Yesterday was Friday, the 13th — and here is an odd “unlucky” story that has come to light:

Miss Helena Frederick, now playing at the Orpheum, is a motor enthusiast. Forgetting the date, Miss Frederick yesterday started with a party of friends for an auto trip down to Venice. They motored there and began their homeward journey in plenty of time.

But the hoodoo on the day interfered, and just beyond Palms something went wrong with the machine. Miss Frederick took a trolley car and rode into town.

On her way to the Orpheum from the car, Miss Frederick noticed that she was rudely jostled in front of a display window, but paid little attention to it until she reached her dressing-room. There she discovered that her shopping bag was gone — it had hung at her belt — and with it her pocketbook. Second piece of ill-luck.

But the hoodoo must have shifted later. After the matinee, Miss Frederick received a rather grimy-looking parcel and an ill-written note. The parcel contained her pocketbook, and the note said:

“Dear Miss Frederick: I seen your card in this here pocketbook, and found it had $13 in it. This is Friday, the 13th, and I ain't taking no chances on that combinashun. Hear is your pocketbook, with the $13, and another dollar to make $14, and break the hoodoo.”

The note bore no signature but the extra dollar was actually inclosed.