The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27
ny CROY.

China | could hardly wait to go
10 that city to see fortunes gained and
lost. estates wrecked and ruined, and
] 10 see men who hal lost their all
PAUSE on the marble entrance, whip
out a revolver and plunge head.ong
Q the cold, heartless steps.
AID. TOO. | was anxious to see d.
fhevelled men, intoxicated with their
winnings, standing on chairs, brushing
excited attendants aside as though so
many flies, flinging their money at
the banker and calling out their num-
ters in high. delirious keys. raising
their bios higher and higher until the
WHOLE room, at the very immensely OF
the sums. became as silent. but | was
l especially anxious to see the ones who
I had lost their all. There was some
thing fascinating about losing ones al.
as had conceived 1t in novels. hat
/ made me rush to Macao. where I sup
posed tina this was an hourly occur
renee
! supposed at Macao. a place where
gambling IS licensed by the Portu-
euese Government. that I would see
lights that would burn IN my memor
for months. | had imagined that I
would never be able to erase from my
mind pictures OF men who had lost
theis fortunes staggering down the
steps, old and haggari. where a few
hours before they had been flushed
BY the wine Of victory. tottering off to
some secluded spot to shoot them
se.yes in the temple.
expected to see walters in evening
coats plying tie. payers with drink
TO steal away their brains. And as
some one risked his all. / supposed a
hush would come over the great. gay
gambling house and that all eyes
would turn On him, as with set rigid
face he would lean far out and fling
down his last bank note. He would
hang on 10 the railing, staring with
unbelieving eyes for a long minute,
then clutch wildly at his throat and
give vent to a piercing cry. Turning
he would stumble toward the door and
down the cold marble steps in the d.
rect!on Of the secluded spot.
When ] got to Macao I found things
quite different from what | had i'm
agined.
Macao. three or four hours up the
coast by steamer from Hongkong. IL
a city OF 10000. but II looks about the
size OF Athol. Mas. The town seems
to be about a million years Old. but
don't suppose II really is. AS a mat
ter OF fact. 1t was cd the day Column
bus started on his we'll known exp.or-
ing trip. and n 20 doubt the day he got
his hand on the crown jewels there
was a quiet game going on in the rear
Of Wal .Wo's general and retail gro
Gerry.
had supposed that they played
roulette at Macao. for | had never
heard Of anybody staggering down a
I fight OF cold marble steps. headed In
the general direction of a secluded
spot, withou, having lost his all at
roulette. But at Macao they never
heard Of roulette; IL In fan tan.
There isn't any wheel nor any spin
ming d!s,-Just a hatful OF coins with
square holes in them and a bowl that
looks as though II anne free In a
package OF breakfast food. on the
table before the dealer II a square Tin
plate. The player places his money
on one Of the four sides OF the square
o. tin. The side nearest the dealer Is
number one; 10 his right number two,
and so on around.
The dealer takes out a handful u
the brass coins with the square holes
In ,hem-called cash-claps the bowl
over them and waits until all the
money is down. Then he lifts the
hNul a M 49, .,,, 49, 49,
time with a chopstiCk. and those left
the last time constitute the winning
number.
II there are three cash left, for In
stance, all who played on number
three win. Each persons wins three
times what he puts down, less Q per
cent which the banker takes for
handling the money. so that II a per-
son risks a dollar. he gets his own dol
lar back and three more-less . per
cent.-or 1913 in all.
When the boat drew up I scrambled
on, all eager to get to the bank to
oreak II as soon as possible. told
myself that when one has a thing 10
90 the quicker 1t is over with tho
better. Down TO the wharf dashed
oozens Of rickishas all eager for their
prey.
You savvy English? ?" asked OF a
fck!sha hoy in order to make sure OF
getting one who could hurry me there
without delay.
Yes, me savvy English" the boy
assured me with the air Of a person
VINO Is master OF the English language
nut unfortunately due 10 the ~eX!genc!es
o. tate IL forced for the time being 10
draw a humble rick.sha. climbed in
and he trotted of until he was out
o. range OF competition. when he
stopped and asked where | wanted 10
80,
ITO the gambling house" | tod him.
Hurry"
He pointed down a street and !
nodded, but o ] saw that the street
led into the open country at a fat
ARE, so | steered him around and
headed him toward a bank patiently
waiting 10 be broke.
When ! looked out again he was
Just turning into a street that Geemsd
% end IN the great desert Of Cob. 50
brought him up and demanded:
Don't YOU know where the gambl!nS
mouse it"' He nodded and started
Gown another street, stopping at the
end " the block TO point again.
| waved him off again. but at
"" ord Of another .lOck he turned 10
swat orders from the home officc.
S''.Hg thai all the English he knew
Nis DO YOU savvy English" and
N" carefully drilled reply. Yes. me
NNNA Innl oh - Mod nnt I'D hnntal