The Man Who Harnessed the Laws of Chance
Written by
E. Phillips Oppenheim
Copyright 1935
First published in The Strand Magazine Aug. 1934 and 1st of 4 stories in the series General Besserley Intervenes. 3rd story in the collection .
Seated at a cafe's table, Besserley has been interested for several days in an odd couple outside the Casino. An elderly man sits on a bench giving numbers to a young girl who heads inside. What really fascinates him, though, comes when he learns that while the numbers seem to be winners, she is reporting losses.