davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

up. Indeed. as watched. 1 saw aim
stake en- plein "A l0l-franc note three
times in succession md each time win
$500 francs, and afteTward walk away
with his younger brother. laughing
and chattering in Hungarian.
One day by chanc, 1 spoke 10 him.
md found that. although ignorant Jf
French. he knew English. having
studied al 81. BarthC lomew's Hospital.
IN London. fer a couple OF years. He
was an exceedingly pleasant fellow,
and was, I heard, a son of the we'll
known Hungarian fnaucier, Baron
Balla. He stood In The center OF the
room chatting with me, his pockets
bullying with the nItes and gold he
had won. and, when [ congratulated
him upon his good fortune, he ex-
claimed II his broken. rather cultural
English:
'Aehl ] know nothing. play ike
one fool put louis on Is. Il come,
I put one on 20 It come, Eve-vsing
I put on. it Gomez
Your luck is extraordinary. I OBJ
served. How much have you WOMB
Il play ten day. and 1 win 300. 600
frapcs!' he answered, laughing.
His brother. standing. by. smiled
also. He, too. had won 100. 600 Traces.
most unusual occurrence, for he had
10 luck.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
His Crime Notorious One.

hazler's crime was a very notorious
one, and it was this service which
young DR.. Balla rendered me that ce-
mented our friendship. He was real
iy excellent company, far more Meas
ant and easy-going than most Hun
garians, even If something of = LADY,
killer. Sometimes he would wear a
frock-coat and silk hat, which. as
every one knows, is quite out Of Mace
on the Riviera. Yet, he was Hun
garian. and everybody forgaye him
such little eccentriclties. Neverthe-
less, the man who wears a silk hat
on the Riviera is a bold man. indeed
Even the irresponsible straw hat has
been tolerated on the Promenade des
Anglais in combination with the stiff
and formal frock-coat-but never the
silk hat. Those who go to the Riviera
leave their chuTch-going headgear at
home.
AS the days went on, the doctor
with his brother, came over each aft
ernOon from Nice and played with IN
variable success. Indeed, so huge were
his winnings. that one morning he
took over TO Nice that scarlet-coated
Hungarian band which plays outside
the cafe de Paris, IN order to .regale
with music his few guests at the
Pension AnGaIse. where he was stav-
ing The band was stationed in the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
Girl Laughed at Him.

4 pretty, <fair-headed girl in a decol-
lete dress OF rose-pink silk. standing
opposite. laughed aloud at his mis-
fortune. and I saw him raise his
mead start slightly. and glare al nsr.
pale in anEsr.
Al that instant, while the bali Was
already running. he took q connie ~
notes. and, doubling them together
pushed them into zero.
An instant later the crouDisr's voice
rang our, as 1t ever does when The
friend OF the house" turns I'd
''ZeFoP"
The doctor had again wOn the maxi
mum.
Quickly ths crouDier counted ont the
notes and pushed them towards hin,
d pile which the Onloolars s1gv v,f+t,
envy, and was about u hand him the
TWO notes he had staked when ba
cried IN broken French;
No Place them On the nunbsr
nine"
He won. Time after time he Won
Always the maximum: until bs auns
down couple OF notes. asking f0F
IAen 10 be placed on number three
The croupier obeyed, invited then, "a
play, and then spun the bali v-bfIa
the doctoT also tossed 600 francs On
the rel -
..--Et 800 eye watched IT running round
'u's1oe me revolving cylinder.
Rein ne va plusr cried the er..,-
per IN warning voice Just as the
ban fell and second later an
nounced:
AFols! Rouge, impair ct marcugl''
oHCS again he had won 1900 francs
me croupier opened his brass bor
"hefe me notes were kept. eIanca1 a.
the single francs and half frarcS =
MS side, by which he lrnau -
amount OF notes in hand. and savv -t's-
there were insufficient. Then t,,-vf,.-
ne exchanged some words vitb -
chsI De 2artie, and play was stoDnad
The bank was broken.
lis payers, cOngratulating the doc
tor upon his good fortune. rose fro-.
lheT chairs and left the table Lrnoyz-
ING lhat the play would not yet be re-
Huined- only the lucky young Hun
gar'an remained. sitting immovabis.
with MS cain resting upon his hands
WHAT fortune.' the croupIsr naxt
whom he sat exclaimed IN F,nzlisb
We all thought your luck -
changed 90
80 II mas snapped the doctor.
For the better laughed the crou-
pier, leaning upon mis- rake. WHY
you've broken the bank. You ought
TO be content"
I didn't say I WASH t." the Hun
garian responded. But did You see
that woman? She laughed at me he
cause 1 lost. Wen. I have shown her
that, when like I can win-sh2"
And he gave vent TO a strange
harsh. discordant laugh
Yes. / shouldn't think she would
laugh a second time" observed the
croupier; and at that instant the head
croupier walked across to where he
was sitting and handed him a large
roll OF notes, his winnings.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
Professionals Avoid It.

