Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-10

1887.
Il shall want four lottery tickets" he
unused. -Four tickets at five lire each. Then
/ shall be taking every chance offered by
that good man who has killed himself to
bring me luck, There is nothing more GER
tain on earth than such a tip as the one
my dear bother has given me. Twenty
lirel 1t is not much. 1t will bring me a
fortune. Yet 20 lire is a large sum when
ones pockets are empty!"
How to procure the money? That was
the question. He took from some grim
hiding place within his waist coat a little
leatEern purse. Opening it, he withdrew
a plain ring OF heavy gold. He siguhed as
he kissed il. Even Tonic had a little senti-
ment.
'Bahi' he saddenly cried. why should
| care; Blanca, who gave me this-she left
me-left me when well, when | went
wrong. She was not true. She deserted me
IN my trouble. Why should l care for her
ring? Besides"
The gambling fever was raging in his
blood. Die leaped up, forgetting his simu-
lated lameaess until his flashing eyes no
ticed TIE c,u1cl Then he hobbled along
to the back q the cathedral, 10 a net
work of Sums.
Entering the worstlooking house n the
worst-lookins alley. le came upon 4u Old
man whose white hairs were d|ishouorod
by the evil expression Of his fat and bloated
face.
"Ah, Tonic, son of the g%allows,' cried
the veteran rogue, "and have you brought
a contribution at last
NO, father replied Tonic, sulleHly yet
humbly, foE-the old reprobate was king Of
his craft; sit is money | want"
The king Of the beggars scowled blackly
on his subject. You have come to the
wrong shop. Get out Of my shop. Go your
own road. Trouble the fraternity no
more
Tonio's houls ;rembIed as he thrust tae
gold ring forward. See, father, he said,
Il bring you security"
"You have teen in luck, them"
"No, ! did not steal it. 1t is a token"
a love t9a-a: Ha-ha-ha!"
The yourg a=-ar crimsoned. Lend me
20 lire for that. he urged.
The old man counted out the money
TIE ring was worth five times dis much.
"15u are going TO gambler
II have suicides iucG!'
Tell me tie number
AA~ 4NtAA0 |AA rtiINN ItAN N|4tA@ aA4t VAN
ished from the house.
He bought his four tickets.
Two days later, be was one Of an eager,
busdlug crowd assembled to witness the
drawing for the grand prize in the lottery.
Tonic was white as death. He could hear
his own heart humping.
Presently, amid a m.rmur like that OF
the sea, a number was displayed upon a
board, the number that meant a fortune.
II was.
Tonic tainted. There was a deck Of foam
on bis lips. Tie people picked him up ten
DERBY, because he was lame, Gliding him
playiully the while for his emotion. They
thought ne was overcome because he held
the winning ticket.
But Ae screamed, when they brought him
round and wanted to drink with him:
"Y on fools! am one figure out-mIue was
a taree instead of q iouri"
And Trey laughed at him, and left him to
hobb.e away upon his cruteh.
lie was staggering along Ike q drunken
man, when once more he met his respect
able brother Beppo, who saw the gleam Of
madness in his eyes and the sweat on his
brow.
'"Tonio," said Beppo, stay a moment. /
have something to tell you.
Tell me nothing growied the beggar;
your tales are hes; your luck is a curse"
Look here, he exclaimed, IN tell
you what it was ! wanted to say to you. /
have been looking for you for two days. /
wished 10 let you know that / gave you
the wrong number the other day"
The wrpg number"
YES. II was not my fault. But when
J got TO the hotel, / found hat 70 was only
the number Of the Englishman's sitting
room. He shot himself in his bedroom
GGmber 74."-Ally Sloper Hall Holiday.