Once I noticed the needle did not
move at all, and he won. But at the next play he staked what I
knew must be the remainder of his winnings on what seemed a very
good chance. Even before the wheel was revolved and the ball set
rolling, the needle swung about, and when the platinum ball came
to rest Kennedy rose from the table, a loser.
"By George though," exclaimed DeLong, grasping his hand. "I take
it all back. You are a good loser, sir. I wish I could take it as
well as you do. But then, I'm in too deeply. There are too many
'markers' with the house up against me."
Senator Danfield had just come in to see how things were going.
He was a sleek, fat man, and it was amazing to see with what
deference his victims treated him. He affected not to have heard
what DeLong said, but I could imagine what he was thinking, for I
had heard that he had scant sympathy with anyone after he "went
broke"--another evidence of the camaraderie and good-fellowship
that surrounded the game.
Kennedy's next remark surprised me. "Oh, your luck will change,
D. L.,"--everyone referred to him as "D. L.," for gambling-houses
have an aversion for real names and greatly prefer
initials--"your luck will change presently. Keep right on with
your system. It's the best you can do to-night, short of
quitting.
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