The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-21
THE FORTUNE TELLER
sy GEORGE WEYMOUTH

teller Morning said the man as he
sank into chair. He looked at Nine.
Zero with twinkling. hard eyes.
81 suppose II merely is a matter OF
money with your" he asked. But the
fortune teller would not commit her.
self. She waited to hear the partlcu'
lars.
He took roll of greenbacks from
HIS pocket and suggestively Tipped the
rubber band that held the bills In
place.
There's a girl coming here this
afternoon" he continued u want you
to tell her few things. VIII you
do III"
IF IT'S nothing wrong" said the for
tune teller She spoke to the man,
but her eyes were glued TO the roll oil
money.
20, It's not wrong" said the man.
TITS 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 10 marry you-that II 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 find all 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 look. Well, I'm
her fate. The other fellow--the man
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. II would be a crime
for the girl TO marry him. I'm the
man that can take care Of her. so II
you've got any conscience you can let
II rest In peace. I'm paying you for
doing the right thing this time
Once more he clipped the rubber
band that held the roll OF bills
How much?" he asked.
"I'll leave II to you" said the for
tune teller. after moments thought
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
viii know the girl when she comes. be
cause therell be a middle aged WON
an. red haired and OF the name OF
Brown. with her. The girl herself u
young and as sweet as flower. Her
name IL Lillian. and the other woman
will call her that. 30 you will know
her whatever name she happens to
give"
I'm do my part" said the fortune
teller. III she doesn't believe In clair
yoyance when she comes here she will
when she goes away. and even n her
heart Il broken she will resign her
self TO the inevitable"
20. her heart won't break" said the
man. laughing good humoredly. III
II does ri mend H."
After he had gone out Nine. Zero
slipped on the rubber band and count.
cd the money. The amount was %
large that she was astonished. Then
she read the typewriter memoranda
and learned her lesson thoroughly.
That afternoon the girl came. laugh
ing and blushlns. with the older won.
an. The trip 10 the fortune toller's
evidently was regarded as n great lark.
After the two women had been gone
for an hour the man came back lie
was laughing still. but clearly anxious
60 know how the plot had worked
1T was an Ingenious scheme" said
the fortune teller. There was no
chance for Il to fail After had told
her about her own childhood and
about her mothers death and her
fathers journey 10 the Philippines. she
was ready TO believe everything else"
Il knew e." said the man.
Il told her about her two lovers
yourself and the other-and disoov.
cred that you were wrong"
Yes. In whatG"
she does not think merely that she
loves the other man-she loves ham.
II would have made your heart bleed
10 see the pltlfal. broken way she
looked At mo when began Ia tell her
that she must give him up. She IL NO,
h Girl TO love lightly She never win
forget him"
20. III see that she does. said the
man.
Il hate 10 dlsappolnt you" said the
fortune teller. hut when I reached
this point my heart failed me and
switched hack. I could not shatteg
the child's dream. There are some
things that even a fortune teller can't
do for money"
you took the money. though"
snecrcd the man.
but I'm gong 20 give II back 20
you" She opened her purse and took
out the same roll Of grccnbacks. held
together by the same rubber band. and
tossed II into the mans lap.
Perhaps she'll invite you 10 the
wedding" said the fortune teller. con.
solingiy.
lie laughed again M he went out
but his laugh was forced. Chicago
rrlhune