The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-14
PLAYED "sTRIPPERs" ON HIM.
A Card Sharper Suffers for Tryinr I'm OF
Trlrlt ON n Navy 1.ari. ias...,,....-

4 Cord Sharper Suffers for Trying an Old
Tricis ON New York Drummer.
G"No, sircc," exclaimed ry friend
"Bnck," who is n travelling salesman for
large broadway importing house, says
n writer in the New York Herald, you
don't often catch us drummcrs asleep.
Wc'ro widc-awalsc to the tricks of most
all trades, can tell YOU
The last time Il sharper tried to
down me was at Cleveland, O., few
weeks ago. lie tried to worl, tho
'strippcr' racket Oh me. was seated
In my room carly ono evening, when y
little terrier dog ran in through tho
open door and began smiling about.
Pretty soon n wcll-tlrcsscd young fell
low appeared Mt the door, and, apollo
gizing for the intrusion, asked if hud
seen stray dog anywhere around.
'Ah! there you are, said he, espy-
ing the canine, always running away
from me Into other peoples rooms he
explained. AS might be expected, ono
word led to another, and very soon w-o
were engaged In general conversation.
The talk driftcd to cards and then tho
stranger produced pack He had Just
learned new trick which he would
show me.
Now take IL card and look ut IT.
said he. did MS directed, selecting tho
ace of clubs. Now put 1t back no
said, handing me the pack. lie then
requested me to shuttle the cards wcll,
which did He then took the pack.
There is your card he said no
once, producing the ace of clubs. Very
good, said I, but l don't think you
could do it again then called his
attention to picture in the room while
hurriedly examined the pack. No.
said I, L don't think you could do il
again; not for twenty dollars
iii see YOU said he, producing tho
money. All right said /, and the bet
was made. l then selected Il ca,i-tho
ace OF spades lie handed me the pack,
requesting me to replace the card and
shuttle them as much as plcnsed
Now, can handle tho pastcboartis
myself; while l was shuffling l just
fixed the cards on the sharper SO that he
couldn't tell one card from another.
There said I, handing him the pack,
where's my carl2'
lie took the pack with smile of
confidence and began to run his fingers
over the edges. Then he began TO look
a trihe nervous. Come said I, pro
duce the card or take your money
well, sir, after he had fumblcd over
the pack for a few minutes just pocls-
cted his twenty dollars. Now, 500
here l said to him, you've been trying
to play shippers on me, haven't you"
"lc never said word for about
two minutes lie then rose to leave
the room. Say said he us he was
about TO leave, you're New York
drummer for another twenty I'm not
making anymore bets said l. Il knew
it, he remarked us he left the room
'Strippors" Why, that's pack OF
cards made slightly narrower on one
end than the other. An almost imper>
coptible difference, yet enough to be
distinguished by the touch. When you
select a card the shnrpcr hands you the
pack so that you replace 1t upside down,
the broad end among the narrow ones
500? He can then snake it out with
out any trouble. It's neat trick and
hard to detect unless you have boon in
itiatcd
"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
l was shutting l quietly turned it
around SO that the ends were nil alike
did 1t cost rnc anything to learn thnt
tricky Wtll-but I'm not giving my
self away. got twenty dollars OF. Of
it back, at any rate"