi
the waters OF the Hooking were gree
lily tapping the wooden piles.
"Talk about hard luck" mutter'
the trembling painter of blackboard
s. "Queered for life by rabbits foot Al
a schoolmarm's smile"
The trestle was vibrating benea
the weight OF the train. Hanniga
with his right arm within six inches
the rail over which were rushing I
wheels Of the Cannon Ball." felt
-, shlver through every nerve Of his bod
"a He yelled curses, and the rails ga
back n mocking sound. He felt {
ia dun pain OF WEAKNESS in his arms.
"A "Twenty feet OF water below
moaned Hannigan, "and / can't swi
couldn't draw myself up, even il I
train wasn't here. Well, so long. evei
body. Here is the end of James H'
3 nigan, born a scenic artist, died
S. bum"
q He dropped. The cold waters clio.
about the form of the knight Of {