The daily gazette., 1877-06-04
THREE CARD MONTE
A NICE OLD MAN WHO HANDLED
THE CARDS At. CONEY ISLAND

THE CARDS At CONEY ISLAND.
81 have lost fortune playing at three
card monte" said an old gentleman at
Coney Island, Oh Sunday aftereoon,
Ihen he erected little table in the sands
ana smiled on the crowd of young men
VINO gathered about him. Cautiously
taking three cards from his pocket the
old fellow continued: 81 am a gambler,
my friends, | do not deny that fact, but
let me add have been the most unlucky
man that ever handled a card" The
three cards brought forth were jack of
diamonds. queen of clubs and king of
hearts. Taking them in his hand and
exhibiting their faces to the crowd, the
gambler continued, 81 would be willing
10 bet that almost any person of average
intelligence would be able to direct me-"
The crowd nodded assent. The old fell
low smiled, as he addressed himself to a
man standing in front of the board, ''Now
sir, watch well my movements, and
see if you can pick out the jack of
hearts,"
The gambler threw the cards on the
board, and the man addressed placed his
finger on the one which lay in the centre
81 think you have made mistake" re-
marked the old man, placing his hand on
the card. "No," he continued, as he re-
vealed the face of the card, "You are
right, would almost have sworn that
did not throw
THE JACK OF HEARTS
there. I'll bet you a dollar that YOU
cannot discover the jack OF hearts this
time"
"Make it SIS said the man addressed
and I'm your man."
"All right" replied the gambler
pulling large roll of bills from his
pocket.
The cards were thrown and the gam
bier lost. The crowd became interested
and some of them remarked that. the
gambler allowed the other to win so that
he would bet more. "For this past year."
said the old man, stroking his gray
beard, 81 have had bad run of luck
During that time l have lost a colossal
fortune playing three card monte. 1t
must be that my fingers are growing stiff. |
Friend will double the bet."
As the stranger pocketed the gamblers |
$40, he said, "My friend, you had better
not play with me any more"
The old fellow was very angry, and he |
bernoaned his luck, "You will give an |
old man chancef" he said.
"Yes, Idbet you S20." said the other, |
"you couldn't make it fifty"
eyes, will" said the man. throwing
five crisp ten dollar bills on the table,
Again the stranger won, and the old gen.
tleman waxed very wroth. 'sGood day
sir" remarked the stranger. as he turned
to leave.
"You will give me another chance"
said the old man.
''Well yes," replied the other, "but l
DO not like to win your money"
"You might as we'll have it as some
one else," said the gambler. 81 seem
lated to lose all have. will bet you
my whole pile this time" |,
Chow much does 1t amont to?"
The old gentlemen tearfully counted
lis money, and when he had finished,
'epled, 81 have seventy-nine dol
ars."
The money was put up ON both sides,
md the crowd which had collected drew
learer the table. Several men offered to
20 halves with the lucky player, but he
efused their offer. The cards were
brown and the old man heaved a sigh |
Vhen his opponent picket out the card :
ie had bet on The stranger rolled the
ills up carefully, placed them in his pam
aloons pocket and pushing his way
through the crowd, left the scene of his !
riumph.
The crowd was beginning to disperse I
Vhen the old man said in a loud tone of '
'oice, els there any one here who will 9
'ut up twenty dollars against my gold I
vatch.' The old man placed his watch I
N the table. A couple of men offered to
AXE the bet, and the gambler picked out
young man with very red hair. Like I
he one who had preceded him, the young '
1an v
WITH THE BRILLIANT POLL
et on the jack of hearts, He lost, and t
he old man clutching the twenty dollars ii
aid, SAT last ray of sunshine has brok- 8
N through the darkness and threw it's a
cams on an unlucKy old gambler. Young n
ian do you wish to bet again?" eyes," n
aid the individual addressed, "I have n
IN dollars left" 4
The ten dollars soon found its way into =
le possession of the old gambler, and :,
hen the young man with the red hair put
p his watch and chain against thirty :.
ollars aud was again unfortunate. For
time the old man did a rushing business u
nd he had three watches and over hun
red dollars, when the man with whom
9 played first and who cleaned him out q
sturned. At this4tlme the people who u
ad witnessed the gambling were dispers- o
lg. At first the old man refused, but g.
nally consented s.
The game began and many people were Fl