The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-16
STATE JOURNAL. SATURDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 1e.

carriage. She was thick-waisted,
awkward, painted and badly dressed
and she played at the lowest table.
stalking the paltry sum of ten francs.
She lost and arose and walked out
She evidently had some system she
was playing, or was only there for a
sight of the maelstrom where for
tunes were lost and won in a feverish
excitement that was kept down by
sort of conventional, strained quiet.
The next day the major heard of it
People seldom mentioned the tables
to him. It was understood to be a
sore subject, as he was not allowed
to appear there, and he made no COM
ments
The following night the princess
was there again. People left the
tables, where high and interesting
play was going on, to watch her.
Even if she did not exhibit her
wealth, the glamor of it hung about
her. She lost her ten francs and left.
For six nights she kept it up, some
times winning, only to double and
lose. But one night change came.
Her ten francs won. In ten minutes
there was pile of coin under the old
hand in its loose black glove. Gath
ering it all together she walked to
the highest table. where the brilliant
nickel wheel spun in the center of
the grass green cloth. People fol-
lowed her. She put down her COINS
in handfuls, and in handfuls they
came back. She put coins on the
most unlikely numbers, those with
the greatest odds, and the people
watched the ball spin round and
always, always stop upon her number.
'She has a SYSTEM" said they.
''She played ten francs for six nights;
the seventh she winsl''
And win she did. The croupiers
made their calls with impressive faces
It is well to have the limit played
now and then. It advertises the
place. 1t is worth the loss. And a
Russian princess! 1t would be all
over Europe.
At last it was done. She arose,
trembling, gold and silver in piles
around her hand. The bank was
broken, and the old Balkan princess
had won about million francs in one
night
She took up the money and gath
cred it into great parcel in her lace
shawl, while people looked on. Their
she walked through the room. anc
before one could notice where, she
had disappeared. From a cab driving
away there came the sound of {
strange ringing cry. Down in Rich
mond they would have known it fol-
the echo of the never forgotten rel be
yell
The next day the British consul re
ceived a call from the major. He wa
going, ''home'' he said. RichmonG
was good place in which to end one
days, and he would relieve MIR. Steer
foot of the trouble of caring for tn
sword of his ancestors-and incident
ally repay the few pounds he believe,
he owed him.
AS the maid of the Balka
princess unbuttoned her great
ugly shoes the same evening
she ventured to ask if he
highness was going out
"Going outE' said that august lady
"When did 1 ever go out after dark?
''The great gambling place-the
say it is interesting, that your high
ness has already won a great forum
there
81 never expect to live withou
being lied about the Balkan prin
| cess said.
,
''Ove~ the pond" in Richmond the
say it was mistake about the majo
losing his fortune. He has bough
back the Maylor places, and they ar
D wondering which of the beauties is t
= live in them.
Knew where He Could Find Out.