Evening star., 1900-12-08

tEelr way to prosecuting the offenders. Per-
haps it would be best to call it an indeli-
cacy
In any case, these Italian geniuses began
by observing that the roulette machine at
table No. had a manifest tendency to re-
peat frequently the same numbers: o, s, u.
IA, Is. II, "a, % and 81 This discovery led
them to experiment "a cheval' on the num-
bers 12-15, I'LL and 2S-31, which hap
pen to be neighbors on the layout" and
eli plein on the single squares of o, and
"a. Divided into several groups, relieving
each other every two hours, they uegan
betting heavily from the opening of the
salons till their closing. At the beginning
the chef de Dartie, the croupiers, the look
outs spies and detectives who are banded
around each table to protect it paid no
attention to them. After several days how
ever, habituated though they were to pay
out big sums and looking indiferently on
tectors began worrying Night after night
they were bringing back profits to the
general cashier. Often they brought him
heavy losses They themselves asked to be
changed from table No. ,, which they de-
clared to be hoodooed. new set Of crou-
piers and watchers was put in their place.
Still table No. 2 continued losing money.
In two months 1t had cost the administra-
ton over 100000 francs, or Il, 600 francs a
day.
The Italians had been observed by this
time. They were known to be the guilty
winners. Had they found a sure-winning
system? The administration laughed at
the idea. 1t was remarked. nevertheless
that the Italians always played at the
same table. and always on the single num-
awakened the suspicious Of the administ tra-
tor. NJ Boulant, and caused him, late in the
day. to do what would be done after
the unlucky. roulette cylinder to be put
aside. Another was substituted; and they
sat down to watch the result.
Then Came a Change.
The next morning the Italians entered
with business-like brskness. They had
come to collect their income. as usual
Seating themselves at table No. ., they
prepared to play. All at once it was no.
ticed that they hesitated. They exchanged
amined the roulette cylinder with furtve
glances. Then they packed away their
gold and bank notes, got up and strOled
away, conversing earnestly 1t was equiva-
lent to a confession. The syndicate was
surprised into committing an error 1t
ought to have continued playing.
The next morning, however, 1t was M.
Boulant's turn to be surprised. Entering
the salons a few hours after their opening,
he found the Italians at their accustomed
places, playing-and winning-as if nothing
had happened. He more than surprs-
ed n moment later, when, on careful eX-
animation, he discovered that the unlucky
cylinder had been brought back. Who had
replaced it? 1t mattered little. and the
traitor In the camp was never discovered.
An order was issued for the guilty machine
to be broken up into kndling wood, the
syndicate ceased betting on its chosen
numbers, and the bank ceased losing 13, 900
francs a day at Table No. ,.
The Method n Mystery.
The secret of the matter was never dis
covered. Had the Italians merely observed
that the particular roulette was imperfect? :?
1t certainly was imperfect. The compart-
ments 0. s. u, II. 10, II, "a, 2S and 81 were
the merest trife larger than they should
have been, and the edges of at least a few
of the divisions were declared to have been
the merest trife higher than the others
Was the roulette imperfect by accident?
To imagine ANYTHING else, would be to
doubt the good faith Of an honorable Ger
man manufacturing optcian, Herr
Schwilge of Strasbourg, to whom the
Casino authorities pay LOCO francs apiece
for the machines. Schwilges rouettes have
a European reputation for the most perfect
precision. Turned with force, their cylin
ders continue to revolve for twelve min
utes. Had an employe of Herr SchwIlge
been brbed to fix that particular ma
chine? 1t is difficult to believe it. But it
Is still more difficult to imagine how an
accomplice in the employ of the Casino
people could have done it. The thing re-
mains a mystery. Only ever since then
the sixteen roulette wheels of Monte Carlo
have been changed about from table to
table nightly. The thing is done in secret,
by special employees. Eacn cylinder IS ex-
amined for scratches and other private
marks that might betray its identity; and
they keep fifty reserve cylinders on hand.
If one listens to the wonderful stories Of
the Monte Carlo croupers' skill in throw
ing the ball and pushing the cylinder that
are current in the bars and smoking rooms
of Nice and Monte Carlo hotels and pen
sions one begins to wonder that conspira
cies against the bank are not more COM
mon.
Marvellous Hand of the CrOupier.
Even the best friends Of the bank, who
can see nothing crooked about its opera
tions and nothing mysterious in its luck,
admit willingly that the hand of the
croupier plays an important role in bring
ing about roulette results. One croupder
will be more likely to bring low numbers,
in spite of the fact that the numbers high