The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-10-02

eAfEEl tel which has Of late
~ outshinod the Paris aud
the Metropole. as the rendezvous OF
the elite. II was the evening OF
Christmas Eve two years ago. and
as is well known. with Christmas Eve
commences the season at The Sign
Of the Seven Sins.
The hotel had only been opened a
few days, and the only other occupant
q the reading-room was solitary.
looking mana round-shouldered rath.
er haggard-Iooking old fellow about
50, with pointed grey beard and his
mustaches trained upwards. He was
an entire stranger TO me. but his shah.
biness caused me some surprise, for
those who frequent the Hermitage are
always smart
Good evening"" he exclaimed good.
humoredly in English. when he had
thoroughly inspected me IN that man
ner which sometimes becomes a habit
with the elderly.
BY the way, what's the day Of the
month";"
The twenty-fourth.~ I responded
Christmas Eve"
I've played here regularly for IS
years. and have never lost" he an
swered. simply. looking me fun in the
face with his black. piercing eyes.
Never LOST" ! echoed. pricking up
my ears Why. that's impossible with
such chances against YOU
"Ah' I see you don't believe me- he
exclaimed. with a hard. dry laugh.
4 tell you I can win every time
play. I'm open 20 bet you a thousand
pounds upon f. II you'd like me TO
rroye what I say. come into the Ca
slno tomorrow" and taking from his
pocket a well.worn leather wallet he
drew from Il a bundle Of French bank
notes, adding: These are ms usual
STAKES for Christmas Day-l00.00o
francs"
The name Archibald Grant was
printed upon the card he handed me
and before We parted I had accepted
bis invitation to go with him and wit
ness his luck az the tables.
The morning was sunny, balmy and
Cloudless
Ny gray.faced friend saunteret
along. paused az the last center table
IN the roulette room. and watched the
bah fall upon the humber q. which Il
red. and then glaneing az the reyoly
ing wheel and noticing that the mex
square 70 that wherein the ball wa'
lying was the number 13 black, h'
carelessly took from his pocket SD
thousand-franc notes, and bendinl
over, with his lean elaw-like hans
placed them on the black.
The wheel was again revolved- m'
eroupier launched the ball. which
few minutes later fell with a click
Black gained. and ny friend won th'
maximum Of 5000 francs. or "a
pounds.
With the habitues confidence he al
lowed his original stake to remain
and once more the invitation 70 pla.
arose above all other sounds. Agail
the wheel revolved. and again he won
Next moment a dozen other notes
some gold plaques and few hve
franc pieces were showered upon hi
stakes, for the crowd Of excited play
ers witnessing his luck we're eager y
follow his fortune.
Again the wheel was spun, and IN
same waaried voice a moment late
cried that the number 16 had won an
also the red, therefore the sum Q
$4,000 francs was handed to my graz
faced companion amid quite q ehoru
Of "Oh'siT
Well" he asked. with a cynici
smile. as he raised his glass, "hay
| convinced you OF my power Of VII
ning?"
"Of course / responded. But ma
yon not lcse II all again like so man
others do?"
"Ahl" he smiled. 4 see you are nc
yet convinced. Well. tonight you sha
have further proof"
With a sudden grunt he twiste
some notes together. tossed them upo
the black. and won. The crouple
counted them and paid out 10
maximum. At that moment on
Of the players who lost ros
and offered him a chair. whic
he took, and then settled do"
to play, stalking each time the max
mum. Around that table the GRO"
grew larger as soon as 1t was a.
nounced that high play was in pro
ress, and at each spin Of the wheel u
strange friend placed his notes y
hesitatingly, stalking the maximum
ways, and scarcely ever falling to ga
the respectable maximum OF S'O'
francs.
Time after time he played, UNI
more than an hour had passed and n
winnings grew so great that bis poc
nfa e.,,sld hold M fa0ra Tine Dau It