The Washington times., 1920-07-18
EReEANT FREDERICK WALTERS

,sI U. S. A., OF General Pershins's staff
-sA during the war in Europe, youthful
.sYsteran of the Philippines, Hawaii and
s.16s1ico as we'll. has succeeded at last in
.ssHarryinx Miss Florence Kelley, very
,;.Y4etty, quite accomplished, and one OF
those girls who did their bit for Uncle
s$am as Yeomanettes.
s.sfehind this apparently unexciting state
nent surges a perfect sea OF romance,
Hopes and heartaches. Day after day for
nearly Ave years, the hoodoo Of Friday
tAethirteenth-the day the sergeant's
brown eyes and Mss Kelley's blue ones
FIRST met-has dogged this pair OF lovers
rsgeutlessly pursuing them wherever they
went and doing its level worst to keep
them from each others arms.
Certainly there never was a more (lte-
full, more persistent jinx than this. II
stopped at nothing in its efforts to ruin this
romance, throwing all sorts OF obstacles
in the way OF the lovers meeting and even
threatening them with death by wrecking
railroad train in which they were riding.
Six times the wedding day was set, but on
each occasion in stepped Mr.. Jinx to pre-
vent.
But Cupid had evidently marked these
lovers for his very own. and he was not
to be cheated Of his prize, even by hoo
doc as relentless as this one proved to be.
It was a desperate struggle. but in the end
the little god OF love came out victor.
It was a few minutes before midnight Of
Friday August 13. 1915, and the Southern
7 jtod IN uct n
Jersey City station. Down the plat
form came striding Sergeant Walters.
sturdy, goodlooking young man, on his
way to rejoin the Sixth Field Artillery at
. Douglas, Arizona.
~ As he passed a bevy OF laughing girls
and their escorts he heard the words: Fri
day, the thirteenth" For the first time
it occurred to him that he was beginning
his journey on what is considered the un.
luckiest OF davs. But Ave years In the
army is not the sort Of training to make
man superstitious, and the sergeant saw
no cause for worry
s What he did see that set his heart to
.futtering as it had never futtered before
, was a striking figure which stood out from
the little group Of people he was passing
: and held his gaze fascinated. 1t was the
,agure OF a girl-a slender. graceful, viva.
cious girl, black haired, blue eyed
A.nLordyr said Sergeant Walters. with
sigh singularly out OF harmony with his
stern military appearance 'Lordy, why
couldn't have seen that girl three months
: ago, when my furlough was Just beginning?
..Friday.th e.thirteenth a hoodoo? III say
y-tis!"
he reached the steps OF his car he
:: turned his head and searched the length OF
the platform with longing eyes. But the
efsion Of loveliness who had won his heart
: In one glance was no longer to be seen.
II He did not know whether she had boarded
the train or left the station. Probably the
'-latter, he thought sloomily.
! The memory OF what he had seen for just
an instant, however, was something that
y would live forever. All night long those
!. delightful blue eyes laughed through his
dreams, and when he awoke It was with
-. feeling Of intense regret that they were not
. reality.
Filled with gloom by the growing convic.
:, tion that Friday, the thirteenth. was hoo
doc after all. the sergeant left his berth
and started down the swaying Pullman
aisle toward the washroom He had taken
only a few steps when he saw something
that suddenly brought MIN 70 TN place.
hslt!r In a section Just forward Of his
own there sat the owner Of the black hair
and the smiling blue eyes whose image had
shared his dreams.
Like magic the sergeant's gloon, van.
-ished ''All bunk, this Friday, the thir-
- nteenth stuff" he muttered ss he made
, his toilet with unusual care and adjusted
. bic uniform to a degree OF perfection that
would have amazed his superior officers.
Then he fastened back to make sure that
,>it was all true. Yes, the girl was still there.
But although a lucky chance had thrown
. ,her In the same car with him, although
she sat almost within reach OF his hand,
shov was he ever going to meet herr
=. One look at her was enough TO show
that she was not the sort OF girl who
respond 70 hirtstious advances He
wos. glad Of that a-d yet sorry, but even