Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-02-19
HERRMdNN's POKER STORT.
4 Mighty Uncertain Game Even for One
who II Master of the Cards.

w
Il never play cards in earnest, said
Hermann the other night. "Those who
know me. woudnt play with me any
how, and. of course, wouldn't take any
advantage of those who don't But re-
member one night. not "A thousand years
ago, that, in order TO amuse few
friends. ] sat down 10 quiet little game
of poker You Sc il was this way
met the friends and was introduced TO
an innocent-looking youth of the dude
persuasion. whose IA was as vacant IN
expression rs pound OF putty. lhis
youth had been Dragging of his powers as
a roker PLAYER and had male the Others
so tired that they whi,pcrcd to me TO
take the conceit ont Of him just for tile
fun there was in it, WAS ready and
we sat down.
"In Philadelphia
"Bless you. no. They don't play poker
in Philadelphia This was ill. Wen,
when we began the game | allowed the
youngster to win. in order TO get him
interested, and, the better TO enjoy the
circus. the others dropped out. and my
victim and myself had the table 10 our
selves OF course, ! was 10 give him
back whatever | won from him-that
was understood. We didn't play with
chips, as we had none. but made the
game quarter ante and dollar limit,
SO that we could use money without
making any awkward change. Every
time my callow friend won pot he put
the silver and bills in his pocket and
would chip in the stuff as he needed II.
After he had won a respectable pile be-
gan to get my work in, and by handling
and dealing the cards in my own pecul-
lar way soon bad his pile in "A fair way
to innocuous desuetude. Occasionally j
would let him win, just to keep the fun
up. and don't know but what ] en-
ioyed my opponents innocence as much
as did my friends. But all things must
have an end Finally ! cleaned him out,
much to his surprise. and ordered bot
tie. Ny friends couldn't keep it in any
longer.
L say, old man. said one, do you
know who you've been playin' WITH
~'Yes," replied my victim, calmly: :
Herman, the magician, and he's good
player This was somewhat Of sur
prise all round. Bat j laughed and
handed him back the money had won.
He wouldn't take it, No, sir. Said j
had won il ; had he won mine he would
have kept il, and under no consideration
would ne take it back. That was not his
way Of playing poker. II was no use
for me 10 protest, to tell him that ] had
deliberately robbed him. lie was sorry
that be had got in with a man who did
not play square game, but that IT was
his lookout He ought 10 have seen that
he was being feeced, but as he had been
fleeced and with his eyes open, too, he
was not the man TO squeal. | tell you !
felt mean. didn't think II half so funny
then as ] did before. But all could do
or say made no impression on my victim,
and with digniiied bow he left us.
"'All can do j said 10 one Of my
friends, will be TO give this money 10
some charitable institution.
Then / gave the waiter one Of the
bills had won to pay for the wine. He
came back with it, and the information
that it was a counterfeit. Yes. sir. That
guiIeless youth had won my goodmoney
and rungin oyera a hundred dollars worth
Of paper on me that wasn't worth cent
pound. I'm pretty good on handling
cards, but poker Is mighty uncertain
game-mighty uncertain