The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-04

a Gambling scemo 90 she misssssspps
Ga witch wyman FTgared-Tne
RSackleg Oatwtsted.

the North aud south, were common resorts
OF commercial travellers, gamblers, planters,
and spectators. The cabin Of a crowded
steamer during the long evenings, between
ST. Louis ara New Orleans, WAS sort OF
treasnre-room for sharpers, ia which the
rich planter who possessed more money
than experience lost on be had, and some
times even bis life II be became noisy over
the loss Of the first.
GAMBLER's sLElGHT OF HAND.
II was on one Of his many journeys down
the Mississippi, when the river bore its great
tide Of human freight before the war. that
Professor wyman met Ike Walton. enc OF
the most noted gamblers in those days, and
a man who valued very much bis reputation
for honesty Ia bis trade. But many men
were victims 10 Walien's honesty. On this
particular night Walton had reached the
bottom OF bis purse and wss desperately IN
want Of money as welt as food. Hunger
tempts many men 10 crime, and Walton
found Young planter who possessed pas
sion fSr gambling aud the means 10 crafty
Il. Not daring % trust TO cards, which, II
II is said, never run In favor OF hungry men,
Walton proposed a game IN which :" SKIN
counted for nothing The game then IN
troduced was similar 10 the celebrated
! ihree-cari-monte trick, only, instead Of
cards, a small wad Of paper was used.
| Three cups were brought from the Kitchen,
and the paper bail, not larger than pea.
was piseed before Them on the table. Wal
ton turned the cups over, and be, shifting
them rapidly from place 70 place, covered
and uncovered the paper With confusing
rspidity. and finally wagered $50 that the
Young planter could not tell what cup the
/ bsI II paper was under. The wager was
/ quickly taken and as quickly lost. Inc
4 Trick was played again and sgain, unti tne
victim hsd lost all he had. The success OF
the gambler was simply 4 matter OF sleight-
of-hand. A. The small ball OF paper was
covered for The last time Walton picked II
M by pressing it under 4 iRger-nsll. The
nianier raised the cup where If should have
been and the wager was lost but the gam
bier. 10 further The deception, promptly INT
ed one Of the two remaining cups. scraping
of the ball Of paper a be did 80, leaving II Oh
the table as the cup was lifted from u.
when The planter bad done Walton asked
for newcomers 10 bet. Wyman had never
gsmbled 10 Bis hfc. but bere was az occa-
son 10 BIN which made the loss OF refusing
seem greater than the in Of accepting. Be-
sides. be believed that the Young planter
had been deceived BY deliberate itlckery.
TIE MAGlCIAS's AgT AGAINST GAMBLER.
When he had lost hundred dollars him
self be was sure OF II. - Here i the paper,
said Walton. raising one 81 the cups with 4
smile. The gambler had made 1900 within
ltbe hour. the prospect Of needed refresh
mems opened before him, and be was 10
good bumor. Although cheated 10 gam
blel'. sense. be had reSOried 10 il Win re-
luclsnce.
e. There il j. again." said he, shifting the
cups RAPIDLY before Wym1n. Now YOU
see il plainly enough, and now setting
two of the cups down with a bang you
don't" Wym8n in the mean time had toIn
q bit Of paper from newspaper, romeo il
mn comDac'Iv ike the other, and. palm
inc in" onieflv slipped il under a cup as
he raised II from the table. The most sur
= pri>ed person 10 the room was Walton ann
} self. He regarded the wizard With look
2 In which wonder and alarm were mingled.
: He could not help admirlBg TIE othCf
trick, bot 10 expose II was 10 expose hi'
own. The stake was again made ana again
lost. q il had been before.
? u never PLAYED this before" said Pro
I lessor Wvman - and il a good game u
, Won don't become too fond q IL. don
.uppose I've played 4 game for amusement
J for wears. think q little recreation IKE
, Tins Is a good thing once il WINE 10 lIa'
way. ! have the advantage OF you, WIG
cannot make q recreation OF what you 90
p as q regular business. | suppose you pay
. ltbis every day." be continued simply. as ht
] again drew the stakes from the Gamoler'
! walton Vyiped his forehead, and did not
feel that be was by any means too sccusiom
ed N the sort Of Amusement be was then IN
dergolpc. and signihed that bis capacity iol
J eni0vmcnt of that kind had rot been I'm
. paIed by Use.
, The next turn in affairs showed the Pro
fessor's consummate skill both IN observa
Z ton and practice. The gambler ID MOVING
: The cups left for the first time the ball OF pa
: nor which he had hitherto had all 10 himsel
: hinder one Of them. But Wymsn' percep
: lion had not been biuuted by success ]
Z xa. tmDossible 10 deceive him by slmph
I sletobt.6f-hand. and be promptly raised ih'
ric6l rup. keeping the sixth ball Of pape
, that he had prepared in reserve. walton
who had contemplated m exposure OF hl
adversary. was nov swed into an admlrssloi
. II his skill. The Professor soon Withdrew
from the game altogether.
HOW. NOVICE CANE TO Expose THE TRICK.
Tafer M the evening The gambler TOOK
royiee into bis care 10 retrieve me loIl IN
iba, Wvman had won. Il was The old trek
ne-forned with WalIOn's pointed hnSei
nail Wyman whispered 10 tue Nictim "
. raise one cup trst and tip over me othe
Two. and be could zee what would foiioW
! Tne mlnnuyre was successfully accom-
uli,bed. ana the indignant " lamb " pro
: claimed 10 The hundreds II spectators IDA
= h. had been deceived by rickerv. Walton
= with comparative ruiz staring MN IN 10
) lace. drew the victim aside, aud sald inat o.
, miebt have all the money on the table II u
- would withdraw the charge; i he dld no'
on tpe other hand, be would ee Killed DC
: Tore morniog. Toe lamb looked IN v anon
= despe rate gray eyes and determined 70 'aA
: III money and his life. When lbe days @
, NissiS,jpri sieamboating were over an
/ Gambling was made penal ofieIce, WaNo
! enc 70 Philadelphia ard lived alone
! number Of wears in a small apartment OF
: Ri5l,e avenue. HIS only child, a boy
: received q college educltion and the pes
! raining tbat father could bestow. Walio
q died in the spring Of 1879, and four or nv
, fgitbfuI friends followed the hearse thFousi
!. the rain 10 Laurel Hill cemetery.
Merton Not Marvin.
q rrrrr xrrgEToN OF tn