Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-03-25
Washln9ton Standard
TIE MAGIC BIT OF SILVER.
\ story of the Roulette Table

want To- ask Won 4 'll'>Ilb
Gninrl"
We'll, my dear hoy, what l. it,
"Wlrrc did You get Your m"ney?'
The question was an abrupt one-lt
WAS almost impairment. But Gomez
de Bonilla was an intimate friend oil
mine, good fellow, and-wc had
dincd To say the truth, we had not
ONLY dined, but wincd and it was over
some excellent post-prandialS i'll tn,
shape OF further wine and fragrant
cigars that | had asked the question
But had long wished to do so, and
will tell you why.
Some two years before, Gomez was
poor rs n church-mousc. He was
always a good fellow; but then, you
know, there is n difference between
good fellows rich and good fellows
poor. And, to my shame be it spoken,
| think I liked him better rich than
poor. Well, as l said, he was almost
destitute. lie had a profession, it is
true-hc was a journalist; but in
Spain the gains of the fraternity OF
the pen are not large. What little he
did earn went to the bad, for he was
an inveterate gambler.
But from pOverty-stricken jour-
nalist he suddenly blossomed out into
man of wealth. He had the finest
horses, he belonged to the most FASH
ionable club, he had the most lux
uriously fitted town house, he had
purchased the country-seat of de-
caycd grandee, he had the best cook
in Madrid, and he moved in the best
socicty-for alas! even in Spain the
golden key is beginning to open all
portals. But do not think from what
I say that Gomez was not a gentle
man, for he came of an excellent fam.
lily.
Well, as l said, we had just finished
an excellent dinner, and over the wine
and walnuts I put my question:
Gomez, where did you get your
money!"
He looked at me thoughtfully, and
knocked the ash from his cigar.
"Where did I get my money!" he re-
peated slowly. "And what says Dame
Rumor concerning it, Pedro?"
"There are all sorts of Stories"
replied; "some probable, some improb.
able; some good-humored, more ill.,
natured. You will pardon my frank
ness if tell you that I have heard
some people call your wealth 'ill-gotten
gains whispers ofretired highwaymen
and the like. There are others who
hint darkly at counterfeiting. Among
the lower classes there is widespread
belief that you have sold yourself to
the devil. And have even met intel.
ligent people who limited at supernat-
ural means"
perhaps they were right" was his
laconic reply.
stared at him.
Listen, and you may perhaps tell
me whether the means were supernat-
ural or not. I have never been able to
decide. The reason that the source oil
my fortune has never been discovered
was because the only man who knew
of it left the city the day after"
He paused.
1.-THE day after whatF" I queried.
"Well, I will begin at the begin
ming. The story is curious one and
should be told in sequence"
He lit fresh cigar and then began
"You knew me two years ago, when
I was poor. You also know, as did all
my friends, that I had passion fol
gaming. You would all Of you chorus
when speaking of me, Poor Bonilla
he has the worst of vices-he is a des
perate gambler You we're all wrong
I did not play simply for love of it.
played because I was poor. I was not
gambler was a speculator. I had
fixed upon certain sum which I con.
sidered competence. saw no way
of acquiring it by my profession, so ]
devoted myself to the green cloth
how assiduously you know"
He smiled at the expression of as
sent which involuntarily fitted over
my countenance, watched the smoke.
wreaths curling over his head for q
moment, and continued:
zone evening was feeling unusually
blue. I never drank, as you know
that is, never to excess--and certainly
never to do what is called drowning
SORROW Ny resource was the gaming.
table. Unfortunately had in my
possession q considerable sum OF
money, which had been intrusted to
me by friend for the purpose of pay
ing some debts; he had been suddenly
called away from the city. entered
the gambling-hell, and seated myself
at the roulette-table. Fortune was
against me; the few duros that be.
longed to me we're soon gone. Some.
thing seemed to possess me that night
was not myself. I did what 1 never
should have dreamed myself capable Of
doing-I staked my friends money.
staked it, and / lost it ALL"
was about to speak.
"Do not condemn me-" he inter.
rupted. "You could say nothing Sc.