davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
Ascertained His Movements.

] took precautions. however to as
certain his movements in Nice. and
learnt that next morning Violet had
called upon him at the Hotel de Lux
embOurg and remained for over an
hour. in krauss private sitting room
they had been Joined by CarOn and his
wife, and it seemed as though they
had been making certain calculations;
discussing some fresh system, il might
have been. Perhaps it was one OF
those intallible combinations so ex-
teusiVeiy advertised in the Petit Nj
co.'s, the Phare du Littoral and the
Gazette ROse-the last mentioned a
curiosity of journalism which records
the winning numbers at the roulette
Of the previous day. At any rate,
the result of their deliberations. ,was
no doubt. satisfactory. for that after
noon Nine. Caron came again TO
Monte Carlo in the brightest Of
Partisan toilettes with guile a daz-
zling display of jewelry, and both
her husband and Krauss had put on
their smartest clothes in order not
to appear incongruous.
Joined by Violet. they stroIled about
the rooms. now and then stalking a
piece Of 100 sous. until at length
KraUss left them, and, ascending to
the writing room, sat down to scrib-
BILE a letter. It was only two or
three hasty lines. but when he had
addressed the envelope he accidentfY
smudged Il, and finging It into the
waste-paper basket after tearing IL
in half, addressed another.
When he mad left the room one OF
the attendants brought the basket to
me, and. finding the torn envelope, 1
read name and address which, / CON
fess. caused me TO open my eyes in
genuine establishment. II was the adj
dress of a man who had been wanted
by the Paris police for some months
and whose Whereabouts had remained
The Washington times., 1908-06-07

fine pendants OF cut-glass shivered
into n thousand fragments. BY the
overpowering smell Of gas. I at once
concluded that an escape had caused
the disaster Only the green-shadeo
oil lamps over the tables remained
alight. but insufficient to illuminate
the great rooms; only the croupiers re-
manned, calmly seated in their chairs
amid the wreck, undisturbed and un-
daunted even by that appalling catas-
trophe. Around enc Of the tables a
dozen people. cut and bleeding, were
struggling among the debris of broken
chairs and torn-up flooring. but these
were soon assisted out, and the staff
doctor in attendance very quickly
dressed their wounds
By a miracle no life was lost.
AS the smell Of gas grew more ana
more pungent, ! feared lest a second.
and perhaps worse, explosion should
occur; but fortunately one of the en-
ployes outside had the presence Of
mind 10 turn it of. and a few minutes
later the dense choking smoke began
10 clear, the shattered windows adj
hitting the fresh air.
Simultaneous with the rush of the
police and nIemen, who dashed IN as
soon as they could pass the frenzied
crowd, crossed 10 the spot where
the fash had seemed 70 have arisen,
and the next second there dawned up
on me the h'deOus truth. The padded
seat along the wall had been torn and
smashed 10 atoms; above. the win
dows had been blown bodily into the
gardens, and In a straight line hung
the chandelier, bent and twisted
II was Nine. Caron's hand bag which
had exploded.
HAS any attempt been made upon
the money! / shouted, eXcitedly,
loud enough 10 be heard by every
cToupieT.
Yes. herer' cried the chef de partie
az the table where 7 had last seen
Krauss and his associates. Two men
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
Began Heavy Play Again.

The regular players, those men who
sit daily al the same table, recognized
the German and his companion, and
knew that some satiOnal play was
forthcoming True TO their eXpecta-
tions, Krauss took from his pocket a
bundle Of notes and placed -Hem be-
fore him, being handed a registering
card and a strong pin by one of the
attendants. Then. when the invitation
to play sounded, he placed 1000 francs
on the rouge.
The tauleur swiftly dealt the cards
one by one. exclaiming when ne had
concluded.
six. trois. rouge gagne ct cOuleur.
A note for I 200 francs was pushed
before him at the end Of the rake. and
he placed it upon the pile before him.
This time he allowed his stake 20
remain on the red, and again won
Afterward he tried the black with sini-
lar result, while mis- companion CaTon
won 30 louis on the couleur. Mime.
Caron, an unusually pretty woman,
had emptied her little golden chain
purse upon the table and placed a
small pile OF louis before her, but
she was watching the two men ana
did not play. She toyed with her
rings instead,
After five or six successive sue
cesses. Krauss. with a sudden resOlu-
ton. placed the maximum on the
noire.
.'TrOis, sept. rouge perd ct couleur.'
cried the taiileur, for the words noire
and inverse are never uttered at
treute-et-quaTante
The German, implacable, without the
movement OF "a muscle, placed the
twelve notes he won upon tia pile
before him and pushed his stake into
the red.
sept, cinq, rouge gagne ct cOuIeur
rerd,' cried the tailleur, as he again
dealt.
Again the fortunate player had won
the maximum.
Next time he pushed his stake into
the black. but lost. Again he lost. and
again and again. Nine. Caron played
with single louis. and she also lost,
while her husband Jared no better.
The excitement which had arisen died
down in an instant, and the bad luck
which had So suddenly fallen upon
them caused their fellow players TO
smile with GarCasm- Human nature
does not display its generosity at the
gambling table. soon Krauss' pile of
notes began 10 diminish. Carons few
100-franC notes We're swept away one
by one, and Mime. CaTOn's louis were
reduced until only two or three re-
manned. AS the Germans money slow
Is decreased his face grew paler, and
his lips more hard-set. Time after
time, as / narrowly watched him from
among the crowd OF spectators stand
ing on the opposite side of the table, /
saw him stake the maximum and lose
necessarily. His luck had entirely
changed.
Only once in half an hour he won
and just as the tailleur was relieved
by his colleague at o'clock. he rose,
having staked and lost his last note.
The Washington times., 1908-06-07

