The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-10-04

.frequenters of the Casino go there In
order to secure a seat for the evenings
play, Mensmore quilted the dining
room. Bruce followed him unobtru-
sively and was just in time to see him
enter the lift.
The barrister waited in the hall. hav-
ing first secured his hat and overcoat
from the bureau, where he happened
to have left them.
Even while he noted the descending
lift. in which he could see Mensmore.
who had donned a light covert coat.
the breast of which bulged somewhat
on the left side, the hotel clerk came
to him, triumphantly holding a letter.
And now, monsieur" cried the clerk,
I'VE shall see what we shall see.''
The missive was addressed to the
mysterious Sydney II. Corbett and had
been forwarded by the Sloane Square
postofice.
With a clang the door of the lift
swung open and Mensmore fastened
out. Bruce had to decide instantly be-
tween the chance Of seeing Corbett
with his own eyes and pursuing the
fanciful errand he had mapped out in
Imagination with reference to the
stranger who so interested him.
Thank you," he said to the clerk,
Il am going to the Casino for an hour.
You will greatly oblige me by keeping
a sharp lookout for any one who claims
the letter.
Monsieur, 1t shall have my utmost
regard
The barrister had not erred in his
surmise as to Mensmore's destination.
The young man walked straight across
the square and entered the grounds of
the famous Casino.
Indoors an excellent band was play
ing a selection from The Geisha.'
The spacious foyer vas fast filing
with a fashionable throng. Without.
the silver radiance Of the moon. light
ing up gardens, rocks, buildings and
sea, might we'll have added the last
link to the pleasant bondage that would
keep an eye from the gambling saloon
that night. but Mensmore needed none
Of these things.
He passed the barrier. closely fol-
lowed by Bruce, crossed the foyer and
disappeared through the, baize doors
that guard the magnificent room in
which roulette is played.
Round several Of the tables n fairly
considerable crowd had gathered al
ready. The more the merrier. is the
rule Of the casino. There is something
~cuTiously fascinating for the gambler
In the presence Of others. 1t would
seem 10 be an almost ridiculous thing
for a man to stalk solemnly up to a
deserted board and stake his money
on the chances of the game merely for
the edification OF the officials In
charge.
Bruce entered the room soon after
Mensmore and saw the latter elbow
ing his way to a seat about to be va
Gated by a stout Spanish lady. who
had rapidly lost the sum she allowed
herself to stake each day.
She was one of those numerous play
ers who bring to the casino a certain
amount daily. and Systematically stop
playing when they have either lost
their money or won a previously deter.
mined maximum.
This method. in fact, when combined
with a careful system. is the only one
whereby even a rich individual can in
dulge in a costly pastime and at the
same time escape speedy ruin. With
n fair share of luck II may he made to
pay: with continuous bad fortune the
loss is spread ove such a period that
common sense has some opportunity
to rescue the victim before it is too
late.
Claude took up a position from which
he could note the actions of the stran-
ger in whom he was so interested. At
first Mensmore staked nothing. He
placed a small pile of gold in front OF
him. He seemed to listen expectantly to
the croupier's monotonous cry. "Ningt-
sept, rouge, impair, passe," or, Dix
hut. noir, pair. manque,' and so on,
while the little ivory ball whirred
around the disk. and the long rakes.
with unerring skill. drew in or pushed
forward the sums lost or won.
The dominant expression of Mems
more's face as he sat and listened was
one Of disappointment. Something for
which he waited did not happen. At
last. with Il tightening of his lips and
a gathering %sternness in his eyes, he
placed ) louis on the red. the number
previously called being Is.
Black O
For the next three attempts. each
time with n five louis stake on the
board. Mensmore backed the red. but
still black won.
Next to him an Italian. betting in
notes of LOCO francs each. had quad
rupled his first bet by backing the
black.
Both men rose simultaneously. the
Italian grinning delightedly at a smart
Parisienne, who joyously nodded her
nn-.otuIatiOnS- tho EppliShman nuiot