The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-12
nY llfe so far has been 3 grn

dear LO the human heart.
 I was born with healthy constitution and a pair of leather lungs, thirteen min utes after midnight on the morning of the thirteenth day of the most unlucly month of the year It was on murlxv Friday. and on that day my poor father became bankrupt and my oldest brother died. That same year the stars fell and there was flood in the spring that devastated the land and the water was so heavy above us that 1t moved the county line two miles and cut us into the next county. which was badly in debt and was trying to build new court house by direct taxation. l was the youngest of thirteen children
 i The moon went into a total eclipse thirteen minutes after my birth and a screech owl screeched himself hoarse in the apple orchard and refused to deslst until the nurse burned the shovel in the fire.
 My mother cried and refused to be eomforted when she contemplated the handicaps under which I would have to labor in making rise in the world and I am sure my father worried himself into a premature grave. He died on Friday, thirteen months after my birth
 One day after I had gotten old enough to sit up and take notice Of things l ac- cidcntally discovered that l had seven toes on one foot and six on the other. This made thirteen in all. When I asked the nurse about it she very unl1ndly told me that l was born with every m- lucky sign under the sun and that my life was destined to be one of evcrlast- ing misfortune and misery-l would never be lucky in anything and that 1 would some day die in misery This was all very discouraging to boy still in pajamas, but right then and there 1 manfully determined to wage eternal warfare against the gods Of fate A few years later I developed a head of bril- liant red hair and went forth to the war fare
 All along the journey of life I have sought every occasion to fight contrary to every superstitious idea. l begin every large undertaking on Friday when 1t is possible, and in hotels if there is a room thirteen, I will lave no other. Thirteen is my lucky number It has al- ways brought me good fortune, and so has every other III omen, contrary to the popular opinion of the sons of men
 On Friday. the thirteenth day of last month I found myself in asmall south
  rived late. to find this hostelry crowded to the garret with delegates to an Ep- worth league state convention. There was only one vacont room in the house. That was a small room in the garret. up against the roof. The proprietor looked at me curiously as ho informed me that this was the only chance for my accom- modation
 Are you superstitious? His question an tla n which hp mt if i amused me and I assured him. laughing heartily. that,,the hobby of my life was sleeping in room E. and it. other ways defying the gods of fate
 well, l have changed the number of that room, but 1t seems to do no good. III luck seems to attend every man who i occupies 1t, and I feel 1t IS my duty to tell you these things ana relieve myself of all responsibility"
 What berame of the last man who slept in the room?'' 1 enquired.
 ''He was stranger who came the night before and called for room 13. He paid for his lodging in advance and de manded that he should not be called till i 12 o'clock next day. We broke the door down next day at l o'clock and found Aim dead on the bed. We never knew his name or where he came from. No one has ever made inquiry for him He ! is buried on the hill over there." l l was shown | the room in the garret and for several hours l sat in the one ] chair In tho room gazing into the glow ing embers in the fire place, reveling in my own fantastic thoughts and wonder ing on the frealSiness of the human intel- 1 lect. The wind and rain heat dismally l on the board roof just above my head and these added to tho dismal melan- eholy of my spirits. I thought of the ! unfortunate stranger who had come here to die amid these uninviting surround l ings, and wondered why he did not seek some more congenial spot The room was plainly furnished with an old time l aed bureau with a broken mirror, a fickety deal table and a single chair. A i single door opened into the room and ] ihcre was one window in the side Of the rdof l had locked and bolted the door and seen that the window was secure. i 1t must have been past midnight when 1 in the midst of my reveries was con- l scious of a mysterious sound behind me turned slowly and bending over me was i tie form of d man, something past mid dle age, elegantly dressed and wearing neatly trimmed beard which was streaked i with gray. As 1 turned he spoke. l Just keep Jour seat. It does not tire 1 me to stand like you flesh and blood peo- 1 pie. Mo- 1 did not como in through the l door 1 wac here already when when you 1 came in. This is my room l would not l have disturbed you but l admired wour l courage and as l have some unfinished 1 business in the world l shall ask you to attend to 1t for me"
 "I see you are the last tenant of this room The man the landlord found on the bed next day
 "I am the same but please ask me no questions It tires me to talk. Behind l that broken mirror you will find letter Secure 1t in the morning and carry 1t away with you. Do not open it until you reach Birmingham, then open 1t and fol- l low it's directions Good night l l woke with q start The sun was shin ing into the room through the dusty, dirty window in the roof 1 was still sitting in the chair before the fireplace. The fire had gone out. 1 had slept in the chair l looked about the room curousy, There was the broken mirror as my strange vision of tho night had pointed 1t out. l i walked across the room and reached be- i hind the broken glass. The letter was there. I drew it out and scrawed across l tie face of the plain envelope were the 1 words Open as directed
 i I made nasty toilet, went down 10 breakfast and caught an carly train for 1 Birmingham At twelve o'clock in my i room in one of the leading hotels of Bir- 1 mlngham tore the zeal of the myster- 1 ious envelope and read:
 You are authorized to cali al the First Natioal bank and hand this note to the cashier who will deliver to you my pr- vate papers Ralph Hurleigh.' l I hastened to the First National bank and presenting the note to the cashier re- ceived from his hands without word