The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-21
PLAYED SHIPPERS ON HIM.
A Card Sharper Suffers for Trying an Old
Trick ON "A New York Drummer.

Trick New York Drummer.
mo. stree" exclaimed my friend
Buck who is Il travelling salesman
for large Broadway importing house;
ssyou don't often catch Us drummers
asleep. We're wide awake to the
tricks of most all trades, l can tell
YOU"
The last time sharper tried 10
down me was at Cleveland, o., n few
weeks ago. He tried to work the
stripper racket on me. / was seated
in my room early one evening, when a
little terrier dog ran in through the
open door and began shifting about.
Pretty soon wel.-dressed young fell
low appeared at the door, and, apoio-
giving for the intrusion. asked if l had
seen Il stray dog anywhere around.
"tAh, there YOU are. said he. espy-
ing the canine. always running away
from me into other peoples rooms he
exclaimed. As might be expected,
one word led to another, and very
soon we were engaged in general
conversation. The talk drifted TO
cards. and then the stranger produced
a pack. He had just learned new
trick which he would show me.
Nov take a card and look at it, :"
said he. | did as directed. selecting
the ace OF clubs. Now put it back.
he said, handing me the pack. He
then requested me to shuttle the cards
well. which | did. He then took the
pack.
There is your card he said at
once, producing the ace of clubs.
Very good said l. but | don't think
YOU could do it again | then called
his attention to a picture in the room.
while hurriedly examined the pack.
No said |. / don't think you could
do it again; not for 500
."I'll see YOU said he, producing
the money. All right. said l. and the
bet was made. | then selected card
the ace of spades. He handed me
the pack requesting me to replace the
card and shuttle them as rluch as ]
pleased.
Now | can handle the pasteboards
myself SO while | was shuffiing | just
fixed the cards on the sharper so that
he couldn't tell one card from another.
There. said l. handing him the pack,
where's my cIrd?
He took the pack with smile of
confidence and began to run his fingers
over the edges. Then he began to
look trifie nervous. Come said |,
produce the card or | take your
money
We'll, sir, after he had fumblcd
over the pack for few minutes l just
pocketed his $50. Now. see here,
said to him, you've been trying to
play shippers on me, haven't you?"
He never said Il word for about
two minutes. He then rose TO leave
the room. Say said he. as he was
about TO leave, you're Il New York
drummer for another twenty I'm
not making any more bets said |. i
knew it, he remarked rs le left the
room.
"Strippcrs? Why, that's pack of
cards made slightly narrower on one
end than the other-an almost imper-
ceptible differences. yet enough TO lie
distinguished by the touch.
when you select card the sharper
hands you the pack SO that you replace
it upside down. the broad end among
the narrow ones-sec? He can then
snake it out without any trouble. It's
neat trick and hard to detect unless
you have been initiated.
OF course | knew what he was up
to when he handed me the pack. |
put the card in rs he wanted it, and
then, while | was shufiling. | quietly
turned it arou III SO that the ends were
all alike.
Did it cost me anything to learn
that trick? Well-but I'm not giving
myself away. | got $40 out of it back
at any raten-N Y. Hcraid