20 leave the rooms and 20 20 my
office. where / was detained for about
"a quarter Of an hour. but. before doing
So ] watched them 90 out and cross
20 the cafe De Paris. that gay center
Of Monte carlo life. opposite the
Casino steps
Later. L caught sight OF them re-en-
tering the rooms. and saw that Nine.
Caron had obtained from the cloak
room her small hand bag Of crimson
plush. which appeared heavy With-flve-
franc pieces She had evidently kept
this In reserve, and meant once again
10 try her luck Her husband. laugh
ing, accompanied her 10 the second
roulette table on the right hand while
their friends wandered away together.
For ten minutes or so the paif re-
manned watching the play, when sud
denly, on being Joined by Erauss, she
crossed 10 the padded seat which ran
along the wall on the opposite side
of the table, and. taking handful Of
the coins al haphazard from her bag.
placed il down. covering it by her nus
band. soft hat She was unable TO
obtain chair, and the fatigue of hold
ing the bag. laden as n was with coin.
had, no doubt, been considerable.
AS she returned to the two men, she
glanced up at the clock, and then
stood where she could keep a watchful
eye on her bag. At the next turn
of the wheel she commenced playing,
and won a louis upon the first dozen.
Time after time she won. and It
seemed as though Fortune had re-
turned to her. Suddenly, however.
she CHANGED 20 glance again at the
clock In an instant she turned pale.
and uttered some low words 10 her
companions. whereupol they all three
moved quickly over 10 the correspond
ing table az the opposite wall.
At that moment play was I'm full
swing. yet, ere they had crossed the
room, there was a binding flash. a
deafening report. and myriads of
fragments of glass swept through the
room in perfect hail l felt myself
lifted from the ground and hurled
back. For an instant there was a hush
of terror. then there arose terrible
screams of pain and horror from those
lying helpless upon the floor thrown
down and injured by the force OF the
explosion.
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
FAILURE OF THE NEW SYSTEM

that reason 1 watched for him day
after day. The successful player al
ways returns. for none is ever salts
ned with his winnings. nor will I've be
convinced that two runs or luck never
occur consecutively. Overambiuon
and greedy aVarioe. which are uni
versal traits in human nature. are the
banks greatest safeguards. The man
who wins today is almost certain. If
he returns, to lose tomorrow. or il
he does not return tomorrow. he win
come back, If II be a year hence,
hoping to effect a greater coup than
his first. But he will. OF course. lose.
The bank must gain in the long run.
In our close, sitting rooms, where the
light oe day Is subdued and the fresh
air excluded, avarice Is, as elsewhere,
the cause OF the ruin OF thousands.
AS ! expected. one afternoon week
later. the lucky player returned, &C
companied by a lady and the younger
man whose good counsel he had heed
&c on his previous visit They had
OILY daily cards of admission, and
such was my interest IN them that l
took the trouble TO ascertain their
names from the register IN the buref a.
The German was Carl Krauss, the
younger man Gustave CarOn, and the
lady his wife Rose CarOn. all stay
ing at the Hotel de Luxembourg on
the Promenade des Anglais, at Nice.
AS they lounged up and down the
T-ulette rooms. watching the play at
this table and at that. 1 strolled after
them. and my suspicion was increased
when Krauss exchanged a nod Of rec
OgnitiOu with a man named Violet. a
shady character. who was at that mo-
ment seated, playing upon the dozens.
Violet was known TO be an associate
OF a gang OF swindlers. and, as had
been warned from Paris Of his visit
20 US. I had not failed TO keep him UNI
der careful observation.
The fact that he was acquainted
with the fortunate Krauss was OK
tremely curious. Could Il be that.
knowing the German had won sucH
large sum, this man Violet had form
ed his acquaintance for the purpose
OF robbing him? Or was 1t that krauss
and HIS companions were &C tally
members OF this gang Of whose opera
tions I had received some extremely
interesting particulars? I resolved to
endeavor TO discover the truth, which
would, IN any case. give us an oppor-
tunity for the expulsion of Violet as a
person detrimental 20 the morality
OF the principally"
Both men carried their hats, and on
entering the trente-et-auaraute room.
placed them upon the settee at the
rear OF the table. there being no by
law at that time prohibiting them
from being placed there. All three
stood for some minutes watching the
play ct the table where Krauss had
made his coup; then, when at last
chairs became vacant. they took them
The Washington times., 1908-06-07

