The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-11-12

THE NEXT MINUTE ALLEN HAD SEIZED
THE GIRL BY THE WAIST.
that young fellow right from the start
Anyway | rather wanted him to win
And lie did win. No matter how reck-
less he played he didn't seem able to
After that he dropped In pretty regu-
lar. always playing In the same listless
way, not even looking ZIP when the ball
stopped and, the strangest part of II,
hardly ever losing II bet.
1t ran along in this way about six
months, and although he didn't show 1t
much each dry could see some fresh
indication Of the fast life he was lead
Ing. And II worried me good deal
Not that IT'S an uncommon thing In
this business 10 see II young fellow go
Ing down the line, but somehow this
young man seemed different; Just slip
ping ;l9ag SO quiet like. down. down,
all the time. The worst of 1t was he
seemed to realize 1t himself, but didn't
care, and then any one could see that
he wasn't made for that kind of life.
He had always come IN alone. and one
night | was surprised TO see that he
was accompanied by II young man
about his own age. They both came
over to my table and bought n stack of
chips. For some time they played in ST.
lence; then the stranger said abruptly,
by the way. Allen. heard something
the other day about that pretty Bernice
Arthur you used to be 80 intimate
with"
Aliens face turned u shade whittier,
but he answered quietly enough,
"What Is III"
"You haven't heard? She's to marry
fellow by the name Of Franklin-im-
mcnsely rich, they say. The wedding
takes place this fall"
Aliens face had grown as white as
chalk, and his hand tremblcd as he
suddenly pushed his whole stack of
chips over on the red. l spun the
wheel, and he lost. And when he lost
that bet, sir, although I'm not very SUI
pcrstitous, | felt sure his luck would
change for the worse, and 1t did. More
over, from thut on there was marked
change In the man. lie was dissIpating
more than ever
II was the last night OF the carnival
they hold street carnival here every
fall. The play had been pretty heavy
all day, but about o'clock, when the
crowd had thlnned out. Allen walked
IN. He laid II 500 bill on the black and
in n low voice said: "My last dollar
Black live Red-well, why not?
Chance has decided the fate of far
greater things"
rolled the wheel The little ball
rolled around the groove. We both
watched 1t In breathless silence. Know
Ing the man as did, felt sure his life
hung ON the chance. He had come to
! the end of his rope and staked all. Sud
| denly and with Il sharp click the little
ball struck the diamond. bounded and
rolled or struck again, then gllded into
! the black, only to be thrown out again,
roll purity around the wheel, then set
| tie down, Twenty one, red" He had
lost!
For moment he stood there, look.
ing straight ahead then, with laugh,
turned and walked down the stairs
In my life | have played for some
pretty high stakes, but never before
have rolled the wheel when | thought
human life was at stake. l followed
him, resolved il possible to prevent his
doing himself any harm. The streets
were brilliantly lighted-a procession of
gayly decorated floats was passing. Ev-
cry one was merry. But Allen walked
on, to all appearances unconscious OF
his surroundings
Suddenly squad OF mounted officers
dashed up Stand back they cried,
forcing the people on to the sidewalk.
BY this time | found myself standing
next to Allen. Our way was blocked
by the crowd, so we stepped forward
TO the curb. Down the street the city
fire department-ho cart and all-was
coming ut full speed, making an exhi'
bition run.
Suddenly slim, girlish figure darted