The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-21

gay, tempestuous city.
 All too soon Mrs. Porter urged them on. "It's after 10 o'clock, ana we should be at the Jal AlaI games ."
 Isobel frowned. "Oh, mother, we don't want to sit there for hours! You run on along and we'll nave one more drink and join you"
 "Yes, why don't you, Mrs. Port er?" Dick encouraged, too. "Adolpn can return for us."
 She hesitated, but only for an instant. All right, then" she con. ceded. But only one more drink ."
 Dick laughed. Only one!" he as- sured her.
 But it was almost midnight be- fore they drew up in front of the stadium, and the last game was al- most finished. Joyce glimpsed a quick vision of a sport that was a combination of tennis and hand ball, where the players used a long, curved racket, strapped to their wrists, and reminding one of the tenacious claw of some huge bird of prey. And then the game was over.
 Outside, Adolph waited to drive them out to the famous Casino, where fortunes were made and lost on the spin of roulette wheel.
 Inside the Casino, Joyce knew in stantly that here was the spirit of Cuba. Here were the beautiful women she had dreamed of, glamor- ous and dark-eyed, queenly in their grace; here were the proud and gal lant men, the light of conquest smoldering deep within their eyes. Here they came for their amuse- ment, to win or lose, it mattered not. Life was an adventure, gay and reckless and romantic!
 Soon Mrs. Porter left to join old friends, and Isobel was carried oil by dark-eyed young man who spoke of meeting her on previous trip.
 "That leaves us to seek our for tune alone" Dick remarked happily. Shall it be roulette, or does my lovely Senorita crave another Planters Punch. That's the bar"
 "Ill take roulette" She didn't want to play roulette at all; she hated to risk her precious $22. But neither did she want to spend those bright moments in another bar.
 Good. Over this way He led her to the roulette table, already over- crowded. But gallant young man, with flash of white teeth, offered Joyce his seat. And while she was thanking him, Dick was buying great stacks of chips, which he divided with her.
 You're supposed to have a sys- tenn" he explained, standing behind her, "but I can only tell you my idea Play the same numbers over and over again; some time during the course of an hour one of them is bound to win"
 So Joyce took his advice; she picked number 3, 13 and 27. Then because Dick pointed out that these were all odd numbers, she put one more chip on the "even" draw.
 That's the girl. Keep going that way" He placed his own markers on number 1 and T; then scattered others in ways she did not com- prehend.
 They played for many minutes, and Joyce watched the pile of chips dwindle slowly in front of her. It frightened her to see $10, $20, disappear in so futile a fashion, and she thought of Aunt Martha's frugal scrimping. But when she tried to beg off, Dick urged her on, adding chips from his own pocket to her stack.
 Then quite astonishingly. No. 27 won. Dick patted her shoulder in spirited approval as the croupier swept the money toward her. Wide eyed, she stared at the incredible pile. She'd won at least four times the number she had started with!
 Now, buoyed by her success, she played eagerly. She could lose lots of chips now and still be ahead. |.
 While she placed her bets, all attention now to the numbers in front of her, Mrs. Porter came up quietly behind the crowd and beck oned Dick.
 Its that MT. O'Hara again." she whispered tragically. wont you help me, Richard, please?"
 "Of course" He leaned over Joyce's shoulder, murmuring nasty excuse.
 Joyce did not look up until after the play. Then Mrs. Porter was out of sight, but she did see Dick dis appear into the bar. She felt quick and unreasoning disappointment