The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-14

an old fellow who used to come to the
rooms. every day at the same time, just
as if he were going to his business, and
would sit there hour after hour marking
the chances on his card, and at last when
he thought there was a certainty, would
stake small sum, and win the price
of his board and lodging for the day and
go home again. 1t was said that he al
ways managed to win his days keep and
never did any other kind of work.
THE methods and supersttions of ha-
bltual gamblers at the tables are often
curious. They will back the red because
they have met soldier in the street, or
the black because they have seen a par
son. Stalking ones money on the number
of ones room at the hotel is an old IA
VoTite fancy. They will back the day OF
the month their age last birthday, the
humber of buttons on any ones dress, or
the dates of saints days in the calendar.
Some of them carry little so-called tails
mans about with them, others are believ-
ers in 'mascots or luck bringers.
"A nobleman who was a familiar figure
at Monte Carlo some years ago happen
ing to see a hunchback. more than usual
ly deformed, selling matches in a London
thoroughfare, took him into his service,
nominally as an assistant to his valet,
ind took him with him to Monte Carlo
Cor a mascot, and whenever he played
invariably had him with him.
II remember another rich, but invaria-
bly, unfortunate gambler, a retired admit
raj, who happening to become acquainted
with a man who, though he never gam
bled, had the reputation of being lucky,
actually engaged him at a good salary
and hotel and travelling expenses to &C
company him TO the tables and conduct
all gambling operations on his behalf.
Some years ago when l was an official
at Monte Carlo young English gentle
man attracted much notice at the tables
both by his wonderful success and his
apparent wealth The crowd, as usual,
followed his methods. and doing exactly
as he did won steadily.
among these were two middle-aged
dark men and an old white-hared gem
tleman. with blue spectacles, who seemed
intensely interested in the youths opera
tons The papers were just then full OF
sensational bank robbery. and when
saw how flush of money the youth was.
and noticed how keenly the three men
watched his play. | suspected they were
detectives. By-and-by the young man APP
peared uneasy, and / saw him look hard
at the blue-spectacled gentleman and
color violently. He had evidently discov-
rom
that moment he began losing. and the by
ISLANDERS ceased to follow his methods
The blue-spectacled gentleman also gave
up initiating the youths pay and began
on a system OF his own, winning repeat,
eddy. The two dark men then wen,
round to the old gentleman's side of the
table and initiated his system for a
while. Presently the youth went out of
the rooms and the three men followed
him. went outside also, when. TO my
infinite surprise, the old blue-spectacle1
gentleman whom / had supposed TO be a
detective was arrested by the two dark
men (who really were detectives) for The
bank robbery.
ut transpired afterward that the old
gentleman, who, disguised by blue spec.
tacles and minus his beard. had been
following the young Englshman's play.
was the managing director of a well
known bank, from which he had ab-
seconded with several thousands of pounds
THE youths confusion which al frs,
had looked like conscious guilt was mere
~ due to nervousness, consequent on sun
denly recognizing his director watching
him. who. however, had no idea than the
young man whose play he was following
was one OF the clerks at his bank. The
young man. it was afterward explained.
had come into a small legacy unknown tu
the bank authorities. and having to take
his holidays In the early spring as Junior
bank clerks often do. came to Monte Car.
% with the two detectives hot on his
track The bank director, / believe. got
seven years"
-e-a,-e--