Those who so to Monte Carlo TO
risk their fve-frano pieces In the ex-
psotation OF winning q few louis viii,
OF course, notice nothing eXtTaordi-
nary at that SPOT. but the professional
gambler avoids Il, as he avoids walk
ing beneath ladders or supsetting tho
salt, for he knows that a seat there
can only bring him bad fortune. The
casual visitor who reads these lines
has very likely sat there and stake
his money on the new cloth. togethe.
with a crowd OF fellow-players stand
ing around: yet he viii possibly be
SURPRISED 70 know that. according 10
the careful record kept Of that taole
during the past two or three years.
there is not one OF the twenty-four
places in which there has not cat
man has gone out and Immediately
afterward ended his life. Every char
IS a suicides chair,
fatality encompasses that table.
The Mace on the left OF tie end crou
uier. nearest the entrance, has loEE
been noted as a place Of the desper
ate. As an example, one night, not
.ong ago, I watched the son of the
weU-known Paris architect De Rethei
sitting there winning. rising at the
conclusion Of play with something ik1
10000 francs in hand. Next night h
came again. occupied the same chair
lost all he had won, together witt
another 10000. He mad still ten note
each for 200. and these he placed
one by one on the simple chance %
the red and lost each time. Then TO-
h. in l.
chair dazed at his penniless, poSiuo.
Two hours before he had $1,000 franc
IN his pocket. The quadrilIc OF Ion
danced before his eyes as a Httir
accomuaniment to his melancL,l
thoughts. and at last, he rose uH
steadily and staggered out, his FAC
hard set and pale as death. Half
hour later I heard that. aIthous
carefully watched by one Of my sur
veiIIants. he had succeeded In. throw
ing himself from the high railway
bridge which crosses the st. Devote,
ara when picked up w9s quite dead.
Again. In that same chair one after
moor. there sat an elderly, pleasant
faced man whom 7 afteTward discov-
cred was Antonio CassanO, a retired
aptain Of the Italian army and rel
alive of che Syudic of VeHtimille. He
played during the afternoon and even
ing always on the dozens, but with
unvarying bad fortune, losing nearly
100000 francs. When he rose his
features were those Of desperate
man. and an houI after he had lett
the Casino he threw himself into the
sea at Mcntone.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

staked a modest five-franc piece be-
side his brothers bank notes
Sometimes he would stroll up ard
down the atrium. chatting with me. or
at others we would take a book and
cigarette at the cafe. / rather liked
him, because Of his generosity toward
d needy family known 10 me, and,
therefore. took an opportunity 20 warn
him against the folly of continuing TO
play. for at Monte Carlo We OF the
administration have, among ourselves,
proverb which says; The bank
only lends its money TO the player"
But he laughed al my misgivings.
saying:
I win. I put on again-I win. I al
ways VIM"
well" exclaimed. 4 would warn
you against one ting, If you are
really determined to keep on. Do not
play at the right-hand table IN the
Sale Mauresque."
Why he inquired
I shrugged my shoulders. It is not
our policy to brighten players By giRS
ing publicity to the fact that there is
a fatal table in the rooms.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
HoneymOOners Suicide.

Another instance I noticed at the
opening OF the play, one morning in
the height Of the Riviera season. a
pretty young English woman, Mrs
Pinkerton, seated in the chair, play
ing timidly with fve-franc pieces. and,
by the manner in which she placed
them on, she showed coHclusively that
she had never before played roulette.
Her husband stood beside her laugh
ing. for they had come to Nice for
their honeymoon, and for them every
thing was couleur de rose But at
Monte Carlo we have only two colors
black and red. That day and the
day succeeding she won, and so infat-
uated did the pair become with the
game that within a week they had
lost every farthing they possessed,
and one morning both were found shot
in their room at the Hotel Windsor at
Nice. Why fatality should always fol-
low unsuspecting players az that table
is an incxpl;cable enigma.
OF the dozens Of tragic deaths for
which that mysterious fatal table has
been responsible, not one. however,
is so curious in its details as that Of
DR. Balla. a young medical man from
budapest He was about thirty-two,
a smartlv dressed, sood-humored fell
low. beyond the average height. with
a fair mUstache and dark eyes. hand
some. and much admired by the Ia
dies. My attention was first attracted
toward him IN consequence OF his. IN
usually large winnings Accompanied
by his brother, a short dapper young
man. he played roulette at the second
table in the center, usually winning
from 10000 10 2O,oo0 francs daily, for
every number he tried seemed to coms
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
Won Again and Again.

