Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-10-09
By EDWARD L. STcKENNA
IN TWO PARTs-PART TWO

IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
Mai. Ives-Carpenter Strengthened
/ himself and set his shoulders, as hi:
/ guard released him: he advanced to-
I ward Boris with outstretched hand
Boris didn't rise to greet him, AND
made no effort whatever to shake
hands with him.
The major stopped. 'T-I-you are
here to see me, sir? I'm-I'm. Ives
yes. I'm here to see you" said
I'VE have met before? My memory
isn't one gets a little-confuSed d. -
Yes. Quite. One gets confused" said
Boris. You don't remember me2"
mo, sir"
i've had two interviews with you.
IL don't recall.
Don't you realize that it's chaps
like you who ruin the east?" said Boris.
Chaps who used to be gentlemen
ahl"
The major was purple. "Swinel You
swivel" he said, and leaped forward,
but the guards leaped forward. too, and
pinioned him.
That night Boris dressed. ate dinner
at the hotel, and then went to find
his friend, Peter Andropolous.
The sporting club of Monsieur An
dropolous was the usual sporting club
of its class. Too much gilt, too many
mirrors, too many lush pictures and
Empire clocks, the chairs too huge and
soft, the rugs too thick.
Everywhere there seemed to lurk the
faded ghosts Of former patrons, tar
nished people, people whose laugh was
too ready and too uneasy, men whose
manners were all acquired by imita-
ton, women whose dresses we're ex-
creme, whose light perfumes just
missed subtlety A place in which one
easily might be fleeced, thought Boris.
He gave his card at the door, but
the man glanced at his evening clothes,
and smiled, and bowed him in.
Promptly at 1890, in came andre
polous, his shirt front ablaze with
diamond studs that seemed less du-
bious than himself. He was greaSier,
more Levantine than ever; he was fat,
and no amount of rice powder would
conceal the veins Of his nose and
temples
Boris held out his hand. Monsieur
Andropolous!" he said.
"Enchante, Monsieur LIE Capitaine!"
said Andropolous, and gave him
flabby hand.
you don't remember me?"
yes! Yesl OF course! Your games
roulette, Captain, isn't it?? Roulette,
as I recall, or baccarat. You Russians
are fiends for baccarat."
Roulette" said Boris. AS matter
of fact he preferred baccarat but it
had been years since he'd touched a
card or gambled at all, except In the
market.
This man, this oily little Greek, who
didn't remember him had done him
favor, the greatest favor in the world.
Probably he wouldn't remember the
favor either. Went home to bed, dead
drunk and minus three thousand
francs, and heaven only knew how
Wen. Boris would do him favor,
too. He'd lose a thousand dollars,
twenty-five thousand francs, to him,
on his crooked wheel. That would give
him pleasure. Afterwards, he might
tell him or not, as he chose.
He bought three thousand francs |
worth of chips to start. That was what |
Andropolous had given him, seven |
At first, he played five dollar chips
On the colors. And the first thing he |
knew, there was a pile of chips in |
'front.' of him. This, this was ridiculous. /
He'd play three or four at time, and |
play the winning number always to
-epeat. He'd surely lose, that way.
But he didn't lose. He couldn't lose.
His hand was in, his streak had come,
he marvellous run of luck that gam
piers think about when they're be-
,Ween drowsineSs and sleep. Nothing
hat he did could fail; he couldn't go
wrong.
He got UP suddenly. An attendant
his chips in basket for him;
hey caShed them in. He'd won over
our hundred thousand francs, almost
$4,000.
Where is Monsieur Andropolous?"
le said. IT wish to see him for a
moment, before I CO."
Andropolous came over to him, smil-
ng. you are stopping?" he said. I'm
Had, for my sake. I hear you have done
veil, Captain"
i've done too well,' said Boris.
mot at all, not at all. The percen-
age is always with me, as you know.
III get it back, another night. You'll
i've us our revenge?"
Il don't know. I'm not OBTAINING
Tou?"
Not at all, Captain. You'll have
lass Of wine with me, before you go?"
I'D like too, very much"