OCR Text |
Show I MR. CHING BRINGS LUCK By Frances Keen Pachter IT STOOD In a prominent place upon the mantel. A grinning chubby oriental man. He had been sent from the Orient. The Chinese thought him a lucky idol. Mike Riley, to whom it had been sent, looked at It and In a disgusted tone said, "Well fella. If you are lucky, start throwing some of it my way. 1 could sure use a little luck." In his present jobless state and with but ( few coins In his pocket, he was at a loss as to his next move He had come in from a day of useless seeking. Once a big time actor and now a has been. TIot a part to be hnd anywhere. Hit agent had been handing him that line and he hadn't believed him. He found out for himself today. A big shot till the old demon rum had taken hold. A habitual alcoholic was his title now. Once it had leaked out that he was unreliable and he was through. It had cost dearly before he had awakened to the truth. Hit wife had stuck It out at long as she could. "Where were Ann and Debbie now?" Back to Indiana or some out of the way place. The mirror In back of the Chinese figure reflected the picture of a man In hit mid-thirties. Tall and handsome holding a glass of liquid. Seeing himself as though for the first time, he heaved the glass at the mirror. Memories of his Dad's advice floated back to him. "Son, when you can't look at yourself In a mirror, it it time to change." Grabbing up the lucky piece he said, "Well funny man, If I'm to change I'd better get started. Since the day you entered my life, I've woke up a bit. If that be luck, and I suppose It Is. I'll need some dough to start with. You, my silly grinning friend along with my watch shall visit Friendly Sam. I wouldn't pay a dollar for you but Sam likes oddities." Entering the haphazard shop of Sam, he noticed a customer ahead of him. A young woman. "Poor kid," he thought," down on her luck too. She was pawning a ring and giving Sam a bad time haggling hag-gling over price. Funny, she reminded re-minded him of Ann. He couldn't see her face. Her deal completed, she turned to go. It was Ann. What was she doing here? He'd sent her money. She hadn't used it. Proud, capable Ann. Independent to the end. "You've got old Chitig there. Surely you're not going to sell him." Chlng had always been a symbol of hope between them. Fortelling good luck. If only around the corner. cor-ner. "Yep, he hasn't been lucky for me. Everything has (one haywire since you left. I need some dough to start over and figured that Mr. Chlng might finally prove his worth." ' ' "But Mike, you've got money. I never touched the checks you sent. There must be a couple of thousand in the bank. You were always so generous with money. I went back to work and made my own." . "That was the only decent thing I've ever done for . you." . Mike sounded apolegetlc and hurt. "Why didn't you use it? You and Deb took to much -guff from me. I never really blamed you for leaving. leav-ing. To see you here pawning your ring hurts." r Ann spoke slowly, as though choosing her words. "Mike, I knew that someday you would wake up. When you did I wanted you to have the money for a fresh start. I've read the trade papers and knew you were on the skids. I knew that someday we would have a chance to start over." , "We"? Mike couldn't believe his ears. "We! You mean you and Deb? You'll take me back? "Yes," Ann said. "Remember the vow we took? Till death do us part. I have never forgotten It." Sam an interested bystander had been listening and at the same time had been examining Mr, Chlng. "Sorry Sam. Mr. Ching Is an important im-portant member of our family." |