The next day and the next the
young doctor played at the same table
always winning. except once wk.n ne
went to the Iren e-et-quar he lost
wo or three lJU's.
In rae 'wo AZ three -vscks that
pas.ei w ie ne good Il. nds. for.
one OF the crOupiers being an acauaIn-
lance OF bis. he had through him as
cerUained who and what ] was. and
was the means one nignt Of rendering
me a service. I was sitting IN my
room just before the 1l"se OF aIay
"a he was u$hcrcd IT BY "a. Il the
attti Jants. and EXPRESSED n drsire tu
ser ne alone. IL llI.n -plaie.I A story
which IN an instant set ne upon the
alert-namely, that six months before
there had been a mysterious robbery
and murder in Budapest. the victim
being a young and beautiful woman
well known in Hungarian society. As
soon as he began the story ali the
facts REQUIRED to me. had had a re-
port on the whole case, together with
the photograph of the alleged muir
derer. The man suspected. a CONNER
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

fer three months at the hospital.
was his Doctor"
Together we entered the roulette
room and there found the man want
ed cIean-shaven and wenSdressed.
calmly playing with louis upon the
columns, lie was sitting at the Sui
Cide's Table
We never Inakr on arrest at Monte
Carlo, but allow the person TO leave
the principally before taking him.
He is then arrested on French soil,
and by that means Monte Carlo is
spared the evil repute Of harboring
crimipals. OF course. from the instant
the guilty ones identity is discovered
he is Swallowed by one or other of my
assistants, until the police OF Cannes.
Nice, or Mentone step up to him and
inform his he is in custody. But the
police of Monte Mario always remain
in the background
This case was no exception Kaz-
Ter left by the midnight train for
Cannes, where he was staying, and
was arrested an hour later as he was
entering the Hotel du Pare.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31


ence OF which IS known
only TO the officials and IA
few professional gamblers.
A good many fortunes have
been yyoIi at roulette oY reason OF the
inexplioable sequence In which GER
tain numbers invariably turn up. The
habitue OF Monte Carlo knows well
that after the ball has fallon or sero
one or other OF two numbers VIII
usually gain. either q or 8. In con-
sequence, he stakes louis en- plein
on q, with a couple OF louis on me
nEst dozen. and. strangely enough
one or other OF the numbers VIII win
about ak times out Of ten. Again. II
al comes I'D one OF the numbers
from ~ TO s. Is almost oe4a 70 fol-
low. Why this should be no one has
ever been able to discover. The num-
bers are distributed over the whsel
In so uneven a manner that fraud on
the part OF the croupier who launches
the ball IS rendered absolutely impos-
sible; in addition to which. It must be
remembered that the cylinder always
travels in an opposite direction to the
ball. Yet, even with these preCau-
A4tft4Es LittAE az Ntl tain llt-AitAFszA7 DAA
the wheel which are invariably fol-
lowed by others. as I have illustrated.
and It seems as though in such in
stances Fate sets herself largely
against the bank and in favor OF thu
player.
Hundreds OF times I have watched
these numbers come up with surpris-
ing regularity, while the ''pTofes-
SIGNALS" have staked their IO0-franc
notes en- plein and won. much TO the
wonder Of the amazed OnlOOkers who
are ignorant OF the curious fact. The
administration have spent much time
and thought upon trying 20 solve the
problem, but the reason still remains
a mystery. There IS still another fact
equally curious. Those who nave
visited Monte carlo viii notice that
no professional gambler ever plays
tween $50 and 1850 Between those
hours the tables are practically de-
serted and the uuinitiated attribute
Il TO the fact that every one has gone
forth 70 dine. Put let them reflect. Is
a mere dinner Of any consequence 70
a man who is risking thousands of
francs daily In tie hope OF making a
left, the table is quiefer and empty
chairs stand invitirsly around, is he
not more likely 10 win? one would
think so, but. curiousIy enough, be-
tween those hours the numbers come
up with an astounding irregularity
even the mathematical calculations on
the dozens-the most certain, If slow,
mode Of winning at roulette-being en-
tirely upset. This has been accounted
for by the fact thar 50 used are the
croupiers 70 the turning of the wheel
and launching the ball, day By day.
year b. year that they drop into the
habit Of starting both wheel and ball
with exactly the same impetus. When,
however, they are hungry and tired
their hands lose their dexterity. hence
the iTTeEUlaTity.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
His Tragic End.

