St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-30

have told it to you several times. 1t
was the day of my wedding. L was Il
teweler, Oh the Broglie, at the sign of
the Silver Swan, and L had been mar
ried that morning to Rachel Lipp-
mann, who passed for being the most
beautiful Jewess in Strasburg. We
went to Baden with the whole Of the
wedding party. 1 happened to be alone
just before the dinner hour, while my
wife was changing her dress, and
strolled into the Redoute. 1 intended
to stay five minutes; they found me
there at the end Of five hours, L had
won; I had lost; l had been snitten
with the fever; l had lived a whole
lifetime; l did not notice the time fly.
[ did not recognize either my wife or
my father-in-laW; did not recognize
myself. 1t was all over with me; I
had been bitten the poison was in my
blood"
The little old man became animated,
and told us what furious campaigns
he had carried on in the German ca
sinos, first as a plunger, then with an
''infalIible system long studied and
developed. His fortune was swept
away, carrying with his honor as Il
tradesman; he had been declared bank
rupt, his friends had disoWned him, his
wife had left him, his mother had died
of grief, and he had contiued to play.
Yet, philosopher, despite his passion,
wise in his folly, he had invested the
remnant of his fortune for Il life in
come and had divided his pension into
two parts. One insured himself and
Madeline, the old servant, their daily
bread; the other, divided into 365 equal
L.
at roulette. When he lost ALL he ap-
pealed to Madeline, who held the purse,
to give him more; but beg, weep, i'm
plore on his knees as he might, she
was memorable, and AIontgobert had to
be content with looking on, witnessing
the ruin or good luck of others, and
sometimes rendering advice that made
the fortune of a novice.
and who will pay for your funer-
al?" demanded that hussy of Pom
Ghetto.
Mongobert shrugged his shoulders.
''They can do what they like with my
carcass he said; take it to the dis
secting room of the hospital to expert
ment on for all 1 care
Never" Electrically exclaimed
Achille Poivre, who had drunk not
wisely but too well. tIt shall never be
said that the body of the dean of pun
tiers, the Nestor Of roulette, the Methu-
selah of trente-et-qUarant was made
the sport of the amphitheater'
''Never" assented everybody in cho-
rus.
"The Thirteen club is therefore
founded" continued the journalist"
solemnly.
article 1. On the convocation OF
any one of their number the members
undertake to abandon whatever they
may be doing, meet at the place where
Daddy Montgobert may have handed
in his checks in the capacity of
mourners at his funeral, the expenses
of which will be equally shared
"Adopted!' shouted the company in
unison.
'Article % added Lord Croydon, ris-
ing to his feet. "a roulette shall be
fixed to the lid of the said Montgobert's
coffin; the ball shall be set rolling, and
the coffin shall thereupon be lowered
into the grave, which shall be irnne-
diately closed, so that no one shall ever
know into which hole the ball
dropped"
This, too, was adopted with enthusi-
asm.
And now, mademoiselle and gentle
men," continued Achille, "let us auaff
another glass of champagne to the
health Of Daddy Montgobert. And
may his chance to benefit by the aG-
V2ntaCcs which this association ae-
sures him be deferred as long as posi-
ble.'
Long live Daddy Montgobert:"
shouted twelve male voices, above
which could be heard the shrill So
prano of La Ponchetta Then oil
smashed their glasses, after swearing
to adhere to the statutes of the Th;r-
teen club.
CHAPTER II.
Tar" years had gone by an1 Tlfd
forgotten all about the Thirteen club
and everybody belonging to it, when L
received the following card dated from
Nice, and signed by Lord Croydon:
The Thirteen have the honor to
notify you of the death of Sadoc Ely
see Montgobert, who died on the field
of honor on ---, and request your
attendance at the funeral, which will
take place at Nice al D. m. on -
The club will assemble at the Hotel
- -, Nice"
L had never supposed that our oath
would be taken in earnest by anybody
However, being my own master, and
| glad OF any excuse to kill time [ de-
termined to see the adventure out.
When 1 reached Nice Lord Croydon
told me the circumstances Of Daddy
Montgobert's death, which he had wit
messed. One night, according to his
wont, the old man had gone to sleep
| in his place at the end of the table
One Of his five-franc pieces had rolled
onto the black, and the black had won.
The old mans stakes were thus dou-
bled. At the next coup the black won
again, and continued to win twelve
| times in succession.