LITTLE TRICKS THEV PLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7678, 11 April 1903, Page 2

LITTLE TRICKS THEV PLAY.

SURE WSNNERS WHO FRE*

QUENT MONTE CARLO.

There are hundreds of sore w__ti«__ &4 this moment operating at tfce Monte- C_r__ _y_i_g\tabi<» (writes Sterling _-*-% inj tihe "Detroit Free P__»"). Wit_o_t-__t of. losing, they _ajoy _he. i_ra_T _______ of winning. Sometimes they are riohj sometimes they are not; but they _» adway-j in funds. Their one danger ia to go in foi! excitement. Whereby bang! several talec Leon, for esaaoie— whom Ms bit___te« know as ;"lbe"N«pbeiv"— i_ by _i_tt__ fitted for his. easy __te*_r.. He must be thirty-five years old at pres__t> -p___s_axmannered. quiet in dress, like a mrperior kind of clerk, calm, indifferent and—con-* fidence-inspiring. He inspired my confidence, t_to_g_. I for* get how we became- acquainted. It wa_ three years ago j bui I _e____be_ t__t before the day was over a vision of. easy moncy fully possessed me.

The conversation had turned on tbe an* cient story of the eighteen Italia-- who 4 a few years ago, won 800,000 fratto. from the bank in tWo weeks by bettiflg ott tha physical defects of a particular toulett«Leel. They discovered that the co_i]}_rt_ ments 0, 8, 12, i4, 15, it, 24, 28 a_d ._ were a trifle larger than tibey should batbeen, while ceftaifl of the divisions we__ a trifle higher i and before tbe ____!___*- tion bad di-covered *the secret the It_-_-l baaid got away with 13, 000 fr__o» a day., It is a tale you bear at your hotel dinner* fable before you have been foxty-eig-t ___r_ in the principality. "Nowadays the: administration has the roulettes changed from table to table arifrom storeroom to table evary x iught_>" I iii' formed Leon.

Leon smiled cautiously.

Did he imagine me to be an Ikiglish milor? Or the aim 61 ___i- i_h«fifi__ *«1way king?. Little by little 'ha oo_f«_*that there might j^a andtber roulette with il similar physical tjefect aflip_g tbe thirtyfive of them, which, the ad____stratia_ ke*_* continually in working order. Little by little t came to the conclusion that.he _i_4self had won a great _._i on it no* »_ them, when be Could find it fot one dajl among the twelve others

I confess that I wWild have proposed • combination to bun. bad _ fiOt beei at ,tbmomenb peculiarly bird up fo.r_.dy-, money. Did my subsequent oenrefsAtioa betray me? In any case Leon ibowed fcimseK uncommunicative the next &*!***& Perhaps this is tbe only reason I did ***» hunt- up some moneyed victim for bim. It was only the next _easo_, that I came atross bis actual • dpeTation-rftfter be ,£*_ operated. A well-to-do French widow, mjof* I met disconsolately "averaging down her expense, in my seoo_d-<_a_s hotel. *<"* J» 9 tbe story— from ber own experience, JTJm carious fining Was t&at she still beli«*«_ Va his good faith and wa. only Waiting f otf remittances to begin again. v

" He had been a trusted employee of Her* Schwilge, the manufacturing optician at Btraaburg, to whom. the Casino people pa/ 1000 francs for each roulette," she informed me. (The Schwilge roulettes have a European reputation, for pi'S-isien } turned with ' force, their cylinder, continue to .evolve fo* twelve minutes.

"Two years ago, when they were n__bf ing a new lot of roulettes for tbe Casino, she continued, "he arranged one bo that six numbers would win ofte^er than 4-7 others. Then be throw up hit iituafioa with Herr Schvrilge and came domt here to operate at his roulette— which he oo_l<_ recognise by a minute mark on It #fl«__v_r it happened to be one of the twelve ia us, on any particular day. He had already won a lot, but as be could not play ©ftett he Was willing to take me as a P^rtaW; As was only just, X furnished the capital. "And you. lost?"

"Nob at -ail! The first' three days w» won. a. great deal oi money. "Then the roulette disappeared from the rooms. Two days later Leon thought that he recognised it, but he was mistaken. We played—and lost all my money.". "Why did y6u not go on playing With some of Leon's?"

" Oh, it was my duty to furnish tbt capital, and, as Leon says, there i# no hurry." I think I persuaded her that she wa_ being robbed to this extent that, on the strength of an dutragioits story, she was taking all tb& risks of ordinary rc_l_tt_ while Leon Was taking half tbe profit.. Aa luck swings, back and forth before tbe final eraeh when-one has capital, he had during tinree days managed to stop her off each time when she was, a considerable winner* Then they divided.

DEI^TDED OK HtS UIfCLE.

