The Coolidge examiner., 1935-03-01
TRUE GHOST
STORIES
By Famous People
Copyright hy Public Ledger. Inc.
W$U Service.
CopyriEh, hy Public Ledger. Inc.
W%U Service.
BY ARCH SELWYN
Theatrical Producer.

4" a RNoLD RoTHSTElN alway'
4 fascinated me, although tie
was a menace to organized society.
had known him as a boy. Ee
came from upright people. who fe't
dIsgraced when he ran away from
home. TO follow the career OF n gam.
bier / always followed news ot
his career" related Arch Selwyn,
the theatrical producer. Roth
stein had a weird and definite pre-
monition OF fate that was going TO
overtake his later career, and he
didn't run away from H."
In the fading twilight OF day
wherein Mr.. Selwyn had watched
the rehearsal Of his new play, The
Devil Passes" and wherein later
he would watch iis premiere, he
had turned from talk OF the thea
ter to talk of colorJul personalities
In the arena OF daily life who live
dangerously. and of the dangers,
seen and unseen. which pursue
them.
Il once told Rothstein.' he CON
tluued. that | would like to see a
certain gambling house where. It
was reputed the leaders OF gang
dom gambled with one another, and
where fabulous sums were ex-
changed IN cash"
Mr.. Sclwyn is n good theatrical
producer and the sight of 10000
In cash Is n good show, even TO
a veteran theater man. he admitted.
"Rothsteln promised to take me
to a private house In New York
city 10 watch the gambling. One
night he called me for dinner \
Mr. y. Joined us and Rothstein eX-
acted from US promise that nel-
ther OF us would gamble. This
gang" he said. has a code and a
language all It's own. and you fel-
lows can't play with H."
'Rothstein started 10 throw the
dice. /, The first bet was $4,000.
Mr.. r., an interchangeable gam
bier. who made large sums, but who
was IN the habit of letting them
slip by, was soon gambling, despite
Rothsteln's warning. Rothsteln
scolded him. but he started to play
again. ard won 81 800 He wanted
TO ret away from the place. They
were too many 'bruisers,' too many
aesperate-lo looking characters star
Ing at his winnings to let him feel
easy. Rothstein commanded him
to wait for him. but he refused
RothsieIn told him to wait at Dinty
Moore's.
"In the meantime ROthsteln was
losing. In the end he lost 100000
90 three men. Usually these men In
eangdom pay heir gambling debts
at once, In cash. This time, Roth
stein could not pay in cash. How
ever. he promised to pay soon.
"In fifteen minutes. after BIS de-
parture, Rothsteln called me from
the scene -7hich had fascinated me
Ike a bizarre foi ign spectacle. he
rushed me 10 Dinty Moore's.
There. In panic, In the cold
persplration OF fear, was 3. lie
collapsed before us.
"'YOu can't imagine what hap
pened TO me- he whispered. When
| came down the steps. three fell
lows stuck their guns In me and or.
dered, "Hand over the 81 800"
never was so frightened
Didn't I tell you to wait for
me?' said Rothsteln.
"'Yes. but began y.
"'You'll learn not to gamble with
guys like those Rothstein admon-
ished. Then, seeing that B. was
trembling. he said. Give back the
money to the fellows in the cor
ner whom he had planted on the
stairway to give b. a scare.
"The frightening experience was
not the end of the sequence Of af-
fairs revolving about that nights
losses, as / was soon TO learn. !
had intended to go sightseeing, but