The state herald., 1890-01-17
nERRmANN.s POKER STORY,
A Mighty Uncertain Game Even
for a Master Of the Cards.

TOR master OF tno Cards.
II never plny Gu ds In oarnest," said
Hermann after the show one night.
Those who know me wouldn't play
with me anyhow, and. Of course,
wouldn't take any advantage OF those
who don't. But remember one night,
not a thousand years ago. thnt in
order to amusc a few friends. l sat
down TO quiet little game OF poker.
You see, It was this way; met the
friends, and was introduced to IN in-
nocent-looking youth Of tho dudc per-
suasion. whose face was as vacant in
expression as u pound Of putty. This
youth had been Dragging Of his powers
us poker player. md Ind made tho
othcrs SO tired that they whispered me
to take tho conceit ont of him for the
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 in
-. We'll, when we began the game
l allowed the heyoungster to win in order
to get him Interested. and. the better
to enjoy the circus. tho others dropped
out and my victim and had tho table
to ourselves. or course was to give
him back whatever won from him
that was understood. We didn't play
with chips. as we had mono. but made
the game quarter ante mud u dollar
limit, SO that we could use tho money
without making any awkward change.
Every time my callow friend won a pot
he put tho silver and bills in his pocl,-
ct and would chip in the stuff US he
needed it. After he had won re-
spectacle pile began to get my work
In. nnd by handling aud dealing the
cards in my own particular way soon
had his pile in fair way to innocuous
desuetede. Occasionally would let
him win, just to keep tho fun up, and
don't know but what enjoyed my
opponents innocence rs much as did
my friends. But all things must have
an end. Finally | cleaned him out,
much to his surprise, and ordered IL
bottle. My friend couldn't keep it In
any longer.
II say, old man." said ono, do you
know who you've been plnvin' with?n
Yes" replied my victim. calmly;
'lIerrmann. tho magician. and he's
good player"
This was somewhat OF surprise all
around. But laughed and handed
him back tho money had won. lie
wouldn't take II. No, sir. Said | had
won II: mad he won mino ho would
have kept ii. ami under no considcra-
tion would he take IL back. That was
not his way OF playing poker. II was
no use for me to protest TO tell him
that l had deliberately robbed him.
He was sorry that he had got In with
a man who didn't play n square game.
but that it was his lookout lie ought
to have seen that he was being ileeccd.
but as he had been ileeccd aud with his
eyes open, too, he was not the man 10
squcal. l 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 dignificd bow he left u.s.
IAN ! can do said TO one Of
my friends. will be to give this money
10 some charitable institution
Then gave the waiter one OF the
bills had won 10 pay for tho wine.
lie came back with it. and tho informn-
tion that IL was counterfeit Yes. sir.
That guilelcss youth had won my
good money and wrung in over hun
drcd dollars worth of paper on me
that wasn't worth cent pound.
I'm pretty good on handling cards. but
poker is u mighty uncertain game
mighty unrertnin