The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-07-27
THE THIRTEEN PLAYER
AT MONTE CARLO
BY Percixal Rhodes.

| airy. 1904, when young American ar
rived at Monte Carlo and went straight
| to the famous cemetery OF suicides, and
when he had visited this place he took
cab for Hotel de Paris. where he
asked to be given room No. 10. The
old chief clerk, who was used to all
kinds of eccentricities in his customers,
| shook his head and expressed his re-
/ greet that owing to the strong super
stition among guests the hotel con-
| tanned no room ID, or even 1l3. The
4 when the manager. who was called, told
! him that not a single hotel on the
whole Riviera had room OF that ON
nous number, but insisted that a room
be numbered l3 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 at the Casino, told at table
d'hote how the interesting young man
never played any number but 13 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 habtues of the
| place already began to look for a new
grave In the suicides cemetery. But
unexpectedly he turned, up at the rou-
lette table once more. his face pale and
haggard, and the old countess noticed
that he had considerable difficulty in
ly all he had In the world. The balls
were already In motion as he threw II
on the table, without caring where 1t
| fell. 1t rolled almost across the ia
BILE, against another gold piece and fell
| on number l3. For moment 1t looked
I 4
he shrugged his shoulders and left 1t
| there. 11-,f
"Trjeze, noir, impaire ct manque."
announced the croupier. and smilngy
he pushed IFS francs toward the young
American. But Mr. Brown shook his
| head.
~ leave it stand" he said, and the
croupier, still smiling, piled the gold
| pieces on number 10.
| Again the wheel revolved, and once
more Is came out. That meant gain
of 5000 francs to the American. and
several .. of those around who admired
| his gameneSS gave him a friendly nod.
But great was their surprise when the
American again told the grouped to
leave his money on the same number.
That a number comes out twice in
succession happens quite often; that it
comes out trice is considered quite re-
markable. and the old countess who
|
young man, began to reproach him for
his fooishness in leaving 5000 francs
slip through his fingers.
I But Brown quietly told her that, after
all, he could only lose francs. This
way OF looking at the thing struck the
| try to say any more, and already sighed
| at the thought OF the loss Of that much
money.
Once more the wheel spun around,
and again No. 10 won. An expression
OF surprise was heard everywhere, and
everybody looked at the American.
while the croupier counted out the
and pushed 1t 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 even 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 stubborn
ness" The gambling at all the other
tables stopped. every one wanted to see
the end Of this unusual struggle be-
tween bank and player. even If they
had to 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.
In few minutes everything was
ready
"Faltes vos jeux, meseurs." the
young crouper called out. but only q
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
he sang out mechanically: "Treize. noir.
impaire ct passe." Thirteen had come
| out once more.
A pandemonium broke out. and the
| guards had all they could do to keep
order. The young croupier was pale
| with excitement; his CHIEF gave sign
and an older croupier took his place.
The American alone remained calm
as he let one bundle Of bank notes aft
er the other disappear in his pockets.
At last everything had been paid, but
ing that he would try his luck once
more.
1t is impossible to describe the ex-
citement which followed his words.
Even the older croupier shook his head,
and when he started the wheel he was
so nervous that he made the ball jump
out. Another was put inland once
more it stopped at No. 10.
= No applause greeted the players sue
cess this time, and there was deep 81
lence when the croupier announced
that the bank was broken. and after
! paying the American his 100000 francs
/ he covered the wheel with box and
| the play was over for the evening.
After this the American disappeared.
but about a month later he returned
| in company with beautiful young
lady and rented a magnificent villa
near the park.
He played again every night, always
betting the maximum, but he invar-
iably lost. No 10 came out occasional
~, but always when he was not play
ing
One evening he came later than
usual, and the old countess noticed
that he vas pale and excited. Again
he played and lost three times in sue
cession. At last he had only louis
dor left. He turned it uneasily and
seemed to hesitate. The wheel started
before he had staked anything.
! . Play thirteen-quick," the countess
whispered, but it was too late. "Rien
ne va plus, impair monque," the
coupler called. Thirteen had come out,
and nobody had covered it. The Amer
leans face was flushed. The next time
he wanted to place his gold on 49, but
his tongue was as paralyzed. iOnce
more 10 came out. Now he took cour-
F., age and staked, though he felt that his
luck was gone. Thirty-one came out.
| The old countess was not surprised
to hear of his suicide the next morning.
She went to place wreath on his
grave, which bore no name but-the