messieurs?"

"Perhaps," admitted DeLong, "but it doesn't explain why I am losing
to-night while everyone else is winning."

"We are not winning," persisted Craig. "After I have had a bite to eat I
will demonstrate how to lose--by keeping on playing." He led the way to
the cafe.

DeLong was too intent on the game to leave, even for refreshments. Now
and then I saw him beckon to an attendant, who brought him a stiff drink
of whiskey. For a moment his play seemed a little better, then he
would drop back into his hopeless losing. For some reason or other his
"system" failed absolutely.

"You see, he is hopeless," mused Kennedy over our light repast. "And
yet of all gambling games roulette offers the player the best odds, far
better than horse-racing, for instance. Our method has usually been to
outlaw roulette and permit horse racing; in other words, suppress the
more favourable and permit the less favourable. However, we're doing
better now; we're suppressing both. Of course what I say applies only to
roulette when it is honestly played--DeLong would lose anyhow, I fear."

I started at Kennedy's tone and whispered hastily: "What do you mean? Do
you think the wheel is crooked?"

"I haven't a doubt of it," he replied in an undertone. "That run of '17'
might happen--yes. But it is improbable. They let me win because I was
a new player--new players always win at first. It is proverbial, but
the man who is running this game has made it look like a platitude. To
satisfy myself on that point I am going to play again--until I have lost
my winnings and am just square with the game. When I reach the point
that I am convinced that some crooked work is going on I am going to try
a little experiment, Walter. I want you to stand close to me so that no
one can see what I am doing. Do just as I will indicate to you."

The gambling-room was now fast filling up with the first of the theatre
crowd. DeLong's table was the centre of attraction, owing to the high
play. A group of young men of his set were commiserating with him on his
luck and discussing it with the finished air of roues of double their
ages. He was doggedly following his system.

Kennedy and I approached.

"Ah, here is the philosophical stranger again;" DeLong exclaimed,
catching sight of Kennedy. "Perhaps he can enlighten us on how to win at
roulette by playing his own system."

"Au contrarie, monsieur, let me demonstrate how to lose," answered Craig
with a smile