The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-07-13
THE MUTE
GAMBLER
b. JANE PINcKNEY BENNETT
Copyright BY AmerieAh Press Asso-
citation. 1874.

Carlo. Tho main table was lined with
people tossing coins upon the green
cloth that covered H. Clusters Of
lights illumined the scene. There
were men and women. too. OF various
ages. from the STRIPPING 10 the septu-
eenaf1an. One old woman with white
hair sat with a paper IN her hand COW
cred with memoranda consisting prin-
cipaIly Of figures. II wss q scheme
that she bad worked 0us o. some one
had given her for sure winning. She
scarcely ever bet more than franc az
one time and usually lost There
were men IN evening dress and men
whose coats were frnyed az the elbow.
while here and there a girl scarcely
out OF Der teens was betting with hot
cheeks and glistening eyes
A lady-she might have been any
age between twenty-five and thirty
fve-in an evening costume Of ex-
Quisife fabric and construction. enter
Cd the room and. handing her wraps
70 an attendant. went 20 the main Ia
bic. where roulette was being played
Seating herself. she began 10 play
with silver ave franc pieces No
sound broke in upon the falling Of the
coins on the table. the monoton0us an
nouncemsnts Of the man who conduct
"a the game and the rafting Of the
ball One having no interest Ia Il
would wonder bow 20 many people
could be 20 silently intent upon 30
UNMARRIED a proceeding.
Presently the recent arrival began
20 toss gold napoleona on the cloth IN
stead Of eve franc pieces. Indeed. her
betting increased an she became the
one person az the table who engaged
the crowd o. lookers-on- Some OF
those who were standing behind her
moved around 10 the other side. where
they fsceG her. She wore q hat with
q v@sy wide brim and adorned with
largr slack feathers. one Of which fell
or the front and with the brim
eeupieieiy shaded her brow. In add
tea 70 this. q ven extending 10 the
chin rendered 4 impossible 10 dis
tfnguish her features.
she played with varying fortune AZ
nrsf she won. Then she lost more
than she bad gained. Next she began
20 win slowly. and at . certain point.
having gained q thousand francs. she
left the amount she had bet and her
winnings on the number she had
covered. There was quite q Pile Of
gold there. and when the ball was
spun and settled into It's place the
croupler covencd the stake with an
other pile Owe times ns large. A spasm
was seen 20 pass over the lady. and
she quickly placed her hand on the
lace about her throat as n 10 poll 4
sway that she might breathe easier.
Tier fingers remained az her neckwear.
and she bent over the table fill Der
chest leaned against Il. about to gather
IN her winnings. a. every one supposed.
3us sse E.e=t haze changed Der mind.
for she remained 10 the same position.
Der eyes. though they could not be
seen. apparently nxed upon the gold
The conductor. taking 4 for granted
that she had determined 10 risk the
whole amount on the same number as
WLNWILa NM.M| aA| "-AA.A 8AAAAAFAAAAN~"
ments the ball was spun and. after
rolling and jumping and hesitatng and
backing and nlllng. az last settled into
lss pocket Amid ordinations the
conductor announced the humber that
had won. and the iady's heap Of gold
was added to By another eve times It's
size. She gave no evidence OF the ex-
element natural 10 such winning. She
did not start. she did not make an In
voluntary change OF position.
~whnt wonderful self CONTROL" ex-
claimed one Of those looking at her.
she must be an old hand At itF' ~
marked another.
Great heavensl" cried several az
once -She's going to risk 4 all again
The gamekeeper. who meanwhile
had been waiting for the lady to ~
move her winnings. seeing no inten-
ton on her part to do 20. reluctantly
made the call for bets. the machine
was whirled. and amid m repressed
EXPLANATIONS the ball gave tho lady
another pile eve times as great AZ that
before her on the table.
Twice again the pile was Increased
BY the same arlthmctical progression.
and the bank was broken.
At that moment a man entered the
room. advanced quickly to the table
and touched the lady on the shoulder
She aid not look to see who was CALI
Ing her attention. She sat apparently
with her eyes glued to the immense
golden pile before her.
"Clarissa." be said in a trembling
voice
There was no reply.
The crowd about the table now BE-
gan to grow anxious. There was
something IN the mute figure that In
splrcd them with a kind OF awe. The
gamo had ceased. and the eyes Of ev-
cry one present were llxed on the
gambler or the man standing looking
down upon her. vainly endeavoring to
arrest her attention.
take on her hat"
Lift her VEIL"
''Therc's something wrong with herr
"Some one look out for her pller'
These words that were spoken In /