The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21
THE PARsON FINDS THE SECRET Oh
ROULETTE.

ashore this evening, captain hareF II
will probably be an experience which
ought not to be missed"
cbimed in with Rev. Archibald
Brown, for seventeen days of the Indian
Ocean and Red Sea had me long for die
slpation and high jinks of some sort,
and anything was preferable to the eter-
nal dummy whilst on deck till 2 a. m.
you'll have to clutter parson," re-
marked the captain, If you go ashore.
For all Objectionable Suez and their
still more objectional wives show up
here for the:express purpose of "flutter-
ing"
DO you mean that shall be compel
led to dance, Captain Hare ?"
mo, you won't have to dance, unless
you like, but you'll have to gamble"
Rather than miss a unique expert
ence I'm even prepared to do that" re-
piled the missionary, There's no crime
in it il one is determined not to win and
one is only present professionally"
"You need have no scruples on the
subject of winning; nobody has evtr been
known to do that here. They cheat
quite openly, and if anything is left
when you are going abroad, the inter
esling aborigines with their knobsticks
are quite ready to murder you for it,"
Captain Hare's neat gig, manned by
it's six smart red-shirted lascars, took
us across the fifty yards of muddy water
which lay between us and the adjacent
wharf. The Captain, the missionary
and l walked over to the cafe of the
Two Emperors, which wasn't five hun
dred yards off, Captain Hare was quite
right when he said that they woke up in
Suez on the arrival of mail steamer.
The whole place was brilliantly illu.
minated by profusion of strongly smell
ing paraffine lamps; the cafe of the two
Emperors was crowded with Turks,
Jews, intidels and heretics.
Dancing was kept up in a large ad-
jicent room with great vigor; and the
rank, beauty and fashion of Su,z, re-
spiendent in sham jewelry and gay and
gaudy silks, the shiniest of shiny boots
and the talest of Ia hats, kept the bail
a rolling.
But all this was merely subsidiary to
he real business of the evening, which
was evidently gambling. There was a
big faro table in one corner; large
crowd surrounded the roulette table /;
baccarat was in full swing; while pro
| fessional in gorgeous ATTIRE, seat at a
little marble table, was ready to accom-
modate all corners at the three-card
rick. The Anglo Indian and his wife
military men and civilians were having
their first fling of pleasure on their way
nome. Young Mr., Griffin and Captains
Punter and DeIceace were enjoying
themselves.
II wouldn't have missed this on any
account" said Mr.. Brown, with enthusi-
asm. "As soon as | arrive | shall point
out to my society that there is vast
sphere of labor awaiting it here"
care you thinking of applying for
the billet, then ?. said the Captain, as
he ratified his rupees nervously.
We were standing at the back of the
crowd which surrounded Il Q roulette
table. Before we had quite made up
our minds whether we should play or
not the obliging habitues had made way
tor US; and Captain Hare and l began
to plank our money down manfully.
was cleaned out in about twenty minu-
tes. Captain Hare held out for half an
hour. We had each lost our fifty rupees
and we felt we had done enough for
houor. l think we should have gone
on had we been provided with more
capital. Then we both tried to borrow
from Rev. Archibald Brown, but the
good man refused to encourage US in our
iniquity.
I've only got ten rupees" said he,
with me. I'll lose that and then Pll
come away"
Then he began to play-at first very
limidly-a rupee at time.
The table won steadily, but so did Rev
Archibald Brown. He didn't look Bit
ike clergyma in his white linen sui,
and sola topee. His usually benevolent
features were disfigured by a sardonic
smile and he won every time. l looked
at Captain Hare and the Captain winked
at me.
"You must have made good thing
of il, Brown" he said: hadn't we bet
ter be making tracks before you lose it
all again 2"
MAN." said the parsou, II don't like
to go away winner it would not be
seemly."
Rev. Archibald Brown went on stalk
ing with the regularity of clockwork
He now put down ten rupees at time,
sometimes considerable more, but he in-
variably won, with few exceptions,
when the zeros turned up. and of course
the bank cleared the table. Ii was a
rather monotonous thing to the captain
and myself to look on at our clerica
friends good fortune without participat-
ing in it. Again we tried to borrow
few rupees of him, but he reproved us.
"It would be encouraging iniquity, -
he replied, land you'll disturb my cal
culations."
Time ran on, and we three began to
attract the attention of the entire COM
pany. AS have said, Rev Archibald
Brown seldom if ever lost. So heavy
had been his winnings that the rupees
IN his pocket absolutely chinked as he
stretched forward to put down his
stakes. l began TO understand why he
looked upon SueZ as a suitable field for
missionary enterprise. How much he
would have won if he had gone on
cannot tell, but just then the steam
whistle of the Arbaces began to give oul
series of agonizing sbrieks.
We left the place and returned to the
wharf with the numerous passengers
of the Arbaces, reached our boat with
out adventure, and got on board in salty.
As we stepped upon the deck Grimes"
the pet lemur of the ship, with one
spring dropped from yard above our
heads, in his usual weird and noiseless
fashion, and leaped into the captains
arms with a tender mode of welcome.
We sat down upon the quarter deck
Mt the little table where we used to play
whist.
What did you win, parson p said l,
"We'll soon find that out, said he,
with smile, and then he proceeded to
disgorge. Rupees, dollars, napoleons,
numerous five pound notes, were sooD
arranged in little symmetrical heaps ;
the missionary had spoiled the Egyp-
tians to the tune Of $3.50,
"It's a little more than years pay :"
said Captain Hare, with honest admira
ton; "a good evenings work, Mr..
Brown, even for clergyman.
"Dinna fleer at me, man, replied the
missionary, as he neatly secured the
miscellaneous plunder in large hand
kerchief
"Tell us how you managed it, said l,
with some curiosity, You must have
played before. Had you a system 2"
"lt didn't require a system, gentle
men," said the parson, complacently, as
he rubbed his hands. ~ am an obser
want person and watched the game.
very soon saw that il the bulk of the
money was stalked upon the red the
black won, and rice uersd am afraid
the proprietor cheated. Perhaps was
wrong in taking advantage # thei
wickedness, but 1t was very simple"
"Bravo, parsonY" | exclaimed with
enthusiasm. ITO you belongs the credit
of a great discovery. l shall never for
get your ingenious system to my dying