The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-13
IluinOrs OF Gambling.

1t IS odd that among all the desperate
people who shoot themselves at Monte
Carlo not one has spared bullCt for the
croupicr who deals out destiny. Very
lately some traveller CHANGED TO knock mt
tho door Of lonely American shanty No
ono answering, the traveller entered He
saw dead man sitting ut Il card table with
the blue mark of Il bullet wound in his fore
head. The murder was easily explained.
The dead man held tour aces in his still
cncd hand. Opposite him on the rough
log table lay four kings, with which his
opponct had hoped to win, and, being met
with four aces, had taken hasty revenge.
Now, confirmed gamblers believe religious
ly in the good and bad effect which certain
croupicrs exercise on their fortunes. One
croupicr always deals in such way that
there are no regular "runs" or SERIES, not
even II run of alternate blacks and reds.
Another is more fortunate Croupicr when
his hand is in, "runs" are not infrcqucnt.
AS the dream Of the gambler is to back Il
run and see his capital doubled at every
coup, this croupicr's luck is eagerly fol
lowed, and he receives elegant presents of
cigars and champagne. 1t is unnecessary
to add that these obse. vancrs arc us purely
supcrstitous as the red mans dance round
his red cedar tree. 'Croupicrs know the
value Of their place too well to try the trick
of substituting arranged packs of cards for
those OF the direction, ana theories of
their luck are wholly fantastic. a place
like Monte Carlo, full Of money and lul of
dupcs, naturally attracts gentlemen who
correct the errors of Fortune in ways more
or less ingenious. a certain Comte dc
Montvilicrs has left n legendary fame At
Wicsbadcn he found out way of stopping
the gas by which the rooms were lighted.
LILO laid his plans WE'LL in moment all
was dark. and the Count was of with an
armful Of bank notes and us much gold as
tho ancestors of the Alcmmonidn carried
from the treasure house of Crmsus. Next
night the rooms were lighted with lamps.
Montviliers, who was All intelligent bandit,
changed his method. lie managed to sneak
under divan in the rooms, and stayed
there until all the company and croupicrg
had departed. When all was darkcncd and
silence he crept out, lighted dark lantern,
and uncovered the roulette table. With Il
pair of pinchcrs he gently frightened the
wires of all the red compartments, 30 that
the roulette ball could not easily enter them
Next day he backed black, and naturally
with success. But u judicious croupicr had
marked tho run on black und examined the
roulette wheel. Without saying anything, he
reversed at night the arrangement of Mont
villiers, who next day lost all he had gained
by rcsolutcly backing his favortc black
Scoundrcls who have not the nerve for
these heroic measures watch the tables aud
sweep up the stray money of the unobscr-
want. 1t has happened TO detect 'an
ameteur thus removing a stake to another
color, where the amclcur proved unsucccss-
full. One of these scoundrcls hit on real
ly happy thought. A player had left a
largo sum of gold Oh rcd, where it was
| doubled and doubled again. Two louis
rolled off, undctectcd by the owner, to the
marked off space called emvcrs, where they
proSpercd and became twenty -four louis
A thief who was looking on knew this, and
tho head croupier was also well aware of
it, and of tho intentions of the robbcr but
the latter succeeded. Sliding up to the
real owner of the money, he said, Sir
will you do me a fuvor2 l have twenty
four louis on c,,UGrS; dare not take them
up for my fathcr-iu-law has just entered
tho room, and l have promised him will
never play" Tho other bowed politely,
rakcd in his own twenty -four pieces of gold
and shortly aftcrward presented them to
tho ingenious guardian Of orphan moneys.