The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-02
THE "THIRTfEN PLAYER"
At MONTE CARLO.

4 w 40 d uGs III tue Hiu1ie u jan
uary. 1904, when young American
arrived at Monte Carlo and went
straight 10 the famous cemetery OF
suicides. and when lie had visited this
place he took cab for Hotel de Paris,
where he asked to be given room No.
Is. The Cd chief clerk. who was used
to all kinds Of eccentricities i'm his
customers. shook his head and ex-
pressed his regret that owing to the
strCng superstition among guests, the
hotel contained no room Is. or even 113.
The American was evidently disguised
when the manager, who was called, told
him that not a Single hotel on the
whole Riviera had room of that omin-
Gus number, but insisted that room
be numbered 13 for him, and when this
had been done his face frightened and
he Immediately took possession.
From that moment he was an object
of curiosity TO the cosmopolitan guests
of the hotel. and two days afterward
the old Countess Cadulas. who spent
every day in the Casino, told at table
d'hOte how the interesting young man
never played any number but IS. He
soon became a fixture at the roulette
table, but was nearly always unlucky,
and hardly ever won anything.
Then he was suddenly missed for
several days, and the habitues of the
place already began TO look for a new
grave in the suicides cemetery. But
| Unexpectedly he turned up at the rouI-
cite table once more, his face pale and
| haggard, and the old countess noticed
that he had considerable difficulty in
/ finding a lonely five francs piece, evil
/ IDENTIFY all he had in the world. The
| balls were already in motion as he
! threw it on the table, without caring
where it fell. 1t rolled almost across
the table, against another gold piece
and fell on No. 13. For a moment it
looked as if Mr.. Brown would object.
but then he shrugged his shoulders
and left 1t there.
| TrieZe, nOir, impare ct manque"
announced the croupier. and smilingIy
he pushed E5 francs toward the young
, American. But Mr. Brown shook his
head
Il leave it stand" he said, and the
croupier. still smiling. piled the gold
pieces on No. 1S
| Again the wheel revolved, and once
again l3 came out That meant a gain
Of 5000 francs to the American, and
several of those around who admired
| his gameness gave him friendly nod.
But great was their surprise when the
American again told the croupier to
leave his money on the same number.
! That a number comes out twice in
| succession happens quite often: thai
it comes out thrice is considered quite
remarkable, and the old countess. who
already took mOtherly interest in
the young man. began TO reproach him
/ in < ~
! francs slip through his fingers.
/ But Brown quietly told her that.
after all, he could only lose five francs
/ This way of looking at the thing struck
/ the countess as so original that she did
not try TO say any more. and already
| sighed at the thought of the loss or
/ that much money.
! Once more the wheel spun around.
and again No. I3 Won An expression
of surprise was heard everywhere. and
I everybody looked at the American.
while the croupier counted out the
money from the cassette of the bank
and pushed it over to the winner who.
without the slightest hesitation or sign
Of feeling, declared that he would risk
\ the amount once more.
The effect Of his words was marvel
GUS Never had anyone in Monte Carlo
seen anything like this, and many who
had been exceedingly satisfied to see
the bank lose gave vent to their opinion
OF this American stubbornness. The
gambling at all the other tables
stopped; everyone wanted to see the
end of this unusual struggle between
bank and player. even if they had 10
climb on tables and chairs to do so.
Only the chief croupier smiled at the
! thought OF all the money coming back
TO his Golfers in one stroke.
J In few minutes everything was
ready.
"Faltes vos joux, monsieurs," the
| young croupier called out. but only
! few stray gold pieces were. placed when
the call of "Rien ne va plus sounded
The wheel spun around, and the crou-
pier would not believe his own eyes as
I he sang out mechanically: 'Treize.
noir impaire ct passe," Thirteen had
| come out once more,
A Oandemonium broke out. and the
! guards lad all they could Go 10 keep
order. The young croupier was pale
! with excitement; his chief gave a sign
! and an old croupier took his place
The American alone remained calm
! as he let one bundle of banknotes after
the other disappear in his pockets. At
! last everything had been paid, but he
| still remained. smilingly announcing
| that he would try Lis luck once more.
IL is impossible to describe the excite
ment that followed his words Even
! the old croupier shook his head. and
| when he started the wheel he was so
! nervous that lie made the bali jump
out Another was put inland once
more il stopped on number Is.
No applause greeted the players sue
! cess this time. and there was deep ST
lence when the cropier announced that
the bank was broken. and after pay
ing the American 100000 francs he cuv-
cred the wheel with box and the play
was over for tie evening.
After this the American disappeared,
but about a month later he returned
in company with a beautiful young
lady and rented magnificent villa
| near the park.
He played again every night, always
betting the maximum, but he invari-
ably lost. No 10 came out occasion ally,
| but always when he was not playing.
One evening he came later than usual
and the old countess noticed that he was
pale and excited. Again he PLAYED and
lost three times in succession. AJ last
| he lad only "a louis d or left He turned
it uneasily and seemed to hesitate. The
wheel started before he had staked
anything.
Play thirteen-quick, The countess
| whispered, but il was too late. Rein
NJ va plus. impaire a monque." the
croupier called. Thirteen had come OFT,
and nobody mad covered it. The Aneer-
leans face was flushed. The next time
he wanted to place his gold on 10. but
his tongue was as Daralyzed. once
more 13 came out. Now he took cour-
age and staked though he felt that his
luck was gone. TLirty-One came Aut
The old countess was not surprised TO
hear of his suicide next morning She
went TO place a wreath on his grave.