The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-18
THE MUTE
GAMBLER
BY JANE PlNCKNEY BENNETT
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.


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
flve-in an evening costume OF ex-
ouisite fabric and construction. enter
ed the room and. handing her wraps
TO an attendant. went to the main Ia
Bile. where roulette was being played.
Seating herself, she began to play
with silver Eve frame 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 proceeding.
Presently the recent arrival began
to toss gold napoleons on the cloth I'm
stead Of Ave franc pieces. Indeed, her
betting increased till she became the
one person at the table who engaged
Abe crowd of lookers-on. Some OF
those who were standing behind her
moved around TO the other side, where
they faced her. she wore 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 10 this, veil extending to the
chin rendered 1t impossible TO dis
tinguish her features.
She played with varying fortune. Az
first she won. Then she lost more
than she had gained. Next she began
TO win slowly, and at 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 pile OF
E-goId there. and when the ball was
spun and settled into its place the
croupier covered the stake with an
other pile five times as large. A spasm
was seen 10 BdsS thca tAe iAhSt 'bN
she quickly placed her hand on the
lace about her throat. as II TO pull II
away that she might breathe easier
Her fingers remained at her neckwear,
and she bent over the table till her
chest leaned against II, about TO gather
In her winnings, as every one supposed
4 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
I whole amount on the same number as
] before, made the usual announce
/ ments, the bah was spun and, after
rolling and jumping and hesitating and
backing and filing. at last settled into
! its pocket. Amid EXPLANATIONS the
conductor announced the number that
had won. and the lady's heap of gold
was added to by another five times lis
1 size. She gave no evidence Of the ex
/ eitement natural TO such winning She
\ did not start; she did not make an In
I
voluntary change OF position.
what wonderful self control." ex'
claimed one Of those looking at her.
"She must be an old hand at itg' re
marked another.
Great heayensr cried several al
once. "She's going to risk 1t all again
The gamekeeper, 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 whirled. and amid Ill repressee
EXPLANATIONS the ball gave the lady
another pile FIVE times as great as thai
before her on the table.
Twice again the pile was Increased
by the same arithmetical progression
and the bank was broken.
At that moment q 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 kind Of awe. The
game had ceased. and the eyes Of ev
cry one present were fixed on the
gambler or the man standing looking
down upon her. vainly endeavoring te
arrest her attention.
''Take of her hat"
"Lift her veil"
"There's something wrong with herr
"Some one look out for her pilel'
These words that We're spoken In
loud tones and others that made q
confused musmur did not seem to b
heard by the man standing over the
lady. He stood for a few moments
as II not daring TO know the truth.
Then. gathering bis resolution. he
tore of her hat The woman swayed
and her head sank upon the table
He raised it and looked eagerly into