Evening star., 1928-03-12
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE ANGEL OF THE ODD
EDGAR ALLEN POE

blinded, I passed her by. She would
not forgive the affront. now con-
sidered 1t high time TO die. and accord
ingly made my way TO the nearest river.
Here. taking of my clothes. threw
myself into the current.
The sole witness Of my fate was a
solitary crow that had been led into
eating brandy-saturated corn. and so
had staggered away from his fellows.
The bird took It into his head to fly
away with the most indispensable por-
ton OF my apparel. Postponing. there
fore, my suicidal design, slipped my
neither extrenlities into the sleeves OF
my coat and pursued the thief with
all the Yimblesness which the case re-
quired. But my evil destiny attended
me still.
As I ran at full speed, with my nose
| up In the air and intent only on the
plunderer Of my property, I suddenly
perceived that my feet rested no longer
on anything-~I had thrown myself
over precipice, and should have been
dashed 10 pieces but for my good for
tune in graSping the end OF long
| guide rope. which hung from passing
| balloon.
As soon as realized the terrific
| predicament In which stood, or rather
aAli@Es EAEe e@A nay adIiB5 W UlAEE NY
| danger known 10 the ballOonist over
| head. For time he did not hear me.
Then saw 1t was the Angel OF the
! Odd himself He asked me II / had
I come 10 my senses. ! nodded.
| He asked me II believed In him at
| last, and that there was great posi- -
| hility for odd things To happen that
were perfectly credible. / again nodded
| my head In assent And he wanted
| 10 know II / acknowledged myself a
| blind drunk and a fool. ! nodded once
| more.
Then he told me the oldest thing
70 %, He said for me 70 put my right
| hand into my left breeches pocket, to
| snow my submission 10 the Angel vi
| the Odd
This thing found II quite impos-
sible 10 do. In the first place. my lef,
| arm had been broken In my jail from
the ladder, snd therefore, had ~ let n
my hold with the right hand j must
have let 90 altogether. In the second
place, could have no breeches until
came across The crow who had Etoler
them, / Was therefore obliged. mncf
" my regret. 10 shake my head In TN
negative. intending thus 10 give tfs
Angel ~ understand that found IL In.
convenient, Just at that moment IL
1
mand. No sooner however, had
ceased shaking my head than~~
20 ~ The devil then" f0ared th'
Angel III the Odd.
. In prGn0uucing these words he drey
| q sharp knife aAEoss the guide rope b.
wi,ich was suspended, and as We thei
I happened ~ be precisely over my own
! house (which, during my absence hal
] been handsomely rehliiIt~~it 90 occirfea
: that tImbled headiong down th
} ample chimney and lit upon The dinin
} ram hearth.
' Upon coming IN my senses tfor th
] fall had very thoroughly stunned me
! / found H. about o'clock IN the morn
G ing / lay 0iatstrstehed where | bal
7 fallen from the balloon, NY hea'
= | RroYejed IN the ashes III 81 eAtingllishe
! fire. willie my feet fep}eed upon III
| wreck II II small table. 9perthr0Wt, an
4 amid the fragments III mtsesiIansal
!, dessert, int1tningled with a nfwspapsi
some broken glasses aud shattered bot
I lies sud sn empty jug, Thus revenge
q | himself the Angel 0f tlle Odd and cure
y me- of ekepticism regarding him,