Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

E tites in the play of Mr. John Bruce, who chad obviously just escaped being broke “himself by a very narrow margin. , again —mote SO than pleased him! , John Bruce smiled. He was in funds be. : - x “Tt’s a ‘ zero’ night, Mr. Croupier,’’ ob- served John Bruce pleasantly. ‘ Roll her . But now luck was with John Bruce. The “zero” and his other combinations were as shy and elusive as fawns. At the _ expiration of another half hour the net re- sult of John Bruce’s play consisted in his having transferred from his own keeping into the keeping of the New York branch thitty thousand dollars of Mephistopheles’s money. He was to all appearances fla- -prantly broke as far as funds in his imme- diate possession were concerned. “T guess,” said John Bruce, with a whimsical smile, “that I didn’t bring enough with me. I don’t know where J can get any more to-night, and—oh, here!” He laughed with easy grace, as he suddenly tossed his jeweled watch-fob to the crou- pier. ‘‘ One more fling anyhow—lI’ve still unbounded faith in ‘zero’! Let me have a thousand on that. It’s worth about two.” The croupier, as on the previous occa- sion, examined the article, but, as before, shook his head. “T’m awfully sorry, Mr. Bruce, but it’s strictly against the rules of the house,” he said apologetically. “I can fix it for you easily enough though, if you-care to take a trip to Persia.” ‘A trip to Persia?” inquired John Bruce in a puzzled way. “I think I heard you suggest that before this evening. What’s the idea?”’ Some of those around the table were smiling. “It’s all right,” volunteered a player op- posite, with a laugh. ‘‘ Only look out for the conductor!” ‘ Shoot!” said John Bruce nonchalantly. “That’s good enough! You can book my passage, Mr. Croupier.”’ The croupier called an attendant, spoke to him, and the man left the room. “Tt will take a few minutes, Mr. Bruce -——while you are getting your hat and coat. The doorman will let you know,” said the 2A PAWNED. 305 croupier, and with a bow to John Bruce re- sumed the interrupted game. John Bruce strolled from the room, and descended to the lower floor. He entered the supper room, and While old Jake plied him with delicacies He saw the doorman emerge from the telephone booth out in the hall, hurry away, and presently return, talking earnestly with M. Henri de La- vergne. The manager, in turn, entered the booth. M. Henri de Lavergne came into the supper room after a moment. ‘In just a few minutes, Mr. Bruce— there will be a slight delay,” he said effu- sively. ‘“ Too bad to keep you waiting.” ‘“Not at all!” responded John Bruce. He held a wine glass up to the light. ‘‘ This is very excellent, M. de Lavergne.”’ M. Henri de Lavergne accepted the com- pliment with a gratified bow. ‘Mr. Bruce is very kind to say so,” he said—and launched into an elaborate apol- ogy that Mr. Bruce should be put to any inconvenience to obtain the financial ac- commodation asked for. The security that Mr. Bruce offered was unquestioned. It was not that. It was the rule of the house. Mr. Bruce would understand. Mr. Bruce understood perfectly. | “ Quite so!” he said cordially, M. Henri de Lavergne excused himself, and left the room. | ‘A fishy, clever little crook,” confided John Bruce to himself. ‘I wonder what’s the game?” He continued to sip his wine in apparent indifference to the passing minutes, nor was his indifference altogether assumed. His mind was quite otherwise occupied. It was rather neat, that—a trip to Persia, The expression in itself held a lure which had probably not been overlooked as an asset. It suggested Bagdad, and the Ara- bian Nights, and a Caliph and a Grand Vizier who stalked about in disguise. On the other hand, the inebriated gentleman had evidently had his fill of it on one occa- sion, and would have no more of it. And the other. gentleman who had, as it were, indorsed the proceeding, had, at the same time, taken the occasion to throw out a warning to beware of the conductor. Ccomicbooks CO