The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1931-04-30
The Past, Present
and Future
By H. IRVING KING

!AfADAME ZENOBIA, the yeiled
lNl prophecies, was having dull
and Improbable day. The other
sideshows at the county fair seemed
to be doing we'll. but there was a
deplorable lack of curiosity with
regard to 1.-THE Secrets of the Past.
Present and Future" Madame
Zenobia's stock In trade. Sudden
~ Into her deserted tent rushed Il
girl of eighteen, who cried out :
"0h, please hide mel Here's ten
dollars"
The yelled prophecies elutched
the bill In firm grip. There's no
place." she said, "but my dressing
room, and they would be sure to
search that"
"Oh, do something" pleaded the
young lady. "Please don't LET them
find me-"
Zenobia was a woman of resource
and a woman of action. "Come
here said she. In SURPRISINGLY
short time the two women emerged
from the little dressing room,
lenobia clad in the girls clothes
and the girl arrayed as the yelled
prophecies.
sit there and gaze at that crys-
tal," commanded Zenobia. A min.
ute later and a middle aged, pros
porous looking man entered the
tent. "Ah, here you are," cried he:
they told ME you had been seen
coming in here. Now, Ellen, you
come right straight home. Robert
is half distracted. and if catch
that rascal Murchison. I'll wiring
his neck. Elope would you?" And
he placed his hand on the shoulder
of the woman who sat with her
back toward him. The woman
turned and he gazed into the hard
lined face and the sharp, crafty
eyes of Zenobia.
Great cats" he cried. sT beg
pardon; but thought you were
somebody else"
Il am not" responded Zenobia
sharply. Across the table the girl
behind the veil of silver trembIed;
but uttered no sound. Now said
the prophecies as the man depart
ed, what does all this mean?
What's your name besides Ellen?s
Bancroft" faltered the girl. 81
i was going to run away with
George Murchison. but I'm afraid
In love with George?' queried
zenobia.
Il thought | was" sobbed Ellen:
but now don't know. We were
going to New York. | am awfuliy
sorry Robert takes the matter so
hard"
Here" commanded Zenobia,
give me your hand; LET me read
your palm. All! Here ii is. |
see a young man named George
Murchison = good looking : wears
jewelry-fiashy sort of fellow
blew into town from the city--talks
big and tells everybody what a
devil of a fellow he is. There's an.
other fellow named Robert some
thing"
Johnson" murmured Ellen.
Eyes, that's it; Robert Johnson
went on the seeress. Everyday
sort of chap-dead in love with you
sober, steady, well-to-do. That
was your pa who came in here.
Your pas got money. That's what
George is after. Robert is after
you. See that line there? That
means that you are not going to
marry George. You are going to
marry Robert and be happy ever
after"
ooh, how did you know? How
do you know? Do you see all
hat in my palm?" cried the amazed
girl.
Every word of it," replied Zeno-
oia. That's my business. Didn't
you read my sign outside-'Past.
Present and Future toId-satisfac-
ton given or no charge'?-That
will be fifty cents extra, please"
Certainly" said Ellen. "And /
I'M $3.50 glad But don't dare
90 home. Father will just skin
ne alive, and Robert, am sure.
will never forgive me-"
Let me look at your palm again."
said Zenobia. "Yes-here it is.
Your father will hardly scold you
1t all; and as for Robert-let me
see-yes, Robert will be so glad to
nave you safe back again that he'll
De just as good as pie. Fifty cents
more, please"
"Oh, certainly" said Ellen.
"Just so,' replied Zenobia. "Now
ook sharp and let us get back into
)ur own clothes" The shift being I
made the prophecies commanded:
Now you stay right here until |
,ome back-don't move"
Silver yelled and mystically at
ired, distributing her business
ards as she went, Zenobia wan
Tered forth into the fair grounds
Until she located Ellen's father, still
searching for tidings of his lost one.
To him she made a proposition as
ollows: He was to give her fifty
dollars In hand, and his word not
o scold the truant daughter I'M
July, on condition that Ellen be re-
stored to him safe and repentant.
fhe proposition being accepted, she
ed him to the waiting girl.