The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09

place, where he pursued his great purpose cleverly
seeking always aerty for opportunity to OBJ
tain further hold among the socially powerful.
At GringeTs he had succeeded, with his native
keenness and tact in gaming standing of familiarity
with all the employees and with some few of the
habitues He seldom played but he had been well
introduced and Gringer made comment Mean
while under careful veil Of idle observation and by
the aid of occasional good luck with stake he had
made minute study of the methods of the house the
details of management and manipulation Of the tables
and of the players.
Sam Pulsain had fallen under his notice The boy
had lost heavily during the last week and Carter
he displayed evidence Of strain Even father who
stood for eight figures may reasonably be supposed
have fixed ideas as to the amount a 1o year old
may squander, Carter thought. As he eyed that
white face and the emotions that moved across it
when the marble rolled he there the pressure of
a dread. He had grown to be sure that some
reason other than chagrin at the losing of
part of his pocket money brought the clinching of
that hand.
Small sympathy out there when man loses" said
Carter pleasantly, as they seated themselves Pull
sain shook his head and glanced back into the garng
where the absorbed crowd shouidered close
Carter was somewhat at loss to his tack He
felt certain that story lay behind, and he
possess it The boy, removed from the excitement of
the wheel, gulped down his drink and came back to
normal control OF himself.
you play system, suppose" remarked Carter,
cor impulse. Ones as bad the other haven't
been playing much lately. Wonderful fascination
about it, though.
Friend of mine lost twenty thousand at Monte
Carlo last summer, cleaned out. He walking
around the place with his hands in his pocket when
he found gold coin he had forgotten. Threw it on
a table and quit hour later ten thousand ahead.
That's the only way can win"
He ratified on, hoping interest Pulsain, to draw
him start vibration with the boys thoughts,
that would offer hint the angle to take. Pull
sain remained quiet but Indifferent Carter drew in
his approach.
Rum things come from playing roulette he OBJ
served. "if fellow lets it get hold on him. Bad
game to start on borrowed money"
1t scarcely intended for direct shot; only as
more intimate feeler But he caught quiver of the
lips and slight flush on the salow cheek. He had
touched something. There secret, then, behind
the air of repose that the result of wealth and
social rank He feared to bunge with more indirec-
ton Suddenly the sense of mastery that his in
emergencies came to him and he leaned forward. He
reached boldly for the key the situation with the
force and precision and instructive that
had all his points for him in the advance toward
his goal.
Tell me what it is. Let me help you"
Pulsain was startled He sat back, fear creeping
into his face
you trust when you couldn't any of these
fellows you've known all your life. My interests are
free not attached a clique theirs are l
can see you need some to stand by you and I'm
that one. Tell me-"
"I-I don't know what you mean" stammered Pull
sain
Don't misjudge So" pleaded Carter. "rm not
trying to pry through curiosity I'm red blooded and
know who wants friend. Something is
wrong. l have eye for that and hand to mend
it with"
He was magnetic, plausible, dominating. His