Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-16

ny GRAHAM SHAW.

e"e " Say anu contribute sun more
OF yonr good dollars to the keeping up
OF Johns lunch counterY''
Thanks. no. nwfully OBLIGED for the
offer, but I've still got plenty with mo.
You know have made II a rule never
to lose more than $50 at sitting--and
as that much has gone stop for to-
night"
You're coming. toog That's good.
II you fellows are not tired. let's stop In
at my rooms for few minutes. rye
Eot some whisky there that I'd like to
have your opinion on"
Yes, it's good whisky, isn't itg 1
laid In quite stock OF Il some years
ago and 1t has been nellowing ever
since. FIJI up again. don't be- afraid
OF whisky like this: there's not a head
OF whisky like this, there's not q head
ache In u whole hoshead OF It. les a
great comfort when one has had the
bad luck to drop money on the roulette
board. Have l ever lost much? Why,
yesi l dropped quite pile one night
several years ago, and since then, as
you see. I've never ventuied much, l
had rather curious experience that
night, too. Tel you about NJ why.
certainly. II you're sure 1t wont bore
you,
one night about six years ago l
Went around to Balcy's for the first
time. and with quite "A wad / was a
soungAter then-had more money than
eApeflence--anu was poor at that
There were good many there that
night. and the roulette wheel was
crowded, but l finally managed 10 slip
into seat. AT first 1 paid little at
tentlon TO anything but the game.
soon, however. my attention was at
tfacted by the strange actions OF the
man on my right. and could moi help
watching him, He had apparently
been winning heavily. Tor there were
large stacks OF chlpa In front or him,
representing, perhaps. $4,000 or $1,000.
But, despite the large sum he had be-
fore him, l could not help faucyng
that the man had lost. Tor his face
was drawn In u tense aony. and he
played with the feverlsh reclSlessneaa
OF one who Is risking his last dullnr,
His play, us l said, was reckless to "A
degree and absolutely without system
Now, he would have over $1,000 scat
tered about the board: again. only one
or two chips. When he won his eyes
would light up with "a CLEAN OF hope
almost maniacal in It's Intensity; II he
lost, his face would turn fairly livld
and there would be rattle In his
throa as II he were In his death agony.
Every few moments he would anxious
~ count over the chips In front OF
him, cursing bitterly as he did so.
And | noticed that In spite uf his recls-
less play the amount of his Winnings
remained about the same Sometimes
almost half would be swept away. but
he would win II back again almost In
stantly--though beyond a certain point
he seemed unable TO 20.
II. however had no such luck. My
pile melted away slowly but surely,
with here and there u slight winning
Just enough TO enable me 70 stop
winner; and at that time waA too
poor TO be willing 10 stop Il loser AT
last WAS reduced to $40. and was
about to lay Il on the red when man
hurried In and whispered,s few words
TO the croupler, He had been about TO
spin the roulette, but stopped,
Gentlemen said he. please take
your money on the board and cash In
your chips at once, Information has
just come that we may may expect
visit from our friends, the police. and
the game * closed for tonight
"a scene OF confusion At once en-
sued, cAcf man being anxious 10 cash
his chips and make his departure,
hnuWllk TINT tliNulh MS lil'Nuh tlt
police make a visit he would be
forced 10 return their call.
For my part, having no chips. I
turned 10 see how my ncighbor was
coming out. TO my surprise. he made
no attempt TO cash In, but sat there
staring into vacancy with such
CHASTITY look on his face that, for a
moment, thought he had Fied In his
chair. by this time he ana I were the
only guests left, and the croupicr,
turning to him. said:
Hurry, sir, II you plcnse. We
have but few seconds to spare. How
much do you wantY
''The man rose. and gazing wildly at
the now deserted table. gasped: For
Gods sake, just one more turn Of the
whecl-Just ore-or / am ruined
Can't do IT, sir, orders are TO stop
the game at once. Besides, you
shouldn't mind cashing in-you must
have won I'VE thousand az least. Where
ore your -.twenty-hfty-
hundred and twent-rlN--thats right.
Here you are. alr; sifty-three hundred.
Good night. sir
As we reached the street 1 turned
and looked at my companion. He was
standing barc-headcd. with such look
OF unutternble misery on his face as l
hope never TO see on man. Some i'm
pulse prompted me to speak 10 him.
and asked him-olumslly enough. I'm
nfraid--if he had lost much.
- Lost he said. yacantly; no j, won
won about $1,000. believe
"'You are lucky
"Luckyv and lac gave a short, mirth-
less laugh. DID you say lucky? My
God. had but won four thousand more
| would indeed have been lucky; but
now ] am ruined. Ruined: do you hear.
ruined
His manner was 70 strange that
dared not express my sympathy, but
could only humble fomethinw about
taking "A drink lie accepted the invl-
tation. and went Into a saloon close by.
A bottle OF brandy wns ordered, for
which he insisted on paying, saying
that, as he had won, ana | lost. II was
his right. Besides. said he bitterly.
the money ! won tonight is too little |
10 be Of any use TO me. may M well |
spend ~
"'six thousand no use to your I |
cried. You must be rich. indeed, to |
treat a sum Ike that 80 cavalierly.,
HE poured oi't a great dring of the |
brandt. and. gulpiDg Il down Nv II IL |
were water took from HIS pocket tho |
roll Of bills and laid Il on the table be- |
aiNo, the money is or no use TO me
worth the paper II Is made of |
Listen, and I VIII tell you why 1 nm
the paying teller OF the Fourth Ma
ftonal bank Last week took frOru the |
safe $1,000. thinking that by buying b |
certain stock. ] would make my for |
tune IN q day, and be able 10 return me |
money before IT'S absence Waa noffood