He started, as II he had utterly for
gotten. then placed all the notes slow
ly in his bulging pockets. rose with
weary sigh. and passed out down the
room, his brows knit and his dark
eyes flashing with a strange IRE.
That wonan's laugh had aroused
within him a tumult OF fierce anger.
He did not even thank the croupier
who handed him his winnings.
Through the rooms he wandered, his
eyes fixed. his head bent, his face
blanched and forbidding. and, al
though Grenat saluted him as he
passed out into the atrfum, he did not
acknowledge him
FESm his silver case he took a Gig
arctic and was about to light #, when
I saw him suddenly stagger as II he
had received a blow. clutch wildly at
afr and fall heavily backwards upon
the tiled floor.
In a moment q dozen ready hands
were around to assist him. and the
excitement IN the atrium was intense,
1or at 70 o'clock II is always a cen
ter Of Monte Carlo life.
Ny room being nearest. he was car
lfed there and at once examined by
the STAFF doctor. but the moment the
latter saw him he shook his head.
Lifts was extinct.
Even as we stood around amazed
at the terrible suddenness Of poor
Balla's tragic end. al the very mo-
ment when he had attained the height
of a gamblers ambition. d woman
forced her way into the room, and.
Continued on Ninth Page.)
TLa
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

note upon ths floor. alike are BE-
lieved TO bring I'll luck TO all al the
table
The young doctor was alone that
day. his brother having gone over to
Grasge with some ladies' He was, as
usual, playing recklessly, half cover
ing the table with fouls and the great
gold plaques OF 100 francs. Time after
time he won en- plein with those out
rageously large coins. each time net
ting the respectable sum Of $500
francs.
'DIessieurs. faites vous JsuKr tho
croupier cried. when. as If by q sud
cen thought. my young friend counted
out 5000 francs IA notes and flung them
over 10 the red.
''Trente. Rouge. pair 81 passe." was
me ment later announced.
The doctor took the 5000 francs he
won. and left his original stake where
he had placed IT.
Again was the game made, and
again the ball fell with a sharp SNAP
rattle Rnd final click.
Premier! Rouge. impair ct manque!''
a second sum OF 600 francs was
handed the fortunate player, amid
quite q chorus Of "ohs!"
4 third time the doctor allowed his
stake TO remain, and a third time he
won. the number being 3. which is
also red.
Then, putting together his winnings,
ne rose. laughing at those opposite
him, and. as he turned. encountered
ne.
"Ach!" he exclaimed in triumph.
You told me nof TO play here Well.
I play. Did you see?
Yes 1 answered. Your luck is
absolutely marvellous"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
The Suicides Table.

Another mystery. and the greatest
OF all al Monte Carlo. Is THE Sui
cide,s Table" on entering the rooms
and passing the first two roulette
table, on either hand. one comes to
what was. until recently. the Sale
MamesqUe, large salon decorated
In red and yellow. with quilted cur
tatius OF yellow silk at the windows,
and. suspended from the candeIabra.
tasscls OF crimson silk 1t is in this
recently renovated room that the fatal
table IS situated. Those who have
presented their visiting cards In the
bureau and have received the COurtly
bow Of Greuat. the head doorkeeper.
know The table well. II is the one on
the risht-hand side on entering. and.
strangely enough. the play there is
generally slow and mournful
If a player were to tal,@ the trouble
20 compare the green cloth OF That
table with that q the others he would
fnd IL much newer. for the yellow
numbers upon It are brighter. and #
presents a spick-and-span appearance
not I'm keeping with that of any Of
the otrer tables. The reason OF this
u UEtdA@C- one SLllllllTI 3 l4EII TWO
years ago. a young Russian who had
lost every sou he possessed upon-that
table while sitting there. suddenly
drew a revolver from his pocket ana
shot himself. in sight OF his fellow
gamblers. The cloth was stained. bat
play was resumed al that table within
half an hour OF the tragic occurrence,
- Inpatient were the players How
ever, new cloth was next day pro-
vlded The whole thing for a double
table. including the yellow lettering.
only costs BIS francs. whereas Il was
known that the young Russian had
lost 100000 francs. So. as usuaH the
bank gained. Again. had the ruined
one applied for the viatique il would
have cost nearly 600 francs TO send
him back 10 St Petersburg: therefore,
the S0cIete des Bains de Mer profited
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
ldnCeDeDaTtment- ChTon-
iCIed bU the ChevaIier
William lie Queux Il y
THE SUICIDES TABLE

