Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-09
JUST A LESSON IN PALMING.
Prof. Herman Shows How Easy It Il to
Cheat at Baccarat.

From the New York World
1t was a little lesson Prof. Herman was Civ:
ing in baccarat Baron de Psrdonnet's charge
that he was robbed at Phil Days Long Branch
gambling house brought the subject up, and
one of the party had ridiculed the idea.
at is nonsense" said he; show could he
have been robbed If he had kept his eyes open2"
''Baccarat is the gamblers delight" replied
the professor. "It is tempting fate to offer TO
play II with an expert. You do not believe me?
Very well. Send for pack OF cards."
Presently the cards were brought in. They
had been purchased at Q neighboring store and
the seal OF the package in which they were
wrapped had not been cut A minute exami-
nation showed that the cards had never been
used and were not marked They were the
ordinary ''sngel backs" superfne quality.
First" said the professor, and his long,
supple fingers closed about the pack will
say that not only is it easier to cheat at bacca-
rat than at any other game Of cards where
money Is bet, but the easiest way to cheat at
baccarat is by 'palming.' By 'palming' mean
concealing cards in the palm OF the hand A
big hand Is not necessary. On the contrary,
1t excites suspicion. A natural palmer is born.
The fingers must be wide, capable Of expan-
sion or contraction in the highest possible de-
gree. frm steady and as tenacious steel.
But let us deal baccarat. / will represent the
dealer and you gentlemen the players. Will
you kindly shuttle the cards?"
The professor handed the pack TO one Of the
gentlemen, who shufied industriously. The
professor threw the cards around to each Of
the players All had picture cards, which count
nothing. The professor had nine-spot, the
most valuable card in the game, and he raked
down his imaginary winnings.
''Will some one kindly count the cards?" in
quires the professor blandly q moment later
They were counted and found to be seven short
The profe -sor blandly unfolds his hand which
had been lying carelessly on his knee, and
there, snugly resting in the palm, were the
seven missing cards. Six were pictures for the
others; one was nine-spot for himself.
When you lay the pack down pick it up
in this hand said he, land, of course, it is
simply a matter Of dealing to hand them
around"
1t was marvellous how he did manipulate
those cards. He could fish the winning nine
spot from the bottom, from the top, from the
side. The card seemed animate The profess
sor, meanwhile, kept up q running converse
ton. Gamblers talk about palming. BAIL
They are bunglers, wood-choppers They use
a meat-axe where they ought to use surgeons
most delicate instrument. Now. will show
you trick. Will you kindly pick up num-
Der of cards from the pack?" The gentleman
addressed, who sat at the opposite side of the
table, took up number at random
There are eleven there" said the professor
Wnen HIS trained eve rested on them, but to
make sure they were counted There were ex-
actly eleven.
CLASP them tightly between both your
hands, said the professor. This was done
Now continued the professor, "call for any
number you please to be taken from the pack.
The gentleman named five, which were laid be-
meath the pack crosswise, SO they could be
easily seen. The group were now standing up
the professor on one side of the table, IKE gem
tleman with the eleven cards tightly clasped
between his hands on the other. and the five
cards resting crosswise beneath the pack in
the center III plain view of all.
Now open your hands" said the professor
sharply, land count your cards.
There were sixteen! Some one looked for
the five beneath the pack. They were gone
How did you do that?" asked one of the
party.
'Ah. my friend" said the professor, while
his mephistophelian mustache went up, lit is
just little lesson in palming'