The Cordova daily times., 1922-11-07
ATLANTIC CARD SHARES REAP
 RICH TOLL

l PARIS, NOV. I.-1HlS HdS DeeH
 gala harvest year for the trans-at-
 lantic gambler
 Of all crooks he is the safest
 from capture. His polish excels that
 of a Fifth Avenue millionaire or a i Fifth Avenue hotel clerk. He is ac- cepted in society. He knows how to
 charm women, to interest men.
 This accomplished bandit makes his victims pay dearly, but what he takes he takes pleasantly. He gives amusement and excitement in return. He is never rude nor violent, like his cousin, the burglar. He would not soil his pink finger nails oper- ating a jimmy, nor stain his clothes with chloroform. The thought of frightening any one would be en- tirely repellent to him.
 Dozen to Ship
 It is estimated by Francis Clarke, writing in the Paris Midi, that every large liner that crossed the Atlantic during the last six months that is, during period when a record number of Americans made the trip to Europe and returned to America-carried with it from six to ten professional gamblers.
 The profit made by these para sitic, luxury-loving card sharks is estimated by the same writer. at $25,000 day!
 The total winnings of a success full gambler, then, who made ten trips during the entire season and played four days on each trip, to- tailed one million dollars!
 But it is not the custom of most gamblers to limit their game to few days on each voyage. They get to a card table early in the trip and stay there until the steamer docks. Then, in Paris, in London, or in New York they "rest" from their labors. Some may play a hand now and then in the barrooms of first-class hotels. But most of them confine their activities to shipboard where their victims have little dis traction from the temptation to play Some Have Families
 Some gamblers, it is reported, have wives and children in their nome port" and return from mysterious business trips" to resume place as respected members of their con- munities.
 Almost all transatlantic gamblers are men of education, often far more so than the wealthy men they make their prey. They must be always on the alert, ready to account for them selves legitimately to the authorities, to the ship companies, to. persons in every walk of life, and of every grade of intelligence and amssed informa- tion. Above all they must be pre- pared to outwit their sworn enemy, the secret service man
 Many of the profession have the science of intriguing themselves into the confidence of their victims worked out to such fine point, ac- coording to Clarke, that they sue ceed in making the acquaintance of their dupes several days before the steamer sails. Getting the intro duction" is the hardest part of the
 job. It involves the need for large acquaintance, a great amount of nerve and an ability to lie dex- terously and with imagination. Start Game Easily
 After the introduction the invita- tion to play is minor difficulty What is there to do?" asks Clarke, when one is rich and bored and there is only the sky and sea to look at, except to deliver oneself
 body and soul to the fascination of | a game of cards?"
 | The victim always believes that his losses are due partly to mex perience, partly to luck. If his l faith wanes, he is allowed to win a
 thousand dollars or so. Then the ocean seems bluer for a while-but it soon becomes gray again. More than one dupe, however, of
 the millionaire variety will swear up and down, even after he counts | his losses that the fun was worth
 the price. Some charge it up to ex- perience, but more to amusement. Clarke tells the story of very