The Past Through Tomorrow Read Online Free

know.”
    “How about it, doc. Give us all a little loose play.”
    He smilingly complied, ducking in and out of the hood like a gopher from its hole. When they all had twin slips of paper to prove the doctor’s skill, Luke broke a long silence:
    “How about showing how you predict death, Pinero.”
    “If you wish. Who will try it?”
    No one answered. Several of them nudged Luke forward. “Go ahead, smart guy. You asked for it.” He allowed himself to be seated in the chair. Pinero changed some of the switches, then entered the hood. When the humming ceased, he came out, rubbing his hands briskly together.
    “Well, that’s all there is to see, boys. Got enough for a story?”
    “Hey, what about the prediction? When does Luke get his ‘thirty’?”
    Luke faced him. “Yes, how about it? What’s your answer?”
    Pinero looked pained. “Gentlemen, I am surprised at you. I give that information for a fee. Besides, it is a professional confidence. I never tell anyone but the client who consults me.”
    “I don’t mind. Go ahead and tell them.”
    “I am very sorry. I really must refuse. I agreed only to show you how, not to give the results.”
    Luke ground the butt of his cigaret into the floor. “It’s a hoax, boys. He probably looked up the age of every reporter in town just to be ready to pull this. It won’t wash, Pinero.”
    Pinero gazed at him sadly. “Are you married, my friend?”
    “No.”
    “Do you have any one dependent on you? Any close relatives?”
    “No. Why, do you want to adopt me?”
    Pinero shook his head sadly. “I am very sorry for you, my dear Luke. You will die before tomorrow.”
    “SCIENCE MEET ENDS IN RIOT”
    “SAVANTS SAPS SAYS SEER”
    “DEATH PUNCHES TIMECLOCK”
    “SCRIBE DIES PER DOC’S DOPE”
    “‘HOAX’ CLAIMS SCIENCE HEAD”
“…within twenty minutes of Pinero’s strange prediction, Timons was struck by a falling sign while walking down Broadway toward the offices of the Daily Herald where he was employed.
    “Doctor Pinero declined to comment but confirmed the story that he had predicted Timons’ death by means of his so-called chronovitameter. Chief of Police Roy…”
Does the FUTURE worry You????????
    Don’t waste money on fortune tellers—Consult
    Doctor Hugo Pinero, Bio-Consultant
    to help you plan for the future by infallible
    scientific methods.
    No Hocus-Pocus
    No “Spirit” Messages
    $10,000 Bond posted in forfeit to back our predictions
    Circular on request
    SANDS of TIME, Inc.
    Majestic Bldg., Suite 700
    (adv.)
----
    Legal Notice
    To whom it may concern, greetings; I, John Cabot Winthrop III, of the firm Winthrop, Winthrop, Ditmars & Winthrop, Attorneys-at-Law, do affirm that Hugo Pinero of this city did hand to me ten thousand dollars in lawful money of the United States, and instruct me to place it in escrow with a chartered bank of my selection with escrow instructions as follows:
    The entire bond shall be forfeit, and shall forthwith be paid to the first client of Hugo Pinero and/or Sands of Time, Inc. who shall exceed his life tenure as predicted by Hugo Pinero by one per centum, or to the estate of the first client who shall fail of such predicted tenure in a like amount, whichever occurs first in point of time.
    I do further affirm that I have this day placed this bond in escrow with the above related instructions with the Equitable-First National Bank of this city.
    Subscribed and sworn,
John Cabot Winthrop III
    Subscribed and sworn to before me
    this 2nd day of April, 1951.
    Albert M. Swanson
    Notary Public in and for this county and state
    My commission expires June 17, 1951.
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    “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Radio Audience, let’s go to Press! Flash! Hugo Pinero, The Miracle Man from Nowhere, has made his thousandth death prediction without a claimant for the reward he posted for anyone who catches him failing to call the turn. With thirteen of his clients already dead it is mathematically certain that he has a private line to the