The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-06

crowds that come to the Riviera and
are especially to be met in the near
ne1ghborhood of Monte Carlo.
L saw them twice in the rooms that
same night, lowering arount the trente
et quarante tables, both Of them fol-
lowing the play carefully, but not stalk
ing more than an occasional louis. I
guessed what they were after, tasting
only and testing their theories, watch
ing how the system in which they be-
lieved would work out in practice.
IheY were finished ganblers-of that
felt sure-to judge by their keen eyes
for the. chances of the game and as
time passed their persistency in fol-
lowing it.
+ Next day they were among the de-
tachment from our hotel who went
over by the early train so as to be at
the doors before the gambling rooms
opened, ready to take part in the daily
race for seats which starts punctuaIlv
as the clock strikes twelve 1 often
went myself to see the fun; it was a
long run for the far-off trente ct quar-
ante room, but the count and
countess We're always in the forefront.
and they invariably secured places.
which they occupied till dinner time.
Day after day we saw them, PLAYING
always and in all fashions, now eau
tiously, after minute calculations. now
recklessly, throwing all systems to the
winds.
They had no great luck-rather the
other way. We heard all about it when,
after the custom Of the place, we gath
cred together in the great central hall
OF the hotel and exchanged experiences
talking over the surprises, the fortunes
and misfOrtunes, Of the day; how red
mad come out seventeen times; how
there had been a wretched "fntermtt-
tence," an uneven alienation of coIors
which upset all theories; how this one
had won seven "maXimums" running,
and that had lost twice as many. The
Ullmans had always lot to say. They
were liked rather as free-and-eaSy
folk not difficult to know, the pretty
countess especially, for she was affa-
bic, and there were depths in her dark
eyes that were touched by unspoken
admiration or Out-and-out compliment
She had q shrewish temper. how
ever, reserved generally for the little
count, but she showed it openly some
times; for instance, on the days when
they Jared i'll at Monte Carlo. I could
hear them at the next table snarling
at each other, nagging and squabbling
continually, trying to shift the blame
Of some unlucky coup, both with loud
voices, but herS-strong. mellow, mu-
Sical-alWayS in the ascendant. and the
little count was soon shut up and over
powered. 1t must have been the same,
worse even, in the sacred reCesses of
their welded chamber, for one morn
ing a nefghbor on their bedroom floor
came out on the terrace with a fine
story.
There had been an awful row the
night before-high words, something
like a free fight, pieces Of furniture
overturned and crockery broken. Some
of the remarks overheard proved
how bitter the quarrel had BEEN at
won't do it." cried the husband you
must and SHALL" replied the wife. "All
the risk and trouble falls upon me-"
80 1t should; it's the mans business.
and it was so arranged" II don't like
it, and 1 tell you 1 shall cry off. We
must leave the hotel. 1 shall at any
rate tomorrow" you coward! You
shocking little curl" Then followed a
fresh scuffle, even blows, and an out
burst of hysterical tears.
1t soon became evident that the UIl-
mans were in very low water. Like a
good many more, they had been be-
guiled to their undoing. They had
dropped heavily at the tables and were
probably cleaned out. 1t looked like 1t,
for the lady's jewels gradually disap-
peared-pawned, no doubt, at the con-
NSNIeuI JGW0I SHOPS at monte Carlo
and presently they left the hotel The
count skunk away first unseen, going
in search. presumably, of some cheaper
hOstelry; madame cleared out later,
and there was much speculation wheth-
err or not she had paid the bill. Evil
tongues declared she had been unable
to do so, and quoted in proof that q
lot of her voluminous baggage had
been left behind her. The countess had,
however, been at great pains to explain
that she had asked this favor as she
meant ere long to return to the hotel.
So many people came and went that
the Ullmans' exodus was soon forgot
ten as thing Of the past Besides,
another much more serious matter
arose to disturb the serenity of the
Cotes d'Azur hotel.
1t came out at first in low, subdued
whispers, and the management would
gladly have hushed up the whole af-
fair. A great robbery at a hotel throws
discredit on the house and causes IN
finite trouble. There had been, In
truth, very extensive robbery; the