The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01
A Gambler S
Waning
By EVERETT ATWATER

/ axe ut Opeucu eullbllllS uONSe III
large city. taking care TO hand over
proportion OF his winnings To the po.
lice. II he had had only the police to
trouble him he would be running his
place yet. II wasn't the police. but
something that shook up his nerves far
more than raid from them lnd drove
him out Of gambling altogether,
A number OF persons had been ruined
| playing In Croker's 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 a pistol shot Is heard in
the grounds and the body OF some sui
eide IL found who had lost Il fortune NJ
the tables. Crokers place was Oh
commit suicide OH account Of losses az
his place he would go where he was
less likely To be observed. At any rate
there were no disagreeabe happenings
whatever till that one occurred which
drove him out OF the gambling busi
ness.
A young Scotchman. Donald Adair.
on coming or age came over the water
to see America before settling down on
his estate and marrying the daughter
Of neighhoring laird He was vpr,
much I'm love with the girl and wis
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 Cr,
kers gambling rooms They were
sumptuOusly furnished. and an elab
crate supper with choice wines was ON
a bufret. Adair. to pay for his sup
per, concluded to lose dollar or two
and lost a hundred before leaving the
place.
The next day he went back to get
return OF S!,S and lost a thousand. And
so it 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 Oh
his estate and one night walked away
from the den of iniquity withou; II
shilling In the world. But before lcav
Ing he said 20 Croker:
Look out for me tomorrow night.
have an idea that l may win all thi,
money back"
Croker says that when be said this
he looked M him In way that frozc
the marrow In his bones
BY this time the telephone had com,
Into use. and Croker conceived the idea
| OF doing some business over II with
persons too timid 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
Croker a ruined man Il messenger
came into the place with $50 I'm gold
and left IL with the proprietor A mo.
ment later the latter received word by
telephone that the person who had sent
the gold would like to play roulette
over the phone. Croker went into the
| private room and asked who the party
was. The answer came back that IL
was Adalr. Croker shrugged his shoul
ders' Having won everything Adair
had. he had hoped that he had got
through with him. But he couldn't re-
ruse to play and asked Adair who
would represent him. Adar named one
or the employees. Riley. adding that
nc would give him 10 per cent of any
winnings he might make. Riley was
called In. and the game began.
Adair won from the start. True. he
would occasionally lose. but his losses
We're so small In proportion to his win
nings that the prepohderance was yer,
largely In his favor. Every time ne
gained q good sum ne gave directions
that his representative should deduct
III per cent OF 1t. This kept Riley in
his interest and insured his getting his
winnings. But after awhile those win.
nings accumulated so largely that
Croker asked Riley. taking care to
! speak IN whisper. that he might not
De heard over the wire. TO 90 back
on his principal and report losses in
STEAD OF winnings. Offering him large
| percentage to do so. Riley consented.
ana The next large sum Adair won ne
wired that " had been loss
For that lie will make Won pn\
/ uearIy' came over the wire I'm 4 voice
that struck both men with terror.
The game Went uu, and presently
Ada'r left his winnings on number
| that paid for |. and every time the
! ball spun II won for him Croker play.
eel until he dared 40 no further then
telephoned that he had finished for
/ that night. No reply came to this. and
ne asked what he should do with
AdairS winnings. Adair must have
Ieft The phone, for not whisper came
} back
Il don't like this business" Croker
sald To Riley. You take his pile and
turn 1t all over 10 him when be calls
| for It,"
Riley sco"I'ed up the winnings. and
/ Croker went home very much ratified