a secret. The man photograph was
IN my album, and. opening the book,
read the reason It's warrant had been
issued for his app ehension. The ad-
dress Krauss had written was in
street In Lille. and 1 at once sent a
telegram TO the chief Of the Paris po-
lice giving him the address Of the per
son for whom they had searched 90
long and 50 vainly.
Thus far my watchfulness mad been
rewarded and ! continued my vigil
lance, eager to discover further facts.
There sec.ned little doubt that this
man away at Lille, whose address had
so fortunately been revealed. was one
OF this gang about whom ] had re-
ceived Information. Indeed. his pho
tograph bore such q striking resem-
blance to Krauss himself that l felt
half inclined TO believe they were
brothers
The Washington times., 1908-06-07


once o. twice encountered serious
losses; therefore none could begrudge
aim his present good uck.
The four dlned together down al the
Europe, IN the vicinity Of the station,
For some reason ineXplicable, Violet
affected Ciro's when alone. and the
others usually dined at the Metropole
ar the Paris But. OF course. funds
were now low. / watched them enter
the motel. and then. leaving one Of my
subordinates 10 keep observation up
on them, returned 10 the Casino.
wondering what effect the arrest OF
their friend Lille would have upon the
party. Their losses had not affected
them. judging by their gay eXterors.
Inoced. their misfortune seemed to
have increased their gayety.
After dinner they took another turn
in the rooms. and. having lost a louis
or two, returned TO Nice.
Next evening they came again
about about o'clock II had been a
wet day and rain was stilI falling;
therefore, the two men wore their
macintosh capes over their claw
hammer coats. and Nine Caron.
dainty Parisienne that she was, looked
brilliant ia black satin and silver. with
a little friIIed opera cape about her
shoulders.
happened TO be TN the atrium when
they entered TO obtain their admis-
sion cards, and certainly. welI-dTessed
as taey were, none would have sus-
pected them Of being associates of
indicators. But we have a motley
throng at Monte Carlo, be IL RENE
bered: and IL behOOves us to walk
with open eyes among those greedy
crowds that flock there. filled with eS-
prctations Of golden harvests.
That night the place was full. II
va IN carnival, a time when the
rooms ere always crowded to suffo-
catIS. nd at all the tables the game
was running fast and furious.
Messieurs. faiteS vOs ieuXt"
sounded ever and anon, followed by
rein ne va plus.'' the incessant rat
tie of the little ball the merry jingle
OF louis. and the metallic click as
the losses were ralsed in b the bank.
on every side was color and excite
ment, money and movement.
In passing through the rooms. Vol
let, who had until mat moment been
in converse tiOn with two other men,
strangers 10 me, but both well dressed,
with diamond studs In their shirts
and wearing well-cut dining Jackets
left his companions. and. laughing.
came across to greet the arrivals
From his happy expression I con
cluded that he had won, and was an
nOUnciEg the good news TO his friends;
but the Two men, vino stood some dis
lance away, nodded acquaintance with
Caron, and then It suddenly occurred
TO me that this fresh pair might also
be members Of the interesting assO-
citation which had attracted the atten-
ton OF the Paris police.
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
CHANGES CAUSED
BY IMMIGRATION

