"Mrs. Rossiter explained that the great problem of her life had been her husband's gambling.She had begged him to keep away from the stock market and from cards, and he'd promise her that he'd stop, but then he'd slip and get caught again. The thirty thousand dollars he had lost on Wednesday about cleaned him and his wife out. It meant - oh, I've forgotten what she told me exactly: selling the home - it was mortgaged already, she said, taking thetwo girls out of school, herself perhaps having to find a position. It was a long story,I don't remember the details, but I confess that I felt very sorry for her. Taking those twogirls out of school was what I believe impressed me, I don't know why exactly. Well, at any rate, I told her that I didn't like the idea of anybody coming here and losing everything. Sentiment, if you like, but it's good business at the same time. It doesn't help an establishment like this to get a reputation that people can lose everything they have here. The result of it all was that I agreed to give her back the money which her husband had lost, but on one condition, and I made that point very clear: John Rossiter was never to enter my place again. I don't like that kind of a loser around here. If he hasn't got the money, he shouldn't play. She promised me with the tears running downher cheeks, and I gave her the money, and she make me feel like a damn fool by kissing both my hands and asking God to bless me - all that foolishness that a grateful woman feels she has to do when you do her a favor.