Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
CATCHING A SUCKER.
Frank Adasnss story Of How He Hooked
a GOvefnm emit Clerk.

From the Sporting Journal.
The exhibition that gave before a lot OF Con-
gressmen in the billiard room OF Wflards hotel
lasted something like an hour, and had Just con-
cluded my fnal shot, that OF defytng the laws OF
motion, or forcing the handball in three opposite
directions when the applause that followed
brought in, as 1t were, two new stars Or in other
words, at this moment two elegantly dressed gen.
tlemen came into the room in q condition that
bespoke close communion with a couple OF quarts
OF Pom. Sec. They were two Of the principal gov
eminent clerks in Washington, and had Just
returned from the races, OF which they were 81 600
ahead on the day. They were recognized by all.
The one most talkative was billiard player far
above the average, and always made speciality Of
doing strangers especially when he had q good
audience. Walking up to the table where / was
"Play billiardS?"
occasionally" said l.
"!!l play you for wet goods for the party, I"
MY capital Of o dollar and half looked to me
that moment as big as a circus tent. thought II
to make each shot 81 spinning the ball between
hs anq not play
used my fingers or toes. The game commenced.
made misses, slips and scratches, but was finally
knocked clean out, when he ordered the waiter to
bring enough wine for the party, which was three
bottles at s bottle and stu had my dollar and
commenced on the game, and said that had the
game been one hundred points instead OF fifty
would have wagered anything would have won.
This just hit the right spot, for he instantly re-
.Tll make it one hundred points for 800"
/ thought a moment, pulled out a cigar then
turning to my friend. Congressman Starkweather,
asked him aloud for match. AS he was handing
1t TO me asked him in an undertone to give me
all the money he had.
He replied In q whisper:
"Gentlemen never put up-their words CO."
but concluded to 60 slow, and commenced by
stammering, and tried to back out, but he jacketed
me into betting, as he said had offered to IL it
was hundred points. After consulting his friend,
the lat ter said:
"That's my bet, too"
Laugh1ngly replid, "An right: see am In
was twenty nine. He wanted to bet another 500,
whenI told him could not stand 1t.
snake it $50" said he.
"NO: but III bet $40 to $50"
It was taken, and his friend said, "Thats my
Iaccepted BOTH Ten minutes from the last bet
the game stood 81 to SO in his favor, when he had
the betting fever again, and offered 800 to $50.
same odds. My friend, Starkweather, kept account
or the wagers by their WISH and in footing it up
was betting $3.50 against $780, AS the game was
half over concluded to take no chances so made
draw shot RON spot to spot-gOt them on the
long rail and ran my sixty odd remaining points in
as many seconds. At its finish turned to look at
my opponent, who was leaning on his cue perfectly
dumfOunded. The roar that followed awOke him
from his revere. He walked to where was and
took me by the hand and said: ''Your name,
please" handed him my card, which read:
''Yank Adams, champion finger billiardist OF the
world. Residence immaterial."
He hesitated Il moment and asked me how long
was going to stay in the city.
"That depends, )" replied
"DOn't leave until have seen you; but first of
all let US settle accounts" and each handed me
$3.50. when the party played with asked me how
many could run. Without answering the ques-
tion walked up to the table and ran 1000 points
at the rate OF so points a minute. The applause
ra. eac9 hundred coming from tne rep
hat, size 81, would pinch my temples. 1t was ar
ranged should stay over and beat Jimmy Davis,
hold OF the affair and queered the snap, SO
packed my trunk and quietly left Tor Baltimore.