Whenever America immigration prob-
lem is discussed, we are bound % hear
considerable talk about absorption
about our ambideXtrous ability TO trans
form into Americans" a heterogeneous
mass as diverse in individual pecuHarf-
ties. ideas. racial instincts and social
political and economical standards as
are the four corners OF -hs world. To
European observers we are becoming
an entertaining phenomenon. as indi-
Gated by the interest with which they
observe the operation OF our absorbent
functions. There seems 10 be some little
difference in the point OF view. how
ever. adopted by ourselves and our self
appointed observers as 10 just who Is
being absorbed, the so-caIred Anglo
Saxon American or the newcomer.
In this connection, the views of Wis
count d'Avenel as set forth IN the Lit
erary Digests review OF an article by
that writer in the Paris Revue des Deux
MCndes. is Of interest.
First, it is noted that George Wash
ington. If he should rise from his grave,
ould find himself much more at home
ir London than In New York as the
population OF the larger American cities
Is itidNt I'D mostly OF various ELL ict1--
continental elements.
The descendants of the 100000
Anglo-SaXons by whom the United
States was populated IN 1870 form no
more than an insignificant minority in
the bosom of the present gigantic re-
public. They will end by occupying ne
more permanent place than the abor'
igines whom they 50 Obstuately re-
HH-FHa s.lr an
their Western reserves.
q do not pretend to hold up my own
country as pattern. for it is the least
prolific Of nations. But IT IS scarcely
fair TO make a comparison between
France and the United States on this
point. II the States were as well fur
nished with men as France is. there
would be 10000 900 inhabitants in the re-
public
Even If America were as densely
populated as Massachusetts, it would
contain 1.200, 600 O60 people. and II It were
populated as thickly as Belgium It
would count more inhabitants than the
whole of the present human race.
Everything seems formed TO promote
the development of che population, the
fields Of activity are boundless. the ter
ritory is vast and land cheap, while an
energetic man in our country is bounded
by conditions from which 1T IS hard for
him TO free himself"
The Viscount concludes by saying that
the law OF physical development makes
the permaneuce Of the American race
impossible. That race Will be croWqs1
out bv the survival of continental ny
birds and the last Of the Americans
viii come IS surely as The Last Of tbs
Mohicans."
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
ART OF WRITING :. z 9sj z,ssr'

write a long one-brevity is not only
the soul OF Wit. but the soul OF an
and every good thing. A beautiful let
ter is an ecstacy-and an ecstacy Is
snort-it does not consist Of sixteen
pages and a postscript.
Robert Louis, Gene Field, stevis
Crane, James WhitcOmb Riley, I.
Zsngwiu, and Irving Bachelor all
wrote just like Thackeray-onIy DIFF
ferent-and three OF these man are Stm
WTiting-not very often. though.
In writing letters avoid prolixity-
have one thought. get your crowbar
under It, and that invention Of Sir
lssac Newton's VIII do the rest.
The world needs glad tidines. Send
messages that will Intricate the wheels
Of life, or none.
letter from a friend-why. f. Is
a window flung open TO the azure,
The Washington times., 1908-06-07

r is a matter OF small concern.
perhaps. to the visitor 10 Monte
Carlo TINT he IS not allowed 10
take his stick or umbrella with
in the gaming rooms. or even TO
place his hat upon any OF the
seJrses against the walls.
4 printed card tc this effect stares
him IN tbs face as he enters. and few.
n any. have ever stopped 20 inquire
the reason O this bylaw OF the ad
ministration. If they have, the real
reason has never been explained 10
them. for the blue-coated attendants
have strict orders 10 preserve silence
upon this subject. while neither the
croupiers nor the surveillants are
given TO the exposure OF the Casinos
settees against the walls
The visitor may take his hat in with
MIN, il IS true, but should he rest for
2 single moment on one OF the set
tees and place e. beside him he viii
Instantly be pounced upon BY one OF
the attendants and requested 10 retain
the offending headgear in his hand
Strange though II may seem, the ad-
ministration OF the Casino have a hor-
ror Of lists.
The reason Of this forms a rather
curious story.
While stroIIing about the rooms one
night I CHANGED to halt at the left
hand trente-et-Quarant table There
is always a Welcome calm in those
rooms, where only gold and notes are
played after the eternal Jingle and
turmoil Of the roulette: but, Il being
a Saturday evening, IN the middle Of
the season. every table was CToWded
By a well-dressed throng. Perhaps
nowhere else in the world are there
seen so many handsome costumes OF
such an extravsgant display OF Jewels
as In the Rooms" on a Saturday
night IN the middle OF February: no
where IS the EmaTtly dressed cosmo-
politan crowd OF such mixed variety;
nowhere IS the play Sc high; certainly
nowhere Is the lust for gold 81, intense.
As ] paused at the table I noticed
upon the scarlet diamond twelve L.
Ol0-frano notes lying, and was natural
" attracted to watch the result, as
that sum was the maximum Sitting
before the notes was a middle aged
man, with a slight fair beard and
pair Of gray eyes. whom L judged to
be a German. lie was pillur Win
cheeks sunben as II disease had weak
ened his frame. while his trembling
hands, posed upon the cloth, were
white, delicate. almost wax like.
Spread upon the table before him,
held down by the weight Of a couple
of dve-franc pieces, were about
twenty notes, each for 1880 francs,
Around the maximum there were
lying other stakes, single louis, those
gold plaques Of 100 francs, which one
only sees at Monte Carlo. and several
uf those outraEeously large notes Of
tie value OF 800 francs
A sudden hush fell as the tailleur
took the cards I'm his hand and deity
dealt them one by one-th0se neat
little cards with black borders-mak-
ing the first range. There were thirty
five points.
"Cinq!" exclaimed the tailleur, in
LIS dry monotone. and then dealt the
second range
"Cinq. deux. rouge gagne ct couleur
perd"' he cried.
The Washington times., 1908-06-07

