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When we last left Mr. Snow he was preparing to go to dinner and then down to the casino. We pick up the story in the Casino restaurant:

Dinner was superb. Nick enjoyed the tender sweetness of the fillet Mignon, the avocado salad was pure heaven. Humphries had enjoyed Trout Almandine and a green salad and now they were both awaiting a dessert that they had never had. The description read “Try the chocolate raspberry Decadence, a flour-less chocolate raspberry cake served on top of two Florentine cookies and filled with raspberry mousse. The dome-shaped cake is rich and fudgy, while the lattice cookies and fluffy raspberry mousse are gentle by comparison.” Nick took a good healthy drink of water to cleanse his palate and leaning back in his chair, looked at Humphries. “What, no harsh words about my evening attire, Humphries?” Humphries, himself dressed in a smaller version of Nick’s tux, had the good grace to blush. Looking at his employer, dressed in a very classy black tux, the cummerbund a deep rose yellow and the tie the same color, Humphries looked appropriately impressed.

“You look quite dashing, sir. I’m sure Mrs. Snow would approve.” Nick laughed to himself, and the look on his face was blatant, causing Humphries to flush red. “Ahemmm,” he said, clearing his throat, “I believe dessert is arriving.” Dessert had indeed arrived and lived up to the high praise on the menu. Not the simple fare of milk and cookies he had become accustomed to, it was pure heart attack on a plate. Finishing up, Humphries took care of the bill while Nick excused himself and started towards the casino and the roulette wheel.

The chip was so hot it nearly burned Nick’s hand. He place the chip on 20 red and stood back as the Croupier valued the chip at 1000 dollars. He watched in fascination as the ball went one way and the wheel the other. It began to slow and the ball landed in 10 black then hopped out, jumped around trying to find a stopping point and landed on 20 red. “Well done sir,” said the Croupier and he pushed a pile of chips in front of Nick. “Let it ride,” said Nick softly.

As the earned chips piled up in front of him, Humphries would remove half the stacks and take them to the window to be cashed in. He had all the paperwork he needed in the briefcase. In several hours, the play went on and the eyes in the sky were trying to figure out how the well dressed gentleman at the roulette table was cheating. Nick had managed to amass over a half million dollars. He had attracted a crowd and people were muttering amongst themselves and wondering why the Man in Charge hadn’t shut the table down. Finally, at one Million dollars, he did just that. Mr. Big wanted his people to talk to this wizard of the roulette wheel but when they turned to talk to him, they discovered that Nick Snow was nowhere to be found.

Nick tucked the now cooling chip into his breast pocket and then tucked the silk kerchief back in the pocket. Humphries had gone up to the room and packed their bags. He stood at the waiting taxi, door open and nodded to Nick as he stooped to get in the back seat. “All taken care of Mr. Snow, ” Humphries smiled.

“Excellent, Humphries, excellent.” He gave the cabby an address out near the airport and they were off. “How much did we make, Humphries?” Nick asked.

Well over a million, sir. We’re well in the black and there should be no problems with supply this year or the next. We’ve done well, and the orders are in and they only await our return.”

The cabby pulled into an alleyway, let the two gentlemen out and was pleased with the hefty tip he had received. He tried hard not to stare at the little gentleman’s ears. They had a Mr. Spock look, sharply pointed. Funny, he didn’t remember them being that way when they had entered the cab. “Thank you sirs, this tip will come in handy, this time of year. I was wondering what I was going to do about my kids. Christmas seems to get tighter every year.”

Nick cocked his head and smiled warmly at the driver. “Don’t you worry, John. Their wishes will be taken into account. I can promise you that.” For some reason John the cabby didn’t wonder how the handsome older gentleman had known his name. He thought he already knew. He turned back to the wheel and as he drove off heard the bells of a sleigh. And he smiled.

— Sandi McBride is a resident of Jefferson, who blogs regularly and enjoys her garden and her furry and feathered friends. She is a wife and mother of two sons.