The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-17
A Gambler S
Waning
BY EVERETT ATwATER :

/
bier. About the time he reached thai
age he opened gambling house In q
large city. taking care TO hand over d
proportion OF his winnings to the po
lice. IL he had had only the police IA
trouble him he would be running his
place yet II wasn't the police, but
something that shook up his nerves far
more than a rnid from them and drove
him out of gambling altogether.
| A number OF persons had been ruined
playing In Cookers rooms, but they
| hadn't bothered Croker. What they
did with themselves he didn't know
and didn't care. At Monte Carlo every
now and then pistol shot is heard In
| the grounds and the body Of some sui.
eide Is found who had lost fortune Mt
the tables. Cookers place was on a
thoroughfare, and II any one wished to
commit suicide on account of losses at
his place he would go where he was
less likely to be observed. At any rate
there were no disagreeable happenings
whatever till that one occurred which
drove him out Of the gambling bust
ness.
A young Scotchman. Donald Adair.
on coming OF age came over the water
to see America before settling down on
his estate and marrying the daughter
OF neigbboring laird. He was very
much in love with the girl and was
contemplating happy life. On reach
ing New York he found friend to
show him the town. and. among other
places. this friend took him into Gro
ker's gambling rooms. They were
sumptuously furnished. and an elab-
crate supper with choice wines was on
buffet Adair to pay for his sup
per, concluded 10 lose dollar or two
and lost hundred before leaving the
place.
The next day he went back to get a
return OF sos and lost a thousand. And
so 1t went on, losing, winning, losing.
winning. till all his letter Of credit
called for was used up. Then he drew
all the cash that could be raised on
his estate and one night walked away
from the den OF iniquity without
shilling In the world But before leav
ing he said to Croker;
Look out for me tomorrow night. ]
have an iden TINT ! may win all this
money back"
Croker says that when he said this |
ha Mt TN In rrya hat
the marrow In his bones.
BY this time the telephone had come
into use. and Croker conceived the Idea |
of doing some business over II with |
persons too umid or too eminently /
respectable to come to his rooms. or
course whoever played over the wire
sent person to see to his interests.
About an hour after Adair had left I
Croker ruined man n messenger
came into the place with $50 In gold
and left 1t with the proprietor. A mo-
ment later the latter received word by
telephone that the person who hnd sent
the gold would like to play roulette
over the phone. Croker went into the
private room and asked who the party Il
was. The answer came back that II
was Adalr. Croker shrugged his shoul.
Iers, Having won everything Adair
lad. be had hoped that he had got
through with him. But he couldn't re-
use TO play and asked Adair who
would represent him. Adair named one
II the employees. Riley. adding that
lie would gire him 10 per cent OF any
winnings he might make. Riley was
allied In. and the game began
Adair won from the start. True. be
would occasionally lose. but his losses
we're so small ln proportion to his win
ings that the preponderance was very
argely in his favor Every time he
aimed good sum he gave directions
hat his representative should deduct
0 per cent OF IT. This kept Riley In
is interest and insured his getting his
Vinnings. But after awhile those win
ings accumulated so largely that
'roker asked Riley. taking care to
peak In a whisper. that he might not
e heard over the wire. to go back
d his principal and report losses in
tend of winnings. offering him a large
ercentage to do so. Riley consented.
nd the next large sum Adair won he
'ired that 1t had been loss.
For that lie I will make you pay
early" came over the wire In q voice
lat struck both men with terror
The gane went on. and presently
dair left his winnings on number
lat paid for !. and every time the
all spun II won for him. Croker play
until he dared go no further. then
lephoned that he had finished for
at night No reply came TO this. and
. asked what he should do with
dair's winnings. Adnir must have
1t the phone. for not II whisper came
lex.
II don't like this business" Croker
Id TO Riley. "You take his pile and -
Tn 1t all over to him when he calls
r IT," ~
Riley scooped up the winnings. and =
'oker went home very much ratified .
he next morning when he took UP the Z
per be saw IN account of the suicide =
Donald Admir-. He had gone direct Z
TO his hotel from Cookers. stopped 4
e doors and windows with the bed Z
,thes and turned on the gns.
This Is the story as Croker tells II. <
ley only knows what passed In the
- Il