The Washington herald., 1907-10-23

I may have saved your life" declared
Avice, earnestly.
What's life when your boots are
muddy and no chance to get them
cleaned?" scoffed Ned Hastings. I'd
rather take chances on walking under a
ladder than going out in the muddy
street 10 escape the hoodvo."
4 think you're horrid," pouted Avice
/ Next time I shall let you go under the
| ladder il you want TO- but don't blame
/ re for what happens"
Next time you'll do just the same. ="
he declared with a laugh I never saw
any one quite so superstitlous in my
life
You must have spilled salt" said
Avice dolorously. and you never threw
/ any over your left shoulder. just know
/ that there is going to he a quarrel"
Not unless We meet up with more lad
ders over the sidewalk" he laughed, "or
/ some other Of your numerous signs Of
/ evil luck"
/ 1t was tactful remark, well qualified
TO fulfill Avice's prophecy, but at that
moment the girl darted forward and
| picked something from the sidewalk
! It's the best kind Of luck to find
money on a Monday" she declared. 1T
means that you viii gain al the week"
/ It's good luck to find pocketbook on
| the first of April. he sconed- Tt means
you Will be fooled for year"
It was fortunate for Hastings that the
| girl did not hear him. Superstition was
a dangerous subject between them. Hast
/ ings would not confess to his few little
/ sUpeTstitions and was lntolerant of her
| lore OF signs and omens. once she had
/ declined his offer of marriage because
he spoke on one Of her unlucky days, and
when he had again put his fate to the
: test on day guaranteed by the alma
macs 10 be most lucky, she had recalled
/ the couplet about a change Of name
though not Of letter being, a change for
worse and not for better, and had said
no, though her heart cried yes"
| Just now she was too busy examining
the contents Of the pocketbOOk TO give
heed to his filings. There were two $
bills, 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 a scrap
of paper TO show the name Of the owner.
Maybe they are charms" said Avice
in an awed voice.
It's not Hebrew" said the more prac-
teal Hastings. 1T may. be Arabic I
saw some writing once that looked Ike
that"
We must advertise It," she announced.
1T belongs TO some mystic and there is
no telling what may happen"
He should be clever enough 10 find II
/ himself if he is wonder worker" +"
sconed H5stings. IN bet he sells rugs
/ from house 10 house or nOugat from d
stand"
Avice frowned at his Ievity, and until
they reached home she could talk Of
nothing but the pOCketbOOk and its mys-
/ terious owner. As they parted at the
foot of the steps Hastings caught her
hand.
You won't forget that we are going
/ to the boat club reception to-night?" he
! begged. Don't get so completely wrap
ped up in your magi that you forget
me-"
III be ready" she assured him with
! sudden penitence. 4 will be ready at
Is. viii that be time enough?"
/ Just right" he agreed. I'll be here
/ on the moment"
/ He turned away and went of up the
street This was the first reception
given by this boat club in its new house
/ and it was the event of the year to it's
/ 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 a huge bouquet, but his
/ face fell when Avice came into the room
/ in the same cloth dress she had worn
/ that afternoon
I didn't forget" she cried, as she
noted the disappointment in his face,
/ but 1 must go downtown first. I am
/ in such terrible danger, Ned"
What Is the natter" he cried in
/ alarm, forgetting the reception for a mo-
ment. For answer she held out a paper.
/ Let me read this" she commanded.
Listen: 'Esnah son of Hamid lost his
| pocketbook. If che finder does not return
1 the same Esnah, son Of Hamid viii do
even as did his father before him "
Hastings smiled
Where is the danger?" he demanded.
He says" she went on, Three days
viii be allowed and this is Saturdays
paper. That means that unless he gets
I it tonight he will-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
book back tonight Give it to me and
will take 1t over in the morning. I'll take
chances on the curse
BE he says the finder she per-
sisted. I'm the finder. We must so at
once Ned"
For moment disappointment and I'M
patience 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, "and we viii hunt up
this sOrcerer Of the pleasant promises.
Perhaps We can get to the reception be-
fore 1t closes, anyway"
They found the address with some diff
Guilty. It was a curio shop in the for
eign quarter, and through the tumble OF
rugs, Turkish slippers and hookahs in
the window, Esnah, the son of Hamid,
could be seen putting away at his ciga-
rette.
He came forward politely as they en-
]