Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-04-20

self "a the system, the one and only
system, and therefore that no system
can beat It, for that would mean adth-
mstic has gone bughouse."
"Well, you've seen me play. Smoee
answered defiantly, land, II you think
It's only a string Of luck on my part
why worry"
"That's the trouble. We can't help
worrying. It's a system you've got and
all the time we know 1t can't be. I've
watched you FIVE nights now, and all
can make out is that you favor certain
numbers and keep on winning.
"Now, the ten Of US game owners
have got together, and we want 20
make a friendly proposition. Wen
put a roulette table In a back room OF
the Elkhorn, pool the bank against
YOU and have you buck US. 1t will be
all quiet and private-just you and
Shorty and us. What do you say!"
81 think it's the other way around
Smoke answered. "It's up to you TO
come and see me. I'll be playing IN
the barroom Of the Elkhorn tonight
You can watch me there Just as weh
That night when Smoke took up MS
customary place at the table the keep
or shut down the 90 me. "The games
closed" he said. Boss orders
But the assembled game owners
were not to be baked In Few min-
utes they arranged pool. each putting
in thousand. and took over the table.
"Come on and buck u.s. Harvey No
ran challenged as the keeper sent the
ball on its first whirl around.
"Giye me the twenty-five limftF
Smoke suggested.
"Sure; 90 to It,"
Smoke Immediately placed twenty
i've chips on 'O0' and won.
Moran wiped the sweat from MS
forehead. go on" he said; I'VE got
ten thousand in this bank"
At the end Of an hour and q haif
the ten thousand was Smokes.
Got enoughT Smoke asked.
The game owners looked at one an
other. They were awed. They. the
fatted proteges Of the laws Of chance,
were undone.
I'VE quit" Moran said. "Ain't that
right, Burke"
Big Burke, who owned the games In
he NJ. and G. saloon, nodded. The
impossible has happened" he said.
This Smoke here has got system all
right. II we let him go on we'll all
bust. All can see. II we're going to
keep our tables running, Is to cut down
the limit to 81 or 10 cents or cent
he won't win much III night with
such stakes"
Al looked at Smoke. he shrugged
bis shoulders.
I'm that case, gentlemen, I'll have
to hire a gang Of men to play at all
your tables. I can pay them SO for q
four hour shift and make money"
Then we'll shut down our tables"
Big Burke replied, "unless"-he hesi-
tated and ran his eye over his fellows
to see that they were with him-"uu'
less you're willing to talk business.
What will you sell the system forT
Thirty thousand dollars" Smoke an
swered, That's tax Of 5000 apiece"
They debated and nodded. And
you'll tell us your systemT
Surely"
"And you'll promise not to play rou-
lette In Dawson ever againT
mo, sir" Smoke said positively. "ru
promise not to play this system again"
"Great Scott" Moran exploded. you
haven't got other systems, have your
Hold onr' Shorty cried. II want to
Talk to my partner. Come over here,
Smoke, on the side"
Smoke followed into a quiet corner
of the room, while hundreds Of curious
eyes centered on him and Shorty.
Look here. Smoke" Shorty whisper
ed hoarsely, "mebbe 1t amt dream.
In which case you're selln' out al
mighty cheap. You've sure got the
world by the slack Of It's pants. They's
millions In 1t. Shake It! Shake It
hard! II you sell out for thirty thou
SAN Ill never forgive you"
when sell out for thirty thousand
you'll fall OH my neck an wake up to
find out that you haven't been dream
ing at all. This is no dream, Shorty.
In about two minutes you'll see you
have been wide awake all the time.
Let me tell you that when l sell out
It's because I've got to sell out"
Back at the table Smoke informed the
game owners that his offer still held.
They profYered him their paper to the
extent Of three thousand each.
II was about to intimate that I'd
take the money weighed out" Smoke
said.
The owner Of the Elkhorn cashed
their paper, and Shorty took possession
Of the gold dust.
snow / don't want to wake up" be
chortled as he hefted the various sacks.
'.Toted up, It's seventy thousan'
dream. It'll be too blamed expensive
to open my eyes, roll out Of the blan-
ket an start breakfast"
whats your systemT Big Burke
demanded. We've paid for II, and We
want IT,
II