The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-02-18

gradually lesSened as she cOaXed, and
he at length got up and followed her
| to the wall, alongside that noiseless
door. Her fingers seemed fussing with
something on the wainscoting, when
| suddenly the wall slid back as though
| on a track.
The young man In the far corner OF
| the room had to steady himself ex-
| ceedingly not to betray his surprise.
The room on the other side Of the wall
was as softly lighted as was the room
in which he sat-but it was busy in
there, without the subdued restraint
| of the dining room. The smoke of in
Vulnerable cigars and cigarettes made
foggy haze through which was dis
| tinguished a high chair on which a
man sat spinning softly running
wheel. Around him, with tense, eager
faces stood group Of men and women
in evening dress watching with fas-
cinated eyes the swiftly rolling ball.
At a low table in the foreground stood
a group of men excitedly watching
man in an enormous cravat and gar
| cup out Of which rolled clicking trans
parent dice. All this young man at
the table saw at a glance, indistinctly
yet comprehensively-sa the young
man of the tiny eyes, and the dancing
girl, met by tall stoop-shouldered
man of about thirty, who after few
words from the girl and mute, ex-
pressive glance, grasped the young
man cordially by the hand and led
him toward that high-stooled chair on
which the man sat monotonously spin
ming the wheel. The girl stepped back
into the dining room, the panel slid
noiselessly into its place and all was
as before.
But now some of the diners had
arisen and the panel began an endless
sliding to and fro as they went to join
those in the smoke-hazy room be-
yond.
The girl walked slowly, smiling to
the far end Of the room in which the
young man sat, hesitated moment at
his table, her head poised question
ingly.. He arose courteously, and pull
ing out chair from the table, said,
Wont you sit, DOWN.
''Thank you"
"Will you have something's"
She smiled her assent and gave her
order to the waiter.
you dance very beautifully, miss"
"Ah. yes, love to dance" And
then, inapropos. "You care to play?"
mo, not tonight"
"The playing is high tonight. The
bankers are hard pushed. 1t seems
as though luck is with the players to-
night. Would you like to try?"
81 don't feel I should win tonight"
he answered, laughingly. And" his
lips frightened over his slightly parted
teeth, 81 like to win. I like to clean
up. I'll enter the game some other
night" he said, a smile turning the
corners of his mouth. 81 shall come
again. probably very soon, and when
do. guarantee you I'll make q clean
sweep Of it,
eyes, of course" she said YEARLY.
She had heard that tone of surety
many times before.
he rose and she followed.
"Good night" she said smiling.
Good night"
He took his things from the waiter,
and as he started to go turned and
said, 81 shall see you again"
She bowed and moved off, as he
turned ard made his way toward tie
low door of noiseless hinges.
II.
at seems almost incredible, /
know-especially at time when the
lid is generally supposed to be
screwed on tight, Mr.. Bell, but there
is gambling Joint in this city, right
in the heart of the white light dis
trict, that is running wide open to
those who are in the know Roulette
wheel, dice, cards, everything! was
there myself, last night-saw it all
with my own eyes. The police must
be fixed or they'd be onto that lookout
on the street-they probably get a
ginning SOS you'll get it straight.
81 was down to a social welfare
meeting last night and walked east
through Delvin street for a car. l
was about midway between Bradley
and Histon streets when my attention
was attracted by q limousine that
drew up to the curb about 80 feet
ahead Of me. 1t stopped before
low brick structure that looked as if
it might have been used as private
warehouse. There were no steps-no
areaway-just an unremarkable old
door as an entrance with No. SO
painted on 1t in letters half washed
out by the rain. Two richly dressed
people-a man and a woman, alight-
ed from the car. The man gave his
chauffeur quick order. The car sped
away, and the two started for that
door. There was big squinty-eyed
rough lounging outside it who seemed
to know the people, for he smiled and
saluted as they passed in. / decided
to take peek for myself, and walked
toward the door as though / had it
| for my destination. The big rough be-
came suddenly very alert, and, walk
ing toward me, showed his face close
up to mine in an effort at recognition.
He looked doubtful and I decided to
bluff it out. 1 waved my hand toward
the door and raised my eyebrows as
though surprised at being stopped.
'That seemed to fetch him, for he
stepped back, said Alright and
walked off bit as entered.
South Africa