Gilpin observer., 1907-01-24
The FORTUNE TELLER
by GEORGE WEYMOUTH

sank into chair. He looked at Nine.
Zero with twinkling, hard eyes.
Il suppose it merely is matter Of
money with you?" he asked. But the
fortune teller would not commit her.
self. She waited to hear the particu-
lars.
He took a roll of greenbacks from
his pocket and suggestively tipped the
rubber band that held the bills in
place.
There's girl coming here this
afternoon" he continued. 81 want you
to tell her few things. Will you
do it?"
'If it's nothing wrong" said the for
tune teller. She spoke to the man.
but her eyes were glued to the roll Of
money.
20, it's not wrong" said the man.
Its dead right. / mean to marry the
girl, but she thinks she's in love with
another fellow"
"And you want me to make her be-
lieve that you are her fate? That she
is bound to marry you-that it is so
written in the stars?" Madame looked
at the man in admiration.
You have the idea. Here is the
material" said the man, giving the
fortune teller typewriter sheet.
You'll And ali the particulars there
girls early history and some inti-
mate personal facts. When you string
her along with these she'll be ready
to believe anything you say. You look
at me. You see how l look. Well, I'm
=, Co Tba falI hn
that isn't her fate-is slender and
dark, and dreamy eyed. He's sweet
thing all right,"-the big man laughed
but he never will have any money.
He's impractical. 1t would be crime
for the girl to marry him. I'm the
man that can take care OF her. So If
you've got any conscience you can let
1t rest in peace. I'm paying you for
doing the right thing this time"
Once more he Tipped the rubber
band that held the roll of bills.
How much?" he asked.
''Ill leave 1t to you." said the for
tune teller, after a moments thought.
1.-The more you give me the better job
I'll do"
The man laughed and tossed the
roll of bills into her lap.
Then do your best" he said. You
Will know the girl when she comes, be-
cause there'n be a middle aged wom-
an, red haired and of the name of
Brown, with her. The girl herself is
young and as sweet as flower. Her
name is Lillian. and the other woman
will call her that, SO you will know
her whatever name she happens to
give"
I'll do my part" said the fortune
teller. IF she doesn't believe in clair
voyance when she comes here she will
when she goes away. and even II her
heart is broken she will resign her
self to the inevitable"
20. her heart won't break" said the
man. laughing good humoredly. IF
it does I'll mend it."
After he had gone out Nine. Zero
slipped off the rubber band and count
ed the money. The amount was SO
large that she was astonished. Then
she read the typewriter memoranda
md learned her lesson thoroughly.
That afternoon the girl came, laugh
ing and blushing, with the older wom-
an. The trip to the fortune teller's
evidently was regarded as great lark.
After the two women mad been gone
for an hour the man came back. He
! was laughing still. but clearly anxious
to know how the plot had worked.
1T was an ingenious scheme" said
the fortune teller. There was no
chance for 1t to fail. After had told
her about her own childhood, and
about her mothers death and her
fathers journey to the Philippines, she
was ready to believe everything else"
81 knew It," said the man.
Il told her about her two lovers
yourself and the other-and / discov-
cred that you were wrong"
Yes. in what?"
"She does not think merely that she
loves the other man-she loves HIM.
| 1t would have made your heart bleed
to see the pitiful, broken way she
looked at me when began to tell her
that she must give him up. She is not
girl to love lightly. She never will
forget him."
20. I'll see that she does" said the
man.
81 hate to disappoint you" said the
fortune teller, but when reached
this point my heart failed me and I
switched back. could not shatter
the childs dream. There are some
things that even a fortune teller can't
do for money"
you took the money. though"
sneered the man.
"But I'm gong to give 1t back to
you" She opened her purse and took
out the same roll of greenbacks. held
together by the same rubber band, and
tossed 1t into the mans lap.