There was an instant stir of relief
among the oHlOokers. The fair-beard-
ed German has won the maximum.
He took the twelve notes handed 10
him and added them TO his winnings,
then with the little rake pushed his
stake over to the nolre.
Again the game was made. the cards
dealt and the tailleur's voice an
nOunced:
'Troi7. neuf rouge pcTd gt CGuIeuT,'
The player had won a second time.
He placed one note upon that tri-
angle at the end Of the table known as
the inverse, but lost. The he tried
the center square. or couleur, with no
greater success. Twice he allowed
the game TO pass without stalking any
thing, for a slim. dark-haired young
man. whose iOosely-tIed black cravat
gave him an air of genial good-for-
nothing was leaning over his chair
talking earnestly. as If arguing with
him urging him to leave with his
winnings and risk no more.
But the fair man shrugged his shouI-
ders and tossed another 1000 francs
on the red before him.
The cards were dealt and the tail
leur cried.
Six. Six apres"' signifying that
both ranges being equal, the deal was
snnuued.
So he took up another pack. and rap
idly placed them one after another
upon the dark-green leather before
him, a moment later announcing:
Sept. trois, rouge gagne ct couleur
perd!"
Once again the fortunate player had
won the maximum.
Pursuing his former tactics. he
pushed his stake over into the black.
but lost Again on the couIeur he lost.
but third time. playing on the red.
he again won, and. leaving his stake
there stiN won a second time.
Then, IN obedience 10 his friend
counsel he doubled his pile Of bank
notes in half, thrust them careIessIy
into he inside pocket Of his dining
jacket and strolled away down the
room.
Any run Of luck always creates in-
tcrcst ~ the tables; therefore. As the
pair walked away. many glanced after
chem I'm envy. From one or the at
.eldalts 7 learned that the German
lad that day been marvelously sue
cessful. gaining something like 10000
francs. Yet something about the mans
face struck me as familiar and I fell
% wondering whether I had his like
hess IN my collection Of criminal cele-
brities. That night, before the rooms
closed I looked through two or three
a. my albums. but could find no pOr-
trait Of anybody resembling him in the
slightest
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
Stampede Was Terrible.

The stampede was terrible, the
smoke dense and suffocating Some
enc raised the cry les Anarchists"
and the players left the tables and
dashed for the doors, shouting and
struggling TO get out, fearing lest
second explosion should occur. The
panic was awful. Every one was
dumfounded and appalled,. while the
firemen on duty outside were unable
to enter because Of the press OF the
outgoing throng gasping and strug-
CLING, wild with fright. The confusion
was complete. Never before or since
has there been witnessed In those
rooms such q scene Of mad terror and
turmoil as in those exciting moments
The gas had been eXtinguisAed, two Of
the windows had been completely
blown out. and one Of the great chan
deliers hung awry and twisted, it's
The Washington times., 1908-06-07
Being "reminiscences of Exciting Personal Expe-
riences of Monsieur Antoine Martin, General
Director of the Surveillance Department -Chron-
icled by the Chevalier William lie Queux X :.

est five-franc pieces. There was alb
soiutely nothing suspicious IN their
movements. That they were adven-
turers there was no doubt; but Krauss
had won and lost with that delightful
equanimity which characteriZes the
man who lives by his wits. and the
others now seemed to take pleasure in
taunting him with his losses
True, once or twice he stood visit
fully watching he trente-et-quarant
table, but it was clear that he now had
but little money lef-. for he never
risked anything niger than a FIVE
franc piece on roulette.
Just before 10 o'clock / had occasion