The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-24
Herrmann's Poker story.

81 never play cards in earnest.' said
Herman after the show last night.
Those who know ne wouldn't play
with me anyhow, and of course, L would
not take any advantage of those who
don'I. But / remember one night, not
thousand years ago, that in order to
amuse few friends, 1 sat down 20 a
quiet little game of poker. You see, 1t
was this way: / met the friends, and
was introduced TO an innocent-looking
youth OF the dude persuasion. whose
face was as vacant in expression as
pound of putty. This youth had been
Dragging OF his powers as q poker play
er, and had made the others SO tired that
they whispered TO me to take the con-
ceit on. OF him for the fun there was in
it. was ready. and we sat down."
I'm Phisdelphia ?''
'Blsss you. no. They don't play
poker in Philadelphia. This was in
Well. when we began the game 1 allow
ed the Youngster to win in order to get
him interested, and the better to enjoy
the circus, tbs others dropped out and
my victim and had the table to our
selves. o. course ! was to give him
back whatever 1 won from him-that
was understood. We didn't play with
chips, as We had none, but made the
game 3 quarter ante and dollar limit.
so that we could use the money without
making any awkward change. Every
time my callow friend won pot be put
the silver and bills In his pocket and
would chip in the stuff as he needed It.
After he had won respectable pile 1
began 10 get my work in, and by hand
ling and dealing the cards in my own
peculiar way / soon had his pile in
| fair way 10 innocueus desuetude. Oc-
casionally would let him win just to
keep the fun up, and don't know but
what 1 enjoyed my opponents innocence
as much as 1 did my friends. But all
things must have al end. Finally !
cleaned him out much to his surprise.
and ordered a bottle. Ny friends could
not keep mp any longer.
know who you have been playing withrn
Yes" replied my victim calmly :;
Hermann, the magician, and he's a
good player
This was somewhat of a surprise all
round. But laughed and handed him
back the monev had won. He wouldn't
take it. No sir. Said 1 had won il :;
mad he won mine he wouId.hsve kept it,
and under no consideration would he
take 1t back. That was aot his way OF
playing poker. It was no use for me to
protest, to tell him that I had deliber-
atelv robbed him. He was sorry that
he had got in with a man who didn't
play square game, but that it was his
lookout. He ought to have seen that he
was being fiaeced, but az he had been
fieeced aud with his eyes open, too, he
was not the man TO squeal. I tell ysu
felt mean. 1 didn't think il half so
funny then as did before. Bat all I
could do or say made no impression on
my victim, and with a digniEed bow he
left US"
"All 1 can do said TO enc OF my
friends, will be to give this money to
some charitable lnstI, ution.'
Then 1 gave the waiter one OF the
hills l had won to pay for the wine.
He came back with Il. and the informa-
tion that it was a counteIfsit. Yes, sir.
That guileless youth had won my good
meney and rung in over a hundred dol
lars worth of paper on me that wasn't
worth cent pound. I'm pretty good
on handling cards, but poker is a mighty
uncertain game-mighty uncertain.