Evening star., 1897-02-27

or the zero and it's neighbor en- plein. or
however he may be going to guide the blind
chance of the machine. But the nephew
dare not play those tips! Nor dare he trust
a native of the principality, because of the
certainty OF falling into the power of
rapacious and masterful blackmailer. or.
at least a sneakfng informer and reward
seeker. But Leon's sympathetic impress
sienability affords the partnership Of uncle
and nephew with unfailing premonitions.
which result in gainful coalitions with hon
est and unsuspectable foreigners who know
good thing when they see 1t. But we
must not be hasty, much less greedy. Ev-
erything to avoid Suspicion
1t Is therefore Leon's natural game to
persuade the foreigner to make one large
bet, en- cheval, between two of the dozens,
" here he will have two chances of win
ming and only one chance of losing. Then,
you may believe 1t, Leon prayS with the
volcanic vehemence of love-crazed sup
plant to the blind goddess of Chance, whose
eyes are bandaged that she may not wink
to Laon-and who is not Icons aunt For
you have long ago perceived that the ma
ligned clerk-the oo-much-praised croupier,
who has not half or quarter of the skill
Leon ascribes 20 him, if ne have any-is
not throwing that ball any more for his pre-
tended nephew than for you or me!
On the Promenade of Regrets.
Let us suppose that one Of the wrong
dozen wins in spite of odds. Signaling to
him Of whom the wisest man prophesied
to be soon parted, they adjourn to that
universal arena of recriminations, the
Casino terrace, where you look down on
the sea. Here every prospect pleases, and
only man Is violent. for the dupe is very
like to be the only man along the gravel
walk till Leon cOmes-such Is the delicacy
of the world When there is any danger of
being summoned as a witness to a suicide.
BY common consent the unhappily medita-
tive individual stroller and the squabbling
couples who drift instinctively to one of
these walks conveniently overhanging the
clifts, known as the promenade of Re
grets, seem to make way for the new
conner, just as he will make way for the
next: SO that the stage, though ever occu-
pied. is never crowded Enters Leon, the
nephew, to reproach with natural warmth
the carelessaess of his new. unpracticed
partner, who had no business to mistake
his plain signaF' and cover the wrong
dozen! If this takes" ii is only to begin
again. If the party has enough Leon has
lost nothing but his time.
And as he-and every other who has
seEse enough, insists a large stake and
the favorable chance of covering two doz-
ens-is sure of indicating two winnings to
every one losing, to say nothing of the
likelihood of several successive winnings
before a oss-to-be-eXplained occurs, his
proft-sharing. cooperative industry Is
most fruitful. and he seldom needs
course to his real uncle-"uncle" Of all
gamblers, here under the protection of the
Stdtt, anu PROMPTED Dy law from taxing
more than Z per cent year as interest on
his loans.
There was once Dutch man-of-war cap
tain who found an even easier way of WIN
ming from the Monte Carlo bank. He be-
gan by losing all his own money. and then
lost the ships. He retired to his quarter
deck, martyr to gloomy forebodings and
poignant regrets Dshonor stared him in
the face, and his sole refuge must be in
suicide. He instructed an intelligent ma
rine to go ashore and tell this to old NJ.
Blanc. together with his intention to bonn
bard the Casino for the benefit of human
ity; therefore it would be well to remove
players and employees to safer locality.
Within an hour two trusty men from the
establishment came. bearing bags of gold
and the most solemn assurances of discre-
ton. Il deeply touched said the
Dutch captain. mot having dreamed Of
such princely viaticum."
STERLING HEILIG.