Evening star., 1920-06-27
THE RULES OF LUCK
Bv Sewell Ford.

| Prof. McCabe. How did you and swifty
Joe happen to miss each other?
| well, j suppose it was on account OF
that cross-eyed porter says 'Stasnla.
| HE kept hangin' around the platform
and as l couldn't lug two bags and an
umbrella and keep my fingers crossed
at the same time l just had to stay IN
the car until he was gone"
"Oh" says l. "Unlucky both ways
| wasn't you?''
There's nothing much worse" says
she, than meetin cross-eyed stranger.
l spit once over each hand, though. Z
| THAT must have lifted the hoodoo,
says 1, "for here you are, all safe and
sound. Hungry, too. l expect?'
Miss Sweeley admits that she is.
| Then let me do the honors," says l.
81 was just on my way to lunch myself,
and by the time we get back Swiftly
fought to show up
l must say that I was hopin' we'd
meet Swiftly somewhere along 42d
street, for this delegate from Pugwash,
N. s., when 1 tows her out into the
sunlight, is kind of a picturesque female
party. It's more or less of a warmiSh
June day, you know. and while she
might be costumed for June in Nova
IA New York siZZler. Also that brown
and black mixed suit was about the
homeliest piece of goods l ever saw
made up. Sort of rusty brown, with
Woolly black SpeckS in it. And the dusty
black felt lid with the shiny leather
decorations was distinctly out of sea-
son.
Miss Sweeley don't seem to mind
though. Them little shoe-button eyes
of hers gazes around calm, and her mar
row-gauge mouth is puckered to a thin
slit. In fact, everything about her, from
the sharp nose to the mud-colored hair
drawn tight back over her ears into a
knot at the back, looks sort of pinched
up. But nothing seems to feaZe her, al
that.
"A plate of fried scrod will do fol-
ime," she suggests
"Sorry,'s says I, but there's strike
of scrod friers on just now How about
a mutton chop and a baked potato?"
Il amt much for hot meat" says she
'but maybe it'll do
So hunts up a 9Th avenue chop house
and gives double order. While the bus
boy is settin' up the table he brushes g
fork onto the floor.
"There!" says 'Stashia. THAT means
company coming
We'll, you've come" says l.
NO" says she. "1t would have beer
a spoon for me. A fork means a man
And if you find 'em crossed On you
plate you must turn your chair arount
before you sit down.
81 can see," says T. where you ant
Swiftly are goin' to get along fine. Yol
can tell each other lot of things
HUH says she. "I'll bet he can
tell me much about what's unlucky
| got most of my knowledge from ole
Marin Beaubien, who was the seventh
daughter of a seventh son. Some uset
| to say she was a witch. Anyways, Sh,
was wise one. Nursed me through th
!, smallpox and scarlet fever, Marin Beau
! bien did, and showed me how to max,
luck charms. Don't turn your head
There's hunchback gon' out, and l
N lDO1y nff
follow and rub his hump with silver
J Yes, it was sort of entertainin', afte
all, taking 'Stashia out to lunch. Bu
, was kind of relieved to find Swiftly 10
! waitin' for US at the studio when w
got back. l tells him he'd better he'll
Miss Sweeley collect her baggage an,
pilot her careful out to the wilds O
South Brooklyn, where her cousin mus
be worryin' about her. 1 thought they
4 gone, too, but the first thing / know
. herself down in a chair, and remark
breathesS:
Bread and butter!'
l "Eh?' says I, gawpin'.
t Il forgot my umbrella" says she
There it is, in the corner"
What about the bread and butter?
e says l.
! "Oh. you must say that when yo
come back into a room after you'v
r forgotten something" she explains
E Only you got to sit down first
'Huh!" says l. KNOWN all ther
/ things must keep you busy. How abou
you, Swiftly? Amt that one on you?.
: Swiftly Joe grins foolish from tn
: doorway, but don't admit thing.
l Well with him taking time off lik
that Pm kept on the jump most of tn
afternoon, taking care of reg'lars, bu
: about 4:30 has a breathin' spell an
! had just settled down to glance owe
the third baseball extra when the phon
rings.
.'Yes?" says I. 'McCabe's physica
culture studio"
THAT you. Shorty?" says a voice
This is Swiftly joe"
"Oh!" says /. Got the cousin hom,
all right. did you?'
NAH" says he, growlin' disgusted.
| "Where are YOU them" demands