Experiment in Crime Read Online Free Page A

that (for example) in future years one may warn one's classes, with a little personal anecdote as an illustration, against the folly of betting on the turning of a wheel. In any event, Professor Burke won. He soon noticed that some of his intent associates were waiting until he placed his bets--and following suit. He began to be embarrassed by the size of his pile of chips. He exchanged some for what he called "counters?' of a higher denomination. He thought up numbers--
    and then deliberately bet on others, with the firm intention of defeating himself.

    He did not know how long he stood there. An hour, perhaps. It might have been two. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned shamefacedly. It was Miss Maxson again.

    "You're doing peachy, Professor!"

    "I'm mortified."

    "Mortified? Why, for heaven's sake?"

    "I can't seem to stop this winning streak."

    "Can't stop it!"

    "Naturally--it's out of the question for me to make a profit on a venture of this sort. In my position. You can see that."

    Miss Maxson picked up some of his chips. "Give us blues," she said to the croupier. "For the whole thing."

    The trade was made. "You'll help me--play them in?" He seemed relieved.

    "Professor, I'm going to get the money. This is your night. And it's your time to quit."

    "But the money isn't mine!"

    "It's as much yours as any money in this room is anybody's." They were attracting attention. She moved closer to him and whispered. "No fooling, Professor! Cash in the chips while you've got a lead! It's smart. The Club won't miss the money. I'm terribly glad you won. Please!"

    Groggily, he picked up the chips and walked to the window. He was paid eight hundred and eighty-six dollars. When he put the bills in his wallet, his hands shook: it was by far the largest sum of money his wallet had ever contained. It was equal to two month's salary. Gambling money, criminal money, illicit gain--and he was accepting it because Miss Maxson insisted! Because, perhaps, he was accustomed to carrying out the orders of the opposite sex to the letter. It always saved trouble--he had learned that, long ago.

    He looked up at Miss Maxson and she smiled.

    He looked back at the table and the place where he had stood had been closed up.
    They had forgotten him already--taken his departure, with his winnings, as a simple matter of course. He could not think what he was going to do. Keep the matter secret--
    obviously. His whole evening's escapade had boomeranged!

    "Buy me another drink?" She was still smiling.

    "Of course!"

    "We'll go back to the bar." They did not, however, go back to the bar. They started--and that was all.

    A man in the uniform of a police officer came suddenly from the corridor. He was not holding a gun, but he was wearing a large gun. Behind him were what seemed to the professor a platoon, at least, of police.

    The man shouted, "All right--everybody! Stop the wheels! Hold those dice! This is a raid!"

    There was silence. Then funny noises began. Women escaped. Men swore.

    Voices quickly rose up the scale. The place roared.

    The police officer held up his hands and gestured at the sounds--as if they were tangible and could be pushed. "Listen, everybody! Lissssen! All we're taking is the wheels! Before any dame faints, or any damn fool guy tries to start anything-- lisssen!
    We're not hauling you in. We're not even taking names. Just keep out of our way while we get the wheels--and then you can go quietly. I don't want any arguments"--he stopped for a man who had hurried up to him--"and I don't give a hoot how important you are!
    This is a raid. The joint is closed!"

    While this speech was being made, Professor Burke had been as aware of Miss Maxson as of the spectacular pandemonium. She had glanced--rather furtively--at her watch, when the police rushed in. It seemed an odd thing to do. Hysterical reflex, no doubt. She had grown rather pale, after that. He supposed, since she was a hostess, that she was going to be arrested.