The times., 1901-06-02

bitual gamblers at the tables are often
curious. They will back the red because
they have met a soldier in the street, or
the black because they have seen a par
son Stalking ones money on the number
OF one room at the hotel is an old fav-
orite fancy They will back the day of
the month. their age, last birthday. the
number of buttons on any ones dress or
the dates of saints days in the calendar.
Some of them carry little s0-called tails
mans about with them. others are believ-
ers In mascots' or luck-bringers.
"A nobleman who was familiar figure
at Monte Carlo some years ago happen
ing to see q hunchback more than usually
deIormed selling matches In a London
thoroughfare. took him into his service,
nominally as an assistant to his valet.
and took him with him to Monte Carlo
for mascot, and whenever he played
invariably had him with him.
4 remember another rich. but invari-
ably unfortunate gambler. a retired ad-
mlral, who happening to become acquaint-
ed with man, who. though he never
gambled, had the reputation of being
lucky. actually engaged him at good
salary and hotel and travelling expenses
to accompany him TO the tables and CON
duct ali gambling operations on his be-
half.
Some years ago when I was an official
at Monte Carlo. young English gentle
man attracted much notice at the tables
parent wealth. The crowd, usual, fol-
lowed his methods. and doing exactly as
he did wOn steadily.
Among these were two middle-aged
dark men and an old white-hatred gentle
man. with blue spectacles, who seemed
intensely interested IN the youth opera
tions. The papers were Just then full OF
a sensational bank robbery and when !
saw how flush of money the youth Was,
and noticed how keenly the three men
watched his play, l suspected they were
detectives. Ry-and-hy the young man ap-
peared uneasy, and / saw him look hard
at the blue-spectacled gentleman and
4 Isrraa
cred that he was being watched. From
that moment he began losing, and the by
ISLANDERS ceased to follow his methods.
''The blue-spectacled gentleman also gave
up initiating the youths play. and began
on a system of his own. winning repeat
edly. The two dark men then went
round to the old gentleman's side of the
table and initiated his system for
while. Presently the youth went out Of
the rooms and the three men followed
him. i went outside also, when. TO my
infinite surprise, the old blue-spectacled
gentleman whom / had supposed to be
detective was arrested by the two dark
men (who really were detectives) for the
bank robbery.
ut transpired aftarward that the old
gentleman, who, disguised by blue spec
tacles and minus his beard. had been fol-
lowing the young EnslishmanS s play, was
the managing director of a weli-known
bank, from which he had absconded with
several thousands of pounds.
The youths confusion which at first
had looked like conscious guilt was mere
ly due to nervousness consequent on sud-
denly recognizing his director watching
him, who, however, had no idea that the
young man whose play he was following
was one of the clerks at his bank. The
young man, 1t was afterward explained.
had come into small legacy unknown to
the bank authorities, and having to take
his holidays in the early spring as junior
bank clerks often do. came to Monte Car
10 with the two detectives hot on his
track. The bank director, 1 believe, got
seven years. The London Tit-Bits