The Washington times., 1938-04-26

Kane said, his voice heavy with
irony, "Of course you must have.
You couldn't possibly have walked
into the theater and then slipped
out of a side door,"
Lucky shrugged. "You can't
prove it did. There's a number on
this ticket stub; you can find out
about the time it was sold and
the cashier will remember me-"
Pretty careful to save that stub,
weren't you?" Kane said YEARLY.
Lucky grinned again and pointed
to the stub.
Sure" he agreed. "And that
numbers the reason. Look at it
077077. See? All sevens. That's
why I saved it; seven's my lucky
number. I played number seven in
every race yesterday and all of
'em came in. That's where / got
my name from-Lucky, that's me. "
Look out you don't push your
luck too far some day." Crandall
warned. Suppose we all take a
walk over to the theater and
check up on that alibi of yours?
Just as matter of routine"
WIN $500 IN CASH
The Bijou hadn't opened for
business when their cab drew Ito
to the curb. An overalled man
was on ladder, taking down the
banner reading Bank Mite To
night. Win $500 in Cash. Draw.
ing at $780," that was under the
From his perch he yelled in an.
swer to Kane's question, 1.-THE
won't be in for another
half-hour. You can find the night
cashier at her boarding house in
the next block"
He gave them the number and
the girls name and the three re-
entered the taxi.
They found the girl at break,
fast. AS Kane had expected, she
Identified Lucky readily enough.
Yes, remember him." she said.
HE bought a ticket about half
past seven, just as the main fea.
ture went on. I remember chang
ing a $40 bill for him; it was the
biggest bill took in all night"
Nice work, Lucky" compli.
Kane, as they left. THAT
was smart. giving her a $40 bill.
She was pretty sure to get you
fixed in her mind after that"
Lucky shrugged complacently.
He said, "a twenty was the small.
est I had. That's the way it is
when you're lucky. like me-"
Back in the taxi, Crandall said
with a sigh, mot that hope it
will do any good, but were going
back to the theater to see the man.
ager; he may be able to give us
rough idea of when this ticket
was sold. It's just going through
the motions, Lucky, because i
realize that you might have in.
duced that cashier to tell that
story by giving her one of those
tWenties you carry around as small
change"
STORY CHECKS
Lucky leaned back in his seat
and inhaled his cigarette luxuri.
ously. He said easily, go ahead
You'll find my story checks UP ali
right" ''A'
Yeah said Kane sourly. ct ex.
pect it will
The manager was in by that
Time and while Kane went into his
private office with him, Crandall
stood in the lobby while Lucky
SIumped into a deep armchair and
waited in amused silence.
Kane was out in five minutes
stlll holding the torn ticket stub
Well, you told the truth about
buying this ticket. Lucky" he said,
The managers figures show thai
1t must have been sold about the
time you said"
Il told you my story would
check" Lucky said. He reached
out a hand for the stub. "Now
gimme back the ticket: I told Won
that's my lucky number"
Lucky's smile faded as Kane
stepped back a pace and whipped
out his service revolver
Sorry, Lucky" he said, holding
the gun level with Lucky's stom.
ach: "But I'm going to hold on
to this myself: it's going to be Elk.
h1bit A for the prosecution when
you go on trial for killing Patsy
Moran"
"Quit clowning," Lucky rasped.
You amt kiddin' me; didn't YOU
lust say the manager backed up
my alibi?"
Sure" Kane smiled easily. But
that was only for the time you
bought the ticket; you weren't in
the theater at half.past eight,
when Patsy was killed"
Lucky forced a laugh. you're
nuts. You can't prove that"
Cant I? You know, Lucky, I
told you you'd push your luck too
far some day? Well, I'm just try
ing to decide whether that's what
happened or whether it was just
because you're too lucky naturally
This ticket carried your lucky
number, all right. They had Bank
Mite in this theater last night
they held the drawing for four
hundred dollars at half-past eight.
You were lucky enough to hold
winning ticket-only you weren't
there to claim it,"
THE END.