Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-07-27
THE MUTE
GAMBLER
By JANE PINcKNEY BENNETT
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

The game was at its height at Monte
Carlo. Tho main table was lined with
people tossing coins upon the green
cloth that covered it Clusters Of
lights illumined the scene. There
were men and women. too. Of various
ages. from the STRIPPING to the septu-
genarian. One old woman with white
hair sat with a paper in her hand COW
cred with memoranda consisting prin.
ctpally Of figures. 1t was a-~scheme
that she had worked out or some one
had given her for sure winning. She
scarcely ever bet more than a franc at
n time and usually lost. There
were men in evening dress and men
whose coats were frayed at the elbow,
while here and there a girl scarcely
out of her teens was betting with hot
cheeks and glistening eyes.
A lady-she might have been any
age between twenty-five and thirty.
fve-tn an evening costume of ex-
quisite fabric and construction. enter
ed the room and. handing her wraps
to an attendant, went to the main ia
bic, where roulette was being played.
Seating herself. she began to play
with silver five franc pieces. No
sound broke in upon the falling of the
coins on the table. the monotonous an
nouncements Of the man who conduct
ed the game and the rafting Of the
ball. One having no interest in it
would wonder how so many people
could be so silently intent upon so
UNMARRIED a proceeding.
Presently the recent arrival began
to toss gold napoleons on the cloth in
stead Of five franc pieces. Indeed. her
betting increased till she became the
one person at the table who engaged
the crowd Of lookers-on. Some of
those who were standing behind her
moved around to the other side. where
they faced her. She wore a hat with
a very wide brim and adorned with
large black feathers. one Of which fell
over the front and with the brim
completely shaded her brow. In addi-
ton to this. a veil extending to the
chin rendered it impossible to dis
tinguish her features.
She played with varying fortune. At
first she won. Then she lost more
than she had gained. Next she began
to win slowly, and at a certain point.
having gained a thousand francs. she
left the amount she had bet and her
winnings on the number she had
covered. There was quite a pile of
rn1I $horo o-1 -ko~ kL1 t,on -o1
spun and settled into it's place the
croupier covered the stake with an
other pile five times as large. A spasm
was seen to pass over the lady. and
she quickly placed her hand on the
lace about her throat. as if to pull it
away that she might breathe easier.
Her fingers remained at her neckwear.
and she bent over the table till her
chest leaned against it. about to gather
in her winnings. as every one supposed.
But she must have changed her mind.
for she remained in the same position.
her eyes. though they could not be
seen. apparently fixed upon the gold.
The conductor. taking it for granted
that she had determined to risk the
whole amount on the same number as
before. made the usual announce
ments. the ball was spun and. after
rolling and jumping and h~esitating and
backing and filling. at last settled into
its pocket. Amid EXPLANATIONS the
conductor announced the number that
was added to by another five times its
size. She gave no evidence of the eS-
citement natural to such winning. She
did not start: she did not make an in
voluntary change of position.
What wonderful self control" ex-
claimed one of those looking At her
"She must tie an old hand at it," re-
marked another.
Great heavens" cried several at
once. "Shp'S eolng to risk it ali again :
The g~amekeeper. who meanwhile
had been waiting for the lady to re-
move her winnings. seeing no inten-
ton on her part to do so. reluctantly
made the call for bets. the machine
was whirIed. and amid i'll repressed
EXPLANATIONS the ball gave the lady
another pile five times as great as that
before her on tha table.
Twice again the pile was increased
by the same arithmetical 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 did not look to see who was call.
ing her attention. She sat apparently
with her eyes glued to the immense
golden pile before her.
"Clarissa.' he 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
spired them with a kind of awe. The
game had ceased. and the eyes of ev
cry n present were fixed on the
gambler or the "a standing looking
down upon her. vainly endeavoring tt
arrest her attention.
"Take off her hat"
lift her veil"