I ba^e said that tbe danger of this soif of thing consists in going in for excitement. Two months later, while I was still ab Monte Carlo, Leon .allowed himself to be tempted to try for a big lump sun. in the dangerous rolo which has gained -ha the title of " The Nephew." After bringing off bis "coup" he prudently disappear* ed for a time; .but, as it turn-d out, ha might ;bave remained, because the victim^ after blustering, lacked nerve to eoafess t_ tha authorities, that his own intention bad been to assist in robbing them. " My uncle," said Leon- to the viotbn-r ",i_ the croupier n_w turbihg at table No. 4. There he is — look at him. I ai. not al* lowed to play when be is turning?."

According to Leon, his Uncle, tha croupier, could, after, infinite practice, throw" the roulette, ball into any oompdrtment he pleased. It is a matter of common knowledge around the tables that all apprentlc. Croupiers inugt practice two full years before they are allowed to " turn " in publio ; this, pretended Leon-^-and you will hear others say it — is- fer no . other reason than to give them "an obedient ball " while tha croupier's seoret duty is to invariably make the heaviest " tableau " lose » His unols, the croupier, was willing how and then to throw bis immense advantage in , Leon _ way ; but the thing must be done with' the

utmost care.

"Ho will give, mo one coup oaeb day for three days," said Leon. "If you hav. enough money to stake the maximum oi 12,000 francs I will take you in with __*-" . The victim— a re%ed French grocer and rather Weak-minded— could not get toget__i more (tan 8000 franca. , . " That will do," said Leon when be'foitod the man could raise no more, "hut *» t_« uriderstanding was that you should *t*fc_ a. maximum, yon must f>ay m« half a>, maximum—6ooo francs— - out of our first win. frist as if you _ea% bad staked francs." - "*;"'■

This grasping propo_itfpb only $tr-_gt_«_. ed the- exdited Frenchman. coh_den.e in

the .proposition. They started, to jjli Oasin., die Frenchman 7 with his 8009 fr_iall ready.

"Now," said Leon, "_» w. are staidnj a great sum, we must bate a perfect u___r> standing. You will stand iu «. good platit, ready to stake tb. 8000 franca dtb_f"^_

red.or blaek. Observe my nn_te_. the tfrotf pier, attentively. When the mo__mt_w_*i be will take snuff. If be .takes it with bb right hand, put your money quick on_h< red. If he takes snuff with hi* left ikaod slap your nmney on blaek. That wiH b( the signal. I will stand back— l must a© bMeert!" . Talk about the keen emotions of gaa

Ming ! ' What must have been Leon _ em. ttens, at be stood on the outskirts of t_< crowd, awaiting tbe .vent wbiob ___i either put 6000 francs in bis pocket or -tar bim xu__,_g« tteva. an 6-_*ge_ ___s_J

•roeerT He knew that be would -not have long to wait; the particular croupier he had chosen took snuff with unfailing regularity.

At last there was an unusual stir. He ■aw. the grooer rise up beaming, fingering a roll- of bank notes. Without knowing it, he' bad risked 8000 francs and won! Tbe red and blaek turns equally for all ! Bubbling with congratulations, If on drew bim into a quiet corner. " Give me my -share," said the scamp, "6000 francs I" The Frenchman gave it to bim willingly. Tha next day, having kept 2000 francs o* the. winnings for himself , the victim was easily persuaded to put up 10,000 francs. He lost; but Leon did not wait to make him any explanations. With his readyjpscked valise he disappeared from Monte /Carlo— for a time. NERVE IS REQUIRED. Such an operation demands nerve ; but fwhen the sure-winners of Monte Carlo become desperate by reason of some temporary lull in easy-money getting, the necessary nerve comes to them naturally. With uncounted wealth in gold and bank notes changing hands beneath their eyea day after day, they get unreal idea- concerning money. Once in possession of a stake, they know they may become rich before night. Players, also, become unbusinesslike in their actions. Newcomers get flustered and timid, while old players display what seems like extraordinary carelessness and confi'dence. Some, for instance, are very superstitious about sitting at the table^. They think they cannot win while seated ; others Ido not like to watch the roulette or even jtouch their money. Consequently they put down, say, five gold pieces on the red and jiitand aside, listening to hear whether- they jjwin or lose. Winning, they will let the ■joubled sum stand on. red for another turn. ,6uo_ an experienced player as thisumakes a good, mark for the audacious sure-winner.

.JL . saw it done again this season. Tbe »»eeo_d-ry , victim — a highly respectable young German — escaped a painful explanation by a mere fluke. '. He bad secured a good standing place Uext to the table.' Suddenly a nice-looking {young fellow touched bim on the elbow and whispered hurriedly :

' "My dear sir, ggilease do me a great iavour! I have twenty loui* on the red — tbere^just in front of you; that pile; do jron see it? and here is my father-in-law coming. If he catches me gambling there ■will be a row. #or heaven's sake rake off the gold and pass it to me under {he table!"

The young German good-naturedly did as requested. A moment later the monotonous voice of the croupier announced that black bad won on the succeeding turn. "/That's bad," the young German heard a manly voice declare over his left shqulder. ''I bad' twenty louis on the red — hello I the «roupier's raked them in already!" Tbe young German sat close, greatly troubled. There bad been no other pile of twenty gold pieces on the red ! - "Lieber Gott!" he said afterward. "I artist have stolen them for that scamp who was afraid of his father-in-law! If red had won again I would have had to pay the irightful owner forty louis (160dol)." Thus _e compromised with his conscience.

