The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1900-08-04

n HE ivory roulette ball fell with
final click into one Of the 81 little
spaces on the red and black wheel.
"Onze! Noir, impair ct manque!"
The croupier's rakes went swiftly to
work sweeping the coin and bank notes
from every part of the table, while as
swiftly winnings were flung to the
eager, grabbing, cosmopolitan crowd
with that machinelike accuracy which
every visitor to Monte Carlo knows so
well.
The night was stifing--one May
night last year-and the rooms were
filed by the usual well-dressed, per-
fumed monde from all corners Of the
earth. At the table where was stand
ing play was running high, for young
Englishman had thrice in succession
won the maximum on black, as well as
PLAGUE EN- plein.
On my left in the crowd Of hot. excit-
ed, bejeweled players stood woman
Of about 80. rather sad.faced and neat
ly dressed in black, carrying in her
hand a small, well-worn reticule, while
on my right stood two men, one young
ish. with a well-trimmed, dark brown
beard; the other tall, gray-haired and
Of pronounced military type, watching
the play interestedly, but stalking
nothing. One does not generally take
much notice Of ones neighbors at
Monte Carlo, and, dare say, should
not have given the woman passing
glance had II not been for the regular
ity with which she handed the croupier
sitting at the end Of the table louis,
with the words:
~rrente, En- plein."
She staked on the number 30 each
time losing persistently. 1t is nothing
unusual for player TO fancy single
number and play upon II repeatedly.
The number Of ones railway ticket or
cloakroom check, or OF ones waiter at
the Cafe de Paris opposite-all serve as
guides to the inveterate gambler, who
Is nothing II not firm believer in
omens.
The woman played on and on, her
features, which still bore traces OF q
dark, tragic beauty, becoming paler and
more firmly set as each time the fatal
announcement was made.
Twenty-Five turned up. She only Sc,
her teeth and doubled her stake. Then
the coupier's monotonous voice an.
nounced 81. had louis on the trans.
versals, and the coupler tossed me a
banknote for hundred francs.
"Ah!" she said, bitterly, III ! had
only placed II n cheval!" meaning upon
the two numbers, 81 and 30,
"'rry the transversale OF six. You
may be more lucky" suggested
mo" she answered determinedly,
In French, "Thirty isthe number which
always brings me fortune" And div.
Ing again into her little bag she drew
forth hundred.franc note, which she
pushed onto the square,
Twenty-Five won. AS had allowed
my louis TO remain pocketed another
hundred francs, while hers was swept
away.
"rhat woman Is playing a desperate
game" heard my companion on my
right whisper In English TO his elderly
friend. "She loses each time"
"she's surely proved that she has no
luck, Why doesn't she stop"
The man who had first spoken sighed
slightly, but did not reply, lie had a
kind face, and his dark eyes were
turned upon her MS she fumbled again
In her little bag, her hand trembling
with excitement, His eyes met mine
We exchanged glances more meaning
than words. could see that he wa,
sorry to see her losing in that reckless
manner, for her outward appearance
showed that she could III afford TO lose
the sum which she had already staked
Again she folded bank note ant
placed II upon her favorltc number
and lost.
Her face changed. She was dcs
psgste.
Again rose the strident invitation Il