The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-17

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| by winning 10000.
Next day he netted 5000. Then he al
ternated his transactions between trente-
et-quarante and the roulette tables. but
the refait and zero occurred so frequent
ly that in few days his capital was re-
/ duced from fl6,OOO TO 10 shillings, and
finally to nothing. Then he went TO the
landlord OF his hotel and ordered. begged
and entreated him 10 give him his $1,000.
The landlord refusing he went and bor-
rowed $50 from a friend, lost IL, then
went and sold his watch and chain. jew
elry and all his clothes except what he
stood up In, returned 20 the tables with
40 and again lost every farthing.
The hotel landlord being still inexor-
able. the gambler got up in the night
broke open the money till In the bar
helped himself 20 the money therein
about el5-depositing in the till his l. O.
u. and letter authorizing the landlord
TO recoup himself from the 5000. and
next day went 10 the tables, lost the
el5. and as the landlord refused 10 give
up his 5000 until he reached England, he
departed by the rrst train available, the
landlord taking his ticket for him.
After reaching England, no sooner did
he receive his f5000 less the El5 and
travelling expenses deducted by the land
lord, than he once more set out for HON.
burg. This time he was armed with a
system" which he evolved during his
journey. and I'm which he had great faith.
but in a few days he had lost every
franc, and the last time 1 saw him.
which was several years after. he was a
porter and was carrying visitors luggage
up from carriage 10 the very hotel at
which he had stayed in former years.
There are, of course, some habitues OF
the rooms who play carefully and know
when 10 leave off AT Ostend there was
an old foll sl<n
rooms every day at the same time, Just
as II 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 nd go home again. IL was said that
he always managed TO win his days
work.
THE methods and superstitious OF ha-
bitual 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 num-
Der OF ones room at the hotel Is an old
favorite 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 calen-
dar. Some of them carry little so-caled
'talismans' about with them, others are
believers in 'mascots' or luck-bringers
"A nobleman who was n familiar figure
at Monte Carlo some years ago happen
ing 10 see hunchback, more than usual
ly deformed selling matches In a London
took him into his service
as an assistant TO his valet,
and took him with him to Monte Carlo
for a mascot and whenever he played
invariably had him with him
Il remember another rich, but invaria-
bly, unfortunate gambler, a retired ad-
miral. who happening TO become ao-
quainted with a man who, though he
never gambled. had the reputation of be-
ing luckily actually engaged him at a
good salary and hotel and travelling ex-
penses to accompany him TO the tables
and conduct all gambling operations on
his behalf.
Some years ago when l was an official |
RI 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 |
rs he did won steadily.
Among these were two middle-ared |
dark men and an old white haired gentle |
man with blue spectacles, who seemed |
intensely Interested In the youths opera |
lions. The papers were just then fun OF |
sensational bank robbery and -uAaaI !
saw how flush OF money the youth was |
Ind noticed how keenly the three men /
watched his play, | suspected they were /
detectives. By-and-by the young man APP |
oeared uneasy, and | saw him look hard /
II the blue-spectaoled gentleman and /
'olor violently. He had evidently discov-
red that he was being watched From
hat moment he began losing and the
'ystanders ceased TO follow his methods.
The blue-spectacled gentleman also gave
lp initiating the youths play, and began
m a system of his own. winning repeat
dly. The two dark men then went round
o the old gentleman's side OF the table
nd initiated his system for a while.
PRESENTLY the youth went out OF the
ooms and the three men followed him. |
went outside also, when, 10 my infinite |
urprise, the old blue-spectacled gentle-
nan whom had supposed to be a detec-
I've was arrested by the two dark men
who really were detectives) for the bank
obbery.
1T transplred afterward that the old
who. disguised by blue spec-
acles and minus his beard. had been fol-
'wing' the young Englishman's play.
'as the managing director OF a we'll |
nown bank from which he had abscond- |
with several thousands OF pounds.
The youths confusion which at frst
al looked ike conscious guilt was
lerely due TO nervousness. consequent
n suddenly recognizing his director
atching him. who. however had no idea
1at the young man whose play he was
blowing was one OF the clerks az his
ank. The young man. IL was afterward
Splained. had come into a small legacy
nknown 10 the bank authorities. and I
aving 10 take 'is holidays In the early
,ring. as junior bank clerks often do.
,me 10 Monte Carlo with the two detec-
YES hot on his track. The bank director.
believe. got seven yeara TIA ME. 1