Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

A NEW GIRL IN TOWN. The passage that led to the rear from the main stairway ended in a little wain- scoted room where cigars were sold. There was no other visible means of egress. The attendant at the cigar stand, it appeared, was one of the most valuable employees of the house. In addition to selling cigars, it was he who in a single careless glance passed upon your fitness for .admittance to the casino. No word needed to be spoken. If he knew you, one of the panels in the wall slid back, revealing the little electric elevator. The floor above, like the restaurant, was Jaid out in a single long room extending from the front windows to the rear, but the chaste scheme of decoration was aban- doned. Casinos the world over have an ornate style of their own. Red and gold were the prevailing notes; the place was brilliantly lighted by cut-glass electroliers hanging from the ceiling. Tall mirrors in ornate gold frames lined the walls; between them were placed red plush covered settees, which were very little used. Over the set- tees hung many really fine paintings which nobody looked at. Their quiet beauty seemed a little out of place amidst the garishness. All attention was focused on the tables round, oblong and oval, up and down the room. As elsewhere in the Forty-Four Club, there was plenty of space. As Diantha stepped out of the elevator she sniffed excitement in the air. Though the place was well filled, it was very quiet. There was a thrilling quality in the still- ness. One heard the roll of little ivory balls, the click of chips, and the singsong drone of the croupiers. The players were of the same sort as the diners downstairs, but they seemed to have thrown off a cer- tain restraint in mounting. Particularly the women, whose eyes glittered, whose rouged cheeks were mottled with a feverish flush, whose elaborate coiffures betrayed a ten- dency to abandon. ‘“ Women should never gamble,” thought Diantha with a little shiver. Sharply distinguishable from the players around the tables were the dealers and croupiers, who appeared to belong to a race apart. Invariably thin men, it seemed, 233 with pale, hollowed, smooth-shaven cheeks, beautiful, nimble hands, and extraordinar- ily watchful eyes divested of all human expression. Presumably they were capable of emotion like other men, but on duty they were like nothing but marvelous pieces of mechanism. “ All French,” whispered Sutliffe. ‘“ They are the most reliable.” The first table at which they paused was an oval affair covered with green baize. In the center was a curious hole into which the cards were tossed after each hand. ““ Baccarat,” said Sutliffe. The croupier sat on one side. All he had to do was watch the game, take care of the cards, and drop the chips which rep- resented the commission of the house through a slit in the table. Opposite him sat the principal player, or “ banker” for the time being, and on each side between them were ranged five other players or ‘“‘punters.”” The chips were placed, the cards dealt, the players’ faces were livid or flushed according to their natures. Many of the terms were in French. “High stakes,” murmured Sutliffe. “TI don’t get the idea,” said Diantha. “Let’s watch roulette. That’s New York’s own game.” The roulette table was a narrow rectan- gular affair as long as a good-sized room. There were two of them in the place, both doing a capacity business. The wheel was in the center of the table with two of the basilisk-eyed attendants on either side. Chairs were placed for the players at either hand, but most of them had been kicked aside. Close to the croupier at the first table sat an incredibly old woman bro- caded and jeweled, with a tall head-dress slightly askew. She watched the wheel with her rheumy eyes, and her wrinkled, mis- shapen hands trembled. The table was marked off in various sub- divisions with numbers and colors, algebra to Diantha. But she soon began to get the hang of it. You could put your money— zt. e., chips—on a number, or split it be- tween two numbers or a series. According to the risk you took was the greatness of your return if you won. Sutliffe showed her further how one could play all the even comicboooks C©