The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09
manner

associate ar the opposite END repeated
the words IN the expressionless
manner.
There the grind Of the marble about the rim of
the whirling wheel The fashionable crowd pressed
IN closer At each side, where the numbered squared
maps of the green board showed in yellow and red
and black
plays are made" came the photographic an
nounoement from end of the table and Plays
made" the answering chant from the other The
mellow cnl OF gold and the cracke OF bills gave way
single sharp click the ball the edge of its
first pocket and shot up on TIE vanished slope.
The shifting OF shoulders and reaching of arms
that had accompanied the beginning of the spin
ceased. Heads were turned toward the wheelbox.
where the marble was dancing and hopping upon the
running circle OF pockets IL galvanized into
strange, unnatural life OF its The wheel
slowing The leaps and bounds OF the marble showed
less spasmodc violence Presently they ceased alto
gether and the sphere settled into slot bearing the
number a. During half revolution it hung in its
position not dropping wholly into the pocket but
Tied the verge by the yet potent centrifugal force
Pressed against the green baize OF the table few
feet from the wheelbox, a small white hand folded
into tight clenched fist and spread again, Its
fingers trembling and nerveess young man.
scarcely than boy, was the owner of the hand
His eyes were fixed intently upon the wobbling
marble The story OF futile dissipation and the ways
all might read burring features that held possibilities
OF strength He had forgotten the gamesters pose of
Indifference in this intense moment and merely
human, youthful suffering in the suspense between
hope and fear
There was one who marked and marking smiled
At the boys further elbow leaned handsome man.
Immediately fresh in his correct evening clothes
cool self-possessed. He, too watched the marble
but with an indifference equal to that on the stold
faces OF the croupiers the bankers and the lookout
Suddenly the ball, seemingly possessed of new
lease OF vitality, rolled from its resting place and
meandered along the slot rim, plumping to rest at
last in pocket.
Eight and black" singsonged the croupiers, and
black armed silver rakes swept the table all but
clear in the breath Under cover OF the general move
ment among the players the pale faced boy leaned
back, with wide eyes, but with the hard wrinkle of
forced smile about the corners of his mouth. The
man at his elbow spoke in a low tone.
The hunch right for minute Sammy. We
didn't pull hard enough for that a."
The boy nodded, with his smile
We'll. guess that's enough for one night" he
said. lie pushed away from the table, giving place
20 Of those standing, who Immediately took his
chair and walked under the blaze of electrics and
through the thin crowd OF loerers to the courtroom
Il there that Robert Carter met him.
Running bad tonight, eh, Pulsain?" asked that
properly garbed Young man TIE words were casu-
ally put in the manner Of acquaintance Pulsain was
not sure he had met the who thus addressed
him. But he felt dazed and he had met so many
hundreds Of fellows about town.
"Yes, rather" he answered, with an uneasy laugh
He had definite plan in view, except TO get away
from that horrible green table, and the meeting
steadied him somewhat He accepted one of Carter's
cigarettes.
Let's have something cooling" suggested the
other, and led the way to table in the cafe
Ordinarily, perhaps, Sam Pulsain would not have
been SO ready TO drink with whom he could not
entree OF Gringer's meant something Moreover, the
chap evidently knew him; and he not averse to
company at that moment.
He could not know that Carter had planned for
that scene in the cloakroom for weeks.
Carter, a country boy from Virginia with little
money and no friends had come to New York but
months before with the set minded pur-
pose Of breaking INTO subsisting upon the upper
heights Of New York society Firm in the conviction
that he was eminently fitted for place among the
accepted elect he had made the metropolis his game
confident that matters of lumber steel railroads.
even OF ancient lineage need play part in his at
tanning Of his ambition. A small preliminary capital
had supported him Some few successes had been
his the most notable OF them being his assistance in
the elopernent of Jimmy Hope, which, will be
nembered set all society by the and supplied
proverbial nine days wonder.
He had improved the advantages offered by this
first considerable step and had made an acquaintance
here and there One of the results had been to win
for him the privilege of Gngers exclusive gambling