The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-18

croupier. The unknown deliberately
took of his right glove, showing hand
which woman might have envied.
with long nails exquis,tely shaped and
uearly in color. With it he drew out
an apparently well filed pocketbook Of
black morocco ornamented with gold
clasps. He extracted from 1t few
bank notes, which be laid on the table.
saying calmly: "My deal is for slo-
OOO." An electric shock seemed to
have struck the by-standers, and
thrill shot through every ones heart
that almost stopped its beating.
The wheel turned. The bank lost.
Take your pluuderl' shouted Ster.
lain with an oath.
mo. Let it stand. 60 the whole"
The ball was again set in motion.
and again fortune favored the Spaniard.
who by this time had become the only
player, all the rest gazing with absorb
ing interest at the terrible duel which
had evidently begun between the
two adversaries. Unused to such bad
luck and such crashing loss, Sterlain
appeared to be beside himself. and
growing like an angry mastif jumped
up. Excuse me, gentlemen" he
said. ~ am out of funds, and must
apply to Mr.. Davis to replenish the
bank."
A few minutes elapsed. during which
the spectators remained clutered to-
gether in profound silence and staring
at the lucky gambler. while meanwhile,
without taking the slightest notice Of
the surrounding crowd, kept his eyes
steadily fixed on the roulette, as If bur-
led in the deepest meditation.
Sterlain returned with his hands full.
"Why have you not removed your
trash and cleaned the boardp" he said
gruffiy to the stranger.
"Because." replied he, II choose to
leave it where it is and stake the
whole"
Sterlain turned pale and breathed
heavily as if something pressed against
his chest Again the ivory ball OF fate
twirled in the bowl. Again it stopped.
The bank had lost. Up started Sterlain
frenzied with rage. to get another sup
ply from those ample funds which Day.
Is and his associates always kept in re-
serve. On his coming back Sterlain
was so demoralized that all he could
say to his adversary, on whom he cast
bewildered look, was: in a tone Of
heightened Interrogation: 'Well. what
nextp"
II stake all have on the board"
was the short reply.
Round and round went the roulette
and for the fourth time the mysterious
stranger won. The total game was
enormous.
THE bank Is completely broken and
closes for tonight" Sterlain announ-
ced In voice which emotion rendered
almost inarticulate, and vaulting over
the table he rushed upon the Spaniard.
brandished his closed fists and exclain-
cd: I'm the foul fiend's name.
what have you eaten to day."
The stranger had retreated o few
steps at the sight of the threatened as
sault, and stood still, waiting for o
closer approach. With diabolically
sardonic smile on his lips, with a look
which froze the blood of the spectators
and made Sterlain reel back as II
stiletto had struck him full In the
chest, the Spaniard with perfect COM
posure, answered in his rich native
languages: IF you are. amigo milo, in
terested in knowing what have eatsf
to-day, l have no objection to telling
you that it is chocolate, senior, para
servir q asted."
The reader may laugh, at this ridi-
culous finale, but we were assured by
one of the spectators that none Of them
was so disposed at the time, so tragic
was the information with which the
stranger pronounced in Spanish the
word chocolate. 1t never was known
who this man was. When he retired
he was followed by many who wished
to crafty their curiosity on that point
But on reaching the street he jumped
into q carriage which seemed to have
been improv sed for the occasion. and
drove fnriouslY away. That was the
last seen of him in New Orleans. The
prince of darkness was never better
personated. Was he Mephistopheles9
american Magazine.