An old-timer to whom I related this adventure as an example of the sure winner's Ingenuity, laughed at my innocence. ' ; " That is au old one_" he said. " Once jt saw it operated with a very curious complication. Tbe secondary victim — who itarned out to be the real victim — was a Iwealthy young Englishman. Like . your German, be was surprised into raking off ja. pile of gold pieces and handing them under tihe table to a swindler. But the real .owner of them did not let them go bo /easily. • "'Who has taken down my forty louis?' •he exclaimed. There was an immediate lull •round the table. Someone, pointing to the young Englishman, , said; 'I think _aonsie_r- raked them off.' Then the oro-pier remembered seeing it too. , " 'Certainly,' replied the Englishman,^ f I raked them off for this gentleman hebind me, who said they vrexe his.' : M What gentleman?'

" lite Englishman looked around for tbe [party in vain; 1 "'He ~eem_ to be gone,' he faltered. rße said he was afraid of his father-in-flaw.'

■* "A mixture4 of laughter and suspicious whisperings went round the table. " 4 Confound it, I'll pay the money myself l' exclaimed the Englishman-— and did *o."

"And you say that be was tbe real vic-jfc-ttt"

"Certainly," replied tlie old-timer.

"It was a put-up job against him. Tbe nan who claimed the money — and whose money it really was — had a witness or two all ready in case the Englishman bad nob ipffered to make good."

THE LADY PILFERER. This taking on and banding up of money lor players who stand crowded behind the •hairs, and consequently cannot play with kny^reedom, has always been to me one of the wonders of Monte Carlo. It makes a continual opportunity for the sure winners ; yet one hears astonishingly few disputes — perhaps one an hour at eaoh table. A young Frenchman at our hotel told me yesterday bow be discovered an extremely nicelooking, well-dresseVl lady pilfering from bim in this way, and never said a word, except to ask her not to trouble herself any jhore.

"I was playing in stakes of five louis l(_0dol), and sitting iust in front of me jWas this nice-looking lady," he said. "As _t was very troublesome for me to reach! over each time, she asked me : " Shall I fcand it to you?' . ! " *lf you will,' I answered, 'very much) .bilged.'

" I was very lucky," be continued, " and it was only toward the end -of my run that jj_ carelessly counted the gold pieces she _____ed up to me. Instead of ten, there Ver* only nine. That made me think. The kerb time I banded: her six gold pieces to tout on the black; then hastily/' as if changing any mind, I borrowed a rake from _• neighbour and, pushed my six Louis oyer 'to the red. In doing so I knocked the little pile over— and saw there were only _tve gold pieces in it. ; t , "She bad 'knocked down* one gold piece _aob time!

b" Yes, with a little shoemaker's wax In > palm of her glove. ' Madame,/ I said, her, 'I fear I am giving you too much -rouble. Henceforth I will place my stakes __d take in my winnings with this rake.'

\ "'Take my ebair,' she replied, smiling -weetly, 'I waa just going I' •' " __Sl tbe moral of it is—" I began.

"The moral of it is that I had better let jfctr go on stealing from me, 1 ' answered tbe IjfOttttg Frenchman. " From that moment I _*g»_ losing!" i The temptation to take in a partner is W- you will -ever understand until yob -ome to Monte Carlo. You hear partner_hip talk all around you. It is as if , conscious of the grinding money machine of •be Casino, the individual, player reaches W_t ia a blind way for reinforcements. l>eon, called "The Nephew," when he ____•* bis -Konest money does it as a partMr of some newcomer. Many players — _tpeoi__y thoughtful newcomers— distrust their own coolness. Half of those who __T_ discovered "systems" need a partner tor their operation.

In thi- way hundreds of sure winners __riv« at Monte Carlo. Half of them "will rob you at the very moment they are doing their best to make you win. Sometimes even while robbing you they will 'a_Y« you money. And the Casino authorities seem to look on their small operations <pritb kindly indifference, j.

Only one sort of "grafting " seems to be Stbsolutely frowned upon. The other day I saw a party work it, and got himself put •_t of the Casino. Ckn-i-g up to our ?o_l*tt- table at a moment when- -there was _. great deal of money and excitement, he apparently -lapped down three silver dolKy- ... i ...

lars on the winning number the very instant the ball had fallen. Of course this would not do ; and the croupier hurriedly knocked back the silver dollars with bis long rake, calling, "too late!" ButJ what the rake did not knock off was a fourdollar gold piece, which the schemer bad, placed at the bottom of the pile of three silver dollars. It stayed on the sure-win-

ning number. The croupier, seeing it, hesi tated an instant before pushing it off, too

"Hello! Don't touch thatl It's mine!" exclaimed a determined voice across the table. The croupier suspected that the house was being "done," but he could not be sure, and so he paid. Five minutes afterwards, however, both parties were invited to quit the Casino.