Arthur took a deep breath. "How will I reach you?"
"I'll look you up at the university--you'll be there, adding to the
body of scientific knowledge."
"I suppose so," Arthur said. "Trying anyway."
"Good old Art, slow and steady wins the race."
They had a couple of steaks, split a Caesar salad, and drank wine while
they talked about old times and the state of the world. Penn explained
craps and convinced Arthur to try his luck. People who play with me get
the rolls, he told Arthur. They bought two hundred dollars worth of
chips. Penn insisted that Arthur place the bet, but they waited until
the dice were passed to a middle-aged blonde. "She's lucky," Penn said.
The dice skittered and rolled to a seven. Loud cheers. Arthur was forty
dollars richer. They played for nearly an hour. Arthur was instructed
to bet lightly unless Lucky was throwing. He was six hundred dollars
ahead when the food and drink and the long day began to get to him.
"Time to turn in," he told Penn.
"Where you staying?"
"Harrah's."
"How about coffee in the morning?" They arranged to meet in the caf? at
ten.
"Here," Arthur handed Penn his chips. "A stake."
"Right on. What do you say, Lucky, want to look around a little?" Lucky
shrugged agreeably and Penn put his arm around her shoulders. "You get
half the winnings in the morning," he said to Arthur.
"No need," Arthur said. "It's on the house."
"No, no.
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