The Washington herald., 1917-03-30

1t must be so queer, to depend con-
think I am one bit superstititous, except
perhaps In one way. do really believe
that unless we help those whom We are
able to. and who need It. that perhaps
the day may come when we ourselves
may want
We were taking LESS Than the Dust"
out on Long Island last summer when
the most comical thing happened. The
picture with its peculiar far-east atmos-
phere appealed greatly to all OF US who
took part in It. It was in the summer
time. when a great many professional
PEOPLE are laid OF from their regular
work, and are willing to accept a less
lucrative position. We really had a
splendid lot of EXTRAS" and among
them was Sonora NJ. She used to come
out to the studio every morning, dressed
all In black even to gloves, and q long
thin huttering veil. just as IL she were
going to early mass, back in her home
town. Barcelona, Spain.
One feft instinctively that the Sonora
was nurturtng a secret sorrow. She did
not mingle with any of the women in
the company. but set apart, her long ven
tossed picturesquely back, her dark eyeg
following every detail and taking of
SSSACc. AAci SOAoldHL Oulg COthpohhch
was a little dog. a Belgian griffon whom
she called Zi-ZL Zi-z was a regular
little over-fed dowager of a dog. Her
big dark eyes matched those of her mis-
tress, in theE melancholy abstraction.
She dozed hour after hour on her mis-
tress' cloak thrown down on the corner
OF the general dressing room Of the
extras.
When we were about half way through
the picture, there was need one day OF
some peacock feathers. l forget exactly
how they were to be used-I think It wa.
in the head dress of one of the fakirs.
But they were procured from the city,
and after the scene was taken. they were
tossed to one side. A few minutes aft
erwards everyone in the Studio was
startled by cry that was half a scream
One of the dancing girls. a nervous. su-
perstitious little thing. had found the
peacock feathers on her silk scarf Like
nearly all professional people, she con-
sidered them the most malignant sign OF
bad luck.
who threw those things therer' she
called out. Indignantly.
But Sonora M stepped to her side
with a curious little smile, funblinR al
something concealed about her throat
1T is nothing, my dear. nothing at all
You are afraid of bad luck? ] will ward
1t away from you"
The girl stared at her with frightened
and unbelieving eyes.
Yes. you can. Like fun. I was in a
peacock dance at a cabaret show this
spring, and there's been two deaths in
the family since. and this is the first en-.
gagement I've had since April, II Won
can cross bad luck like that out. I'd like
to know how"
The Sonora drew from around her
throat little silken bag, SUSPENDED nv
thin cord. She opened II. with her
smile of curious certainty. and took out
queer little dried-up object that looked
like ripe olive.
You see?'' she said, in triumph. 81
will touch your peacock feathers with
this. and the bad luck shall not harm
you. Last year / was playing In Ecua.
dor. at Quito; l came down sick with a
terrible fever. The old native woman
who nursed me, gave me this It is q
toe from the sacred tomb Of Matzyl
ancient luck god OF the Inca. This
she held 1t from her. between her thumb
and forefinger. and I'm quite sure that
Zt-Zi thought 1t was a special It'd bit for
good behavior. She jumped for her
| mistress hand and snatched the sacred
toe
Before the Sonora could recover It, II
had gone down Zi-Zrs little red lane
and she licked her chops with satisfac-
! ton. l really did admire the poise of the
Sonora She looked gloomy and Mortified
| but resigned.
What is to be. will be-" she said
with calm fatalism.
You see." said the other girl. ''You
can't even hand me luck. I'm going &c
pack now before they tell me to go
| You can't break a peacock jinx."
! Nothing could persuade her to stay
She left that same afternoon. but the
Sonora remained. l asked her whether
she thought the eating of the relic wouli
| bring Zi-Zi good or bad luck. The Sen.
| ora eyed Zi-Zf refectively
Bad luck. 1 fear. Senorita." she said
ALREADY she is not we'll But Zi-Z
recovered, and the episode was forgot.
ten in a few days.
| Whenever l see peacock feather now
| always think of it and laugh and
In very glad to say that the loss OF
the toe did not seem to hamper the
Senorita's prospects. She was a very