The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-11-02
CHAPTER III.
In the Gambling House

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TvEN in New York, In days gone by.
- Mr.. Magee had never seen finer
equipped gambling place than the
house Of Holberg, into which. after careful
examination Of the clerks card. he was
admitted
One needed to be no expert In the ways
Of gamblers to know that this was no iy.
by-night affair. The costly paintings on
the walls. the handsome statuary, the
thick Eastern rugs-no one but q fool
would equip a place thus without assur.
ance-positive assurance-that be would
not be disturbed Somewhere between
fifty and hundred thousand dollars had
It cost to furnish this house, and men DO
not make that outlay IL there Is danger
that the axes Of raiding squads viii de-
stroy II In half an hour. In fact, Mr..
Magee had q quick mind. and could see
through grindstone, provided hole were
bored through IT.
In the clippings which he had read
earlier in the evening he had noticed that
the address raided by the district attorney
was entirely different from this place. Mr..
Masee guessed the answer to the riddle.
Holberg had opened up place as blind.
The district attorney had raided it to
make good on his Job. But this place
this was never meant to be raided. And
Mr.. Magee smiled In congratulatory fash
ion upon the man who approached him as
he entered the large room on the second
floor and whose face was extremely like
the printed pictures of Holberg.
mice place you have here" said Mr..
Magee. Cant say that I've ever been
In fner-in this country, at any rate"
Mr.. Holberg beamed upon his new pa.
tron. Thank YOU" he said. Care for
little bite? Something to drink"
Mr.. Magee smiled dissent 'Td rather
take g fling at the wheel. If you don't
mind" he said. 'Later-perhaps"-
Holberg waved fat hand graciously,
and Mr.. Magee made his way to the near
est roulette wheel. For few minutes he
watched the progress Of the play, noting
that the stakes were always high, that the
lowest check represented twenty dollars,
and that thousand-dollar bet was not at
all unusual. He observed the patrons;
they were Of that northumberland,
who. Mr.. Magee knew, would never risk
playing in public gambling house unless
they were pretty certain that discovery
was not at all probable
How these patrons had been assured Of
Immunity from raids Mr.. Magee did not
know, but Mr.. Magee knew what was be.
hind the assurances. The brides from
Horberg % Madison we're behind them,
and Mr.. Magee smiled as he placed one OF
Holberg's thousand-dollar bills on the
table and asked for checks.
"Fifty-dollar ones, please" said Mr..
Magee and curious stares we're bent upon
him by the other players. Twenty ivory
chips were placed before Mr. Magee The
croupier's voice droned zdmonition to
make the bets, and the little ball began
its Hateful tumbling about the wheel. Mr..
Magee quartered four squares One OF
them won; eight to one were his odds, and
he was $3.50 to the good right at the start.
For half an hour, with varying luck, he
played the wheel. and then arose, cash
Ing In the stacks OF checks before him.
He was hundred ahead, and when he
turned away from the table Holberg was
at his elbow, beaming upon him.
Lucky. sir?' asked the gambler.
Mr.. Magee yawned. "a hundred" ne
said
mot through. sir? You ought to press
your luck"
Its late" said Mr.. Magee. Almost one
o'clock, and I'm tired"
"All right, SIR" said Holberg graciously.
Hope you'll drop In again soon"
Il will" promised Mr.. Mcgee. And he
meant the promise. He had found out
absolutely nothing in his half hour. Most
certainly he would come again-to-morrow
night!
Have bite now?" asked Holberg.
Delighted acquiesced Mr.. Magee.
Having made good by the exhibition OF
decent sized sum Of money. having *.
hibited likewise the headwork Of an ex-
perienced player. Holberg might, possibly
relax that caution which the gambler
must maintain toward new acquaintance.
Mr.. Magee followed his host toward an
inner room. where glimpses Of white jack
eted colored walters promised tempting
delicacies.
They were partaking Of some pate and
had opened q quart Of champagne and Mr..
Magee was endeavoring 70 feel Holberg
out, while the latter was ieftly attempt
ing the same thing toward Mr.. Magee, with