The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-09-16
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Polly and the Prophecy
By STANLEY BARTON
Copyright. 1910. b. Associated Li.erary Press

have been to the fortune teller. II you
must know"
Jimmy. on the day before. had
strolled through the camp Of these
picturesque nomads. Gypsy queens
have regulations for being rare
seers." he observed, thoughtfuily.
"Rare-fools." stormed the maid
Il just hate myself for having gone
out there at all. IL ought to have
known better. No one and read the
future" she concluded wisely. 1T
isn't possible"
Il deduce. then. that the parcel OF
Information handed out by the
swarthy Minerva wasn't at all to
your liking"
The girl fushed. then the storm
In her eyes suddenly abated and a
wicked little imp Of mischief danced
expectantly in its place. 1T would
be nice II l could believe her." she
ventured. demurely. 'You would
advise me to. would you not?"
Certainly" came from the grin
ming and unsuspecting Jimmy.
Gypsy queens are daughters Of
seventh daughters. you know. They
are wise in the occult"
Thereupon Polly. with a happy
i little smile, unfolded the Information
vouchsafed by her Roumanian high
| ness.
A frown clouded the youths brow
at the completion Of the tale. Rot"
he grumbled.
But" objected Polly. sweetly, II
have your own words for It that these
gypsy people are vastly clever. Since
talking to you ! have no doubt but
what 1t will come out as she said.
Anyway. I must wait for my old mil
lionaire man. I always did believe
that should marry for money. and
then-who knows-he may be nice:
and I can love him. II h is"
Polly was. in rare humor. Never
before had she been able to tease
this great. good-tempered giant. He
never took her refusals to marry
him as a good joke But Polly was to
see the sudden fruition of the gypsy's
prophesy. whether she believed in It
or not.
"Honk, honk!"
A most erratic automobile with
two occupants came zig-zagging down
the narrow road, interrupting for the
moment the interesting dialogue be.
tween the two young people.
"Honk. honk!"
As the great machine reached
them. 1t suddenly swerved to the
curb. and one of the occupants was
shot catapult-like into the very arms
Of Polly. Both were thrown to tho
walk. In an instant the new and
spectacular arrival had bounced to his
feet, and even before the astonished
Jimmy realized what had happened
had assisted the girl to her feet.
Profuse apologies came glibly to
the lips Of the man.
The newly arrived was short. fat
and well on the shade side Of sew
enty. How a man of his age could
spring SO nimbly to his feet and in
stantly execute Chesterfieldian
bow was beyond the comprehension
of the silent and wondering Jimmy.
the car" the man was explaining.
my driver has been working at II
for an hour. He couldn't stop, you
see. Only for you. young woman, I
would have been dashed to this stone
pavement. and probably killed. II you
will allow me l would like to give
you this as little token Of my ap-
probation" The old gentleman took
a two carat diamond from his finger
and passed 1t into the hands OF the
astonished girl.
"Honk. honk!"
The car. now under control. came
to sudden stop beside them. and
in an instant. the old gentleman had
climbed in beside the driver. who put
on full speed and disappeared in a
cloud OF dust.
Jimmy" gasped Polly. Il take II
all back. I will marry you. Things
happen SO fast in this world that II
is no place for an unprotected girl"
And Jimmy laughed 1oyfully.