on the anair. as # ever does profit on
the cupidity OF man.
But long before this. indeed for
fully ten years past. this particular
table has been responsible for fully
half the suicides which have annually
taken place in the princtpaIity ana its
vicinity. The irresistible Temptation
exercised by roulette Is made terribly
plain by the hidsous fact that the ay-
srage number OF persons who take
their lives after running themselves Is
more than one per day. And half OF
this terrible tribute is due 20 the bane-
fui and mysterious influence exercised
upon those who. bIissfulIy ignorant OF
the mysterious truth, take a seat Al
the Suicides Table
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

evil influences had set itself upon him
But II undoubtedly had
Before rising for dinner he risked g
third maximum on the red. but lost
He had played the maximum many
times IN the course OF two or thres
weeks, but had never lost before.
He laughed as he rose from the
table. and, turning to the croUpier.
said
I'll go and have dinner. I'll coma
IN afterward and win It back"
When he got I'D from his chair he
staggered. passing bis hand across his
brow as II 70 clear his thoughts. ana
as he walked out OF hearing. the crou-
pier to whom he had spoken turned 70
me and observed. with a meaning
look. that his luck had turned
After dining the young man -
turned. laughing merrily as he walked
up the room with his hands ia his
pockets An unmlstakabIs tourist szsa
sitting in his chair; therefore. he
marked" the place, and stood chat
ting with an acquaintance until tbs
tourist, having lost about q dozen
5-fTano pieces, got I'D and left Then
the fortunate player seated himself
and began. His first stake was the
maximum, which he won, thus re-
gaining what he had lost before din
neF. Then he continued his old plan
OF stalking en- plein with plaques and
notes Soon, however he began TO
. lose. and for fuIly "a dozen cstnseeu-
tive times he lost. Twice ne wen, ana
then again and again lie lost and lost
until his brow began 10 darken, and
his mouth became hard-set. He
staked heaVtly-I.00 francs each time.
and, falling to win thus, began dis
trlputing 200 francs in gold plaques
upon the table. Even then he lost.
Fortune being dead against him
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31
That Fatal ''Last Time.D

you should take that dream as a
prOgnOsticatiOn." 1 said. seriously
Leave the Riviera and go to Paris, to
Florence, or down 10 Naples II you
still want warm weather. The change
Will do you good and freshen you up"
Yes" he answered. II have de-
cided to take your advice. I go to-
morrow Today 1 play for the last
time"
Further inquiries regarding his
symptoms revealed the fact that he
had extraordinary Authorizations for
which he was utterly unable TO ac-
count. Never before had he expert
enced these hideous phantasies of the
mind and he seemed strangely nervous
and unstrung. His natural buoyant
spirits had left him, and as he sat
huddled up in the chair. his chin upon
his breast. he certainly presented the
aspect OF a ruined gambler rattle.
than that Of one who had had such i
marvellous run Of luck
That afternoon he played. seated in
the fatal chair which he now always
occupied because he had been so sue
cessful when sitting there He had
mentioned to me that the croupiers
eyed him ouriously. ard he attributed
il to the fact that he was so often
near breaking the bank. But I knew
the reason. The chef de partie and
his colleagues were well aware OF the
fatality which always followed those
who sat in that particular seat. and
were fnterestedly watching the result
Yet during that afternoon the doctor
losses. Twice he staked the maximum
on red, winning each time. and twice
he won with six louis en- plein- There
was nothing reckless about his play
nothing to show that the mysterious
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

garden Of tho villa. and throughout
the meal played the latest OF Strauss
waltzes and the most popular airs
from the Paris music halls.
There was no doubt that Carl Baila
was winning enormously. OF trans
versailles or cares. he seemed to be
needless. gaining usually en- plein. and
never stalking less than a louis. A
dozen times I myself saw him stake
the maximum and win; while his
brother. a rather sedate and careful
young man, looked on amazed, OF
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-31

cial traveller named Kaizer, had alb
seconded. and huge reward had been
offered for his apprehension.
Well I asked. and why do you
tell me thisg''
Il know Kazler,'' he answered. He
play tonight
[ took dowa one OF EIy photograph
albums and glanced at the picture
which mad teen furnished NE by the
police
That's him. Balla cried, excitedIy.
Il knew MIN in Budapest. He was III