Evening star., 1922-03-19

fore we must exercise the most DELI
cate diplomacy. and we must pay
whatever exorbitant price they ask.
leave 1t entirely to you."
The position now became a most
anxious one. II failed. then it
might mean the closing Of the estab-
lishment.
"kx &#
NEXT day it was reported to me
~ that they had made three coups
and had banked further 1880
pounds between them!
I met Anita In the rooms about 4
o'clock. She was dressed modestly in
black. with one single ornament-a
piece Of Chinese Jade suspended from
her neck by a black MORE ribbon.
ferent from the overdressed women
Of both worlds who frequent the ta-
bles that she in herself had become
a curious and mysterious personality.
She smiled at me triumphantly as.
side by side, she strolled with her
English lover idly into the trente-et-
quarante room, at the end Of the
great salon.
| An hour later I had a private chat
with Grant. and told him in guarded
| language that we were prepared to
pay as high a price for. the secret as
his London syndicate would do. and,
| further. put 1t to him that II he
Intended to marry Anita-as I pre-
sumed he did-then the sale OF tho
secret would make them both rich
beyond the dreams of avarice.
In an instant saw that the young
fellows whole ambition was to marry
the pretty Italian. Therefore. we
i had a long and confidential chat.
The result was that next day at
! loon Grant brought his two compan-
ions into my Office, but. to my
chagrin, the pretty Anita was still
defiant. utterly refusing to give away
the secret, which, it now appeared,
had been impaired to her by old Sig
nora Bertelli Just prior to her death.
For a full hour I tried to prevail
upon her to make us an offer, but she
| only laughed, repeating that We, hav-
| ing refused on a previous occasion,
| she and her friends had no intention
Of considering the matter further.
ef +
IRON the outset had seen that she
was very hard-headed little
woman, and, further. that the old
| Spaniard was advising her not to en-
tertain any offer.
| I'VE have discovered the secret OF
winning at Monte Carlo. Monsieur
Jacquin," the old fellow said calmly.
why should we not continue to
win?'
Because We are prepared to buy
your secret" was my reply. III you
know a certain mode OF winning
others may get to know it, and then
the administration would be COM
PEELED to close its doors!"
, ut probably will!' laughed Anita
triumphantly.
A further three weeks passed
Grant had gone to London, probably
to consult the syndicate who were
preparing for operations against US
On a very big scale. Meanwhile. An
| ;ta and old Vasquez remained, bu,
they only played on four occasions
yet each time they did not fail tc
win. II. Destruge and his co-directors
existed in a state of eager apprehen.
sion as to what was to be the out.
come of it all.
To us money was no object SO lone
as we obtained the secret by which
the bank could be beaten at will.
At last Archie. Grant returned. His
radiant appearance at once filled me
with grave fears.
That evening, about 9 o'clock. one
of the croupiers came to inform mt
that Mr.. Grant desired to speak will
me in private. Instantly I went t.
MY room, and a few moments latel
the trio were shown In.
Grant was the first to speak.
II have at last prevailed upon thu
Signorina Anita to reconsider her de
cision, Monsieur Joaquin. But If VI
!sell I warn You that the price mus
be a very high one. for We have alst
to settle with our London syndicate.
My heart gave a bound.
! your syndicate has no knowledge
Of the secret?" asked anxiousiy.
None whatever. We have entered
Into an agreement to sell in case yot
forbid US to play further-that is ALL
called NJ. Destruge and his Co
directors. and for an hour or more VI
all sat discussing the price, and bar
gaining in sums Of hundreds Of thou
sands Of francs.
At last, after much shrewd dealing
a price was fixed. a check was drawn
THE largest check ever drawn by thu
administration-and handed over t
the young lady, who signed n
ceipt.
It was then agreed that when thu
, rooms were closed at midnight ant
the public excluded she was to Civ,
US a private exhibition and reveal t,
US the secret.
x.*** *>
co when the game was over and tn,
~ great crowd Of visitors had de
parted the table was reopened with +,
fresh supply Of money. while Anti.
and the Spaniard- took seats opposite
each other.
Though the wheel was spun ter
times. they made no attempt to play.
At the eleventh coup the Spaniart
nodded just after the croupier hat
spun the disc, whereupon the cir
placed the maximum upon twelve
which won.
"Amazing!" cried Destruge. "Hov
is it done?"
| But she only laughed, and after 81,
more coups again staked ana agail
won.
"Now," she said. ''here is the simpl,
truth, which my aunt learned aftel
sitting and watching daily at thi.
table for years. When the number