Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-26

uOuSC SAlotCtt LII SuufTc. UC-
hind the Globe theatre. He gave me
the number and told me that he had
pulled it it often with his chief.
learned from him that an old woman sat
every night, while gambling was going
on, at the end of the corridor, and that
hidden in the wall within reach of her
right hand was button, which, when
pushed, rang bell to warn the gam
blers when the police arrived
"This information was ray of light
to me. 1 picked up an italian in want
like myself, and asked him if he would
like to gain 500 francs without much
trouble.
"Willingly," answered he; what is
there to do?'
"I informed him of what knew, and
gave him his instructions.
"To-night / shall go up into the
saloon and ten minutes after you are to
run against the old woman and push the
button. Your 500 francs will be gained.
''He executed punctually what / had
charged him with. When the bell rang
all the lights were turned down; every
body picked as well as he could his
stake, and [, who had staked nothing,
raked about three hundred pounds sterl-
ing in gold and notes into my pockets:
then, rushing to the stairs I went out
sure of not being arrested by the police. :"
'This sum in hand, started the next
day for Wiesbaden, and for fifteen years,
thanks to this adventure, / lived on
gambling in every bank on the Rhine.
You see that the money profted me-"
To show to what degree of abasement
Capt. Gondino had arrived, / will cite
another history respecting him, which
came to my ears on subsequent occa-
sion through gambler who had known
him well. When the roulette table ex-
listed at Aix-la- Chapelle, the inhabitants
of the town were not allowed to enter
the bank, foreigners only having that
privilege.
A little Jew of the town, knowing that
the bank took all foreign notes at par
which were presented by the gamblers,
used to change first by one, and then by
another, English, French and Belgian
bank notes, as the case might be, and
thus realized daily handsome profit.
Knowing Gondino by sight, he once
gave him French bill for 200 francs to
change. Only as he had not an absolute
confidence IN his propity, be followed
him up stairs and watched him through
the half-opened door, which the rules of
the bank interdicted him from passing.
Gondino approached the croupier dis
creetly, and slid the note on the table,
saying, mezzo voice, "Two hundred
francs on the red" The red won. and
400 francs were handed the captain, who
asked for 200 francs change, and with
the most innocent air in the world took
and handed them to the Jew down stairs.
But the old gentleman, who had watched
his tricks, observed:
"That won't do for me- You have
400 francs to give me.
"What! 400 francs? You are Joking:
you gave me a bill for 200 francs, and
the dealer will attest to it if necessary,
for he changed it for me-"
eyes, but he will prove that you play
ed and won. / have right to at least
one-half of the profit"
At this Gondino burst out laughing.
I" Per Bacco,' cried he, "that't a good
one!"
"Come, now" said the Jew, "if you
had lost would you have paid me?"
At this the captain laughed louder and
replied:
"Come, come, my dear fellow, you
are only noodle; just think yourself
very lucky that you have your money
back, for had / lost, you know as well as
L that the law does not recognize gam
bling debts.''
My friends son seemed much moved
by the enormities he had heard, and hav-
%lo4 II To-
aided him, had called on me to enlighten
me as to the character of the old rogue,
and to recommend me to get rid of him
as soon as possible.
AS we were speaking about him, the
Captain arrived out of breath, his eyes
purple with exertion, and bearing On his
arm basket loaded with hams, sausages,
game, cheese, liquors, etc.
"Ah! ah!'' cried he, on entering, with
out seeing my young friend, "we will
just lead jolly life now and pass the
winter gaily. You helped me when I
was in trouble, and / am going to prove
to you that am not ungrateful.'
Without allowing him the time to say
more, showed him the door by gesture
which did not admit of reply, and
begged him never again to set foot in my
house. The Captain, who little awaited
such reception, was thunderstruck.
He looked at me stupidity, and seemed
to say, "What! when had nothing you
took care Of me, and when bring abund-
ance you kick me out?" He understood
not word of such absurdity. At last,
seeing that still held the door for him.
and not without Impotence, I can assure
the reader, he decided on going out,
Struggling his shoulders with air of SUI
preme indifference and disdain.
The old rascal could invent nothing
better than to take my letter to the Duke
d'A. for a model for circular which he
sent to every rich citizen in the town.
and he coined money by SO doing. / af-
forwards learned that he received more
than 1000 francs in one week.
A few days after / met him on the
boulevard wearing in his buttonhole the
st. Helena medal, to which 1 believe he