The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-02
THE EVENING STORY
What Esnah's Father Did.
(By Harold Christy.)

| MUDDY and no chance to get them
cleaned ?" scoffed Ned Hastings. ''Id
ladder than going out in the muddy
street to escape the hoodoo."
II think you're horrid," pouted
Avice. Next time I shall let you go
/ under the ladder If you want to, but
| don't blame me for what happens
Next time you'll do just the same"
| he declared, with a laugh. IT never
saw. any one quite so superstitious in
my life
you must have spilled SALT said
Avice, dolorously, land never threw
any over your left shoulder. 1 just
know that there is going to be a quar-
rel.''
| mot unless we meet up with more
| ladders over the sidewalk" he laugh
| ed, cor some other or your numerous
! signs of evil luck
/ 1t was a tactful remark well quail
| fed to fulfill Avice's prophecy, but at
| that moment the girl darted forward
and picked something from the side
walk.
"It's the best kind of luck to find
| money on a Monday" she declared.
ut means that you will gain all the
week"
'Tt's good luck to find pocketbook
on the first of April" he scoffed. ST
means you will be fooled for year
1t was fortunate for Hastings that
| the girl did not hear him. Supersti-
| ton was a dangerous subject between
| his few little superstitions and was in
tolerant of her lore of signs and
omens. Once she had declined his Of
| fer of marriage because. he spoke on
| one of her unlucky days, and when he
| had again put his fate to the test on a
day guaranteed by the almanacs to be
most lucky, she had recalled the coup
| let about a change of name though not
| of letter being change for worse and
not for better. and had said mo-"
though her heart cried Eyes"
Just now she was too busy examin-
| ing the contents of the pocketbook to
| two five-dollar bills, a two, and two
ones. The rest of the bulk was made
| up of papers covered with strange
| characters that neither could make
out There was not scrap of paper
| to show the name of the owner.
| Maybe they are charms" said Avice
| in an awed voice.
Its not Hebrew" said the more
practical Hastings. "1t may be Ara
! bic. 1 saw some writing once that
looked like that
1--WE must advertise it," she announc-
! ed. 1T belongs to some mystic and
/ there Is no telling what may happen"
I He should be clever enough to find
] it himself if he is a wonder worker"
] scoffed Hastings. I'll bet he sells rugs
from house to house or nougat from a
| stand"
Avice frowned at his Ievity. and I'M
| til they reached home she could talk
of nothing but the pocketbook and it's
mysterious owner. AS they parted at
| her hand.
you won't forget that we are going
to the boat club reception tonight" he
| begged Don't get so completely
wrapped up in your magi that you for
get me-
.'I'l be ready" she assured him with
sudden penitence. II will be ready at
8. Will that be time enough?"
| lust right" he agreed. "I'H be here
| on the moment"
| He turned away and went off up the
street This was the first reception
| given by his boat club in it's new house
| and it was the event of the year to Its
| members. For three months they had
been preparing for it, and Hastings was
all excitement.
/ He was at the house five minutes be-
fore eight with huge bouquet, but his
face fell when Avice came into the
| room in the same cloth dress she had
worn that afternoon.
| 81 didn't forget she cried as she
| noted the disappointment in his face,
| but I must go downtown first. 1 am
in such terrible danger, Ned"
| What is the matter?' he cried in
alarm, forgetting the reception for a
moment. For answer she held out a
paper.
Let me read this" she commanded.
pocketbook. If the finder does not re-
turn the same Esnah, son of Hamid
will do even as did his father before
him."
| Where is the danger?'. he demanded.
| He says" she went out" Three days
| will be allowed and this is Saturdays
paper That means that unless he gets
f tonight he wiIl-oh! I don't know
! what he will do. That is what makes
it so terrible"
And you mean to say that he has
frightened you into taking the pocket,
will take it over in the morning. I'll
| take chances on the curse"
| But he says the finder" she per-
sisted. I'm the finder. We must go
at once. Ned"
For a moment disappointment and
Impotence struggled with love. Then
the saving sense of humor came to his
relief and he threw back his head and
laughed.
Get your things on he said when
his laughter died. land we will hunt
up this sorcerer of the pleasant prom
Uses Perhaps we can get to the recep-
ton before it closes anyway"
They found the address with some
difficulty. 1t was a curio shop in the
foreign quarter, and through the jun.
hookahs in the window, Esnah. the son
! of Hamid. could be seen putting away
at his cigarette.
tered, turning to Hastings for informa-
ton as to his wants. Avice pressed ca
gerly forward.
| Are you Esnah, son of Hamid?" she
demanded. Are you the man who lost
the purse?''
IT am he" said the Egyptian, with a
flash of his white teeth beneath the
black mustache.
| Avice's face fell. She had anticipated
a man wrapped in mystic robes sitting
over a brazier on which dubbed cali
dron. He was very ordinary shop
keeper without even a fez to lend local
color
There were in the purse $14 and
some most important papers. 1t was of
red leather, with strap" he went on.