The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-11-20

merely mentions the name OF q well.
known club. anywhere In tho world.
claims membership therein. and Is
elected 20 tho Sporting club. u calls
Itself exclusive. but no temple o. vice
and gambling h n yice-chn be too
rigorous In lis scrutiny OF applicants
Tor admission. AFTER all. tho ultimate
test Of fashion. or society, Is the pos.
session o. money With enough
money one can rufns 10 with tho king
OF England. with the appearance u
money. one can ruf1c IL with tho
kings cousin az the tables OF the
Sporting club.
So / descended IN the elevator 20
the underground passage that leads
from the Casino. thru the Hotel dc
Paris. 20 tho sporting club, and in
another elevator rose 20 gambling
rooms.
Duchess and demimondainc, mar.
GUS rrr munitions maker. prineczSea.
ontrcprencurs, brewers, mill!Onaires,
royalties. actors. authors. chorus
girls. and perhaps even such others
OF my own profession as may be
found in any cosmopolitan gathering
they were all IN tho Sporting club
/ went first to tho cosy little bar,
with it, inviting ten tables 40 which
so little tea is drunk. ordered "a
glass OF milk. I find that tho bsycr-
ago 10 soothing 10 the nerves, and
nerves need soothing when one gam
bles. even tho for small stakes. While
drank Il. surveyed tho little room.
And there in tho aicovo / saw the
American girl. her husband. and tho
big Russian whom he had called the
Prince" They were evidently end.
ing a discussion. For / saw the Rus.
sian hand the young man shtaf OF
bank-notes. saw the girls expression
Of dependency. and noted the grin OF
triumph on the Princes face. The
Jaws Of the wolf wore near. felt. 70
tho white throat OF tho quarry. Then
the young man loaped to his feet.
and rushed for the roulette room. The
girl would have followed. but tho
Russian whispered 10 her. His thick.
hairy hand rested on her wrist. She
shuddered. but-she stayed.
Wen. once again II was no business
OF mine. wandered into tho Salon
de Roulette, and at tho end table be.
gan backing tho first dozen. Tor
half an hour had varying luck, and
then the young Englishman camo to
| my table. His face was haggard.
Evidently those successful coups
which tho prince had mentioned had
not yet been made by him. And with
in tho next ton minutes l saw him
lose as many thousand france, rise
from the table, and with a curse,
leave the room.
Shortly thereafter. finding that I
had no cigurets. and not seeing mn
attendant at hand, started for the
bar. In tho corridor came upon the
EnglIshman and tho prince. Tho
Russian was speaking.
II am sorry, my friend. but I have
no more money with me. Perhaps,
too, II is as we'll that you cease
gambling tonight. Luck Is not with
you"
The youths face became whittier.
But must play tonight" he pro-
tested.
Now. eavesdropping, save in the
line Of business, Ia not habit OF
mine. / trust that II Is not necessary
for me 10 repeat with frequency that,
save where II conflicts absolutely
with my profession, / am Il gcntle-
man. But / was strangely interested
in the drama being unfolded before
me The beauty Of the American girl
had won my heart. So stepped back
into the roulette room. An italian
was making some sensational win.
nings, and no ono else would leave tht
room until his spectacular luck chang
ed. / could listen unnotlccd.
But why not tomorrow? The
sales do jeux viii DO open tomor.
row." smiled tho Russian.
I could not longer sec tho young
mans face, but his tones told mo that
It's pallor had been succeeded by tht
crimson Of shame.
The hotel, Prince" he FILTERED
The bill was presented yesterday
They asked me about II tonight. !
dare not return"
Then perhaps Madame, your wife.
who has returned there, will be sub.
lJectcd 10 annoyance" said the Prince
Then Of course you must win. and
! have money lin my room. But I
cannot 70 there just now. There In n
gentleman awaiting mo downstairs
IL IS "A matter that has 10 do with
sintocraft. You viii understand. You
know tho troublous condition of Rus.
sin. And / shall be engaged nearly
all night"
Liz voice grnw nnnnrlnln. nn tho hr