Every day she bet on some “row” or series of “rows,” rarely venturing less than five dollars, and sometimes, when she felt more than usually confident, laying down a twenty-dollar bill, for the “hit” when made gave from fifty to two hundred dollars for each dollar put down, varying according to the nature of the combinations.  So the more faith a policy buyer had in his “row,” the larger the venture he would feel inclined to make.

Usually it went all one way with the infatuated lady.  Day after day she ventured, and day after day she lost, until from hundreds the sums she was spending had aggregated themselves into thousands.  She changed from one policy-shop to another, hoping for better luck.  It was her business to find them out, and this she was able to do by questioning some of those whom she met at the shops.  One of these was in a building on a principal street, the second story of which was occupied by a milliner.  It was visited mostly by ladies, who could pass in from the street, no one suspecting their errand.  Another was in the attic of a house in which were many offices and places of business, with people going in and coming out all the while, none but the initiated being in the secret; while another was to be found in the rear of a photograph gallery.  Every day and often twice a day, as punctually as any man of business, did this lady make her calls at one and another of these policy-offices to get the drawings or make new ventures.  At remote intervals she would make a “hit;” once she drew twenty dollars, and once fifty.  But for these small gains she had paid thousands of dollars.

After a “hit” the betting on numbers would be bolder.  Once she selected what was known as a “lucky row,” and determined to double on it until it came out a prize.  She began by putting down fifty cents.  On the next day she put down a dollar upon the same combination, losing, of course, Two dollars were ventured on the next day; and so she went on doubling, until, in her desperate infatuation, she doubled for the ninth time, putting down two hundred and fifty-six dollars.

If successful now, she would draw over twenty-five thousand dollars.  There was no sleep for the poor lady during the night that followed.  She walked the floor of her chamber in a state of intense nervous excitement, sometimes in a condition of high hope and confidence and sometimes haunted by demons of despair.  She sold five shares of stock on which she had been receiving an annual dividend of ten per cent., in order to get funds for this desperate gambling venture, in which over five hundred dollars had now been absorbed.

Pale and nervous, she made her appearance at the breakfast-table on the next morning, unable to take a mouthful of food.  It was in vain that her anxious daughters urged her to eat.