CHAPTER XLVIII 



NEW YORK TO CHICAGO 



Gambling de Luxe — The Bath Luxury — Down the Harbour — Racing 

 missed — Arrival of Lord Queensberry — Our Journalistic Partner- 

 ship — Trying Me Out 



The runners of the various gambling clubs were fre- 

 quently in the offing, and sometimes they " copped " 

 a mug, but occasionally found a " lifter" — i.e. a man 

 with wonderful luck. All those I went to were 

 straight. They would put the electric light up for one 

 punter and open the safe to give him his notes if he 

 won, or hand him a certain number of chips if he 

 wanted them. It was too extraordinary. One after- 

 jioon I was with a very young man who had lost a 

 hundred dollars (twenty pounds) playing Pinochle, 

 and in a cafe I had lost a bit, too, backing him. He 

 said that he must get it back, and we went next door, 

 to where a " wheel game " (roulette) could be had. All 

 the place was illuminated in a moment ; the best 

 drink and cigars brought out, and the punting started. 

 I left it to the boy. In five minutes he had won seven 

 hundred dollars (one hundred and forty pounds), and 

 he stopped. Honour was satisfied and he left off at 

 the right moment ; we both went home gay. But 

 imagine it, you who run systems at Monte Carlo 

 and elsewhere, staying in the rooms for hours 

 together. Picture just a quick five minutes with 

 a perfect installation for one punter — who brought 

 it off! 



Raids there were innumerable, but the singular 

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