The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-26
TRICKS OF TIE GREEN TABLE.

From the st. Paul Pioneer Press.
Paper men," explained vetera n pa
per player, are men who make spe-
cialty OF reading cards. They have q
system OF fixing the backs of the cards
So they can tell all the aces, kings,
queens, jacks, and eventually the whole
pack, if it is used long enough. They
always have the advantage, especially
in a two-handed game, for they can tell
just what the other player holds by
looking at the backs Of mis- cards.
iii never forget the first time ! had
an experience with a paper maR.'
was IN d Denver saloon one dag, and
fat stranger with whom l had been
talking for some time suggested game
of draw poker l accepted his PROPOSE
ton. and we retired to an ante-room.
Before we had been playing long
discovered that my friend was
using pack of readers, for / had given
him few good hands, and he wouldn't
play, for. of course. he could see l had
better, so l made up my mind to fool
him. ii finally came to my deal in
pretty good Jackpot. had lost lit
1t all back with interest, so i stocked
my fat friend three aces and gave my
self three kings. After l had given
out the two hands i laid down the deck
and the top card was an ace.
Directly under it ! had the five OF
clubs and another king under that.
As soon as the man saw the ace ne
smiled, for he knew he would draw
two, four aces. He opened the pot for
small amount, and l gave it good
lift. He came back at me with anoth-
er rise, and we kept ii up until he final
~ said he had only little money left
to bet with. for he wanted little fun
after the draw. / guess he thought |
must be soft with my misera bic kings
up against him with his three and as
good as four aces.
well, he drew one, and / dealt him
a second, and gave him the five of clubs.
l took two myself and hid them, fetch.
ing in my other king and his ace.
Now said he, III bet all have and
he threw out the few remaining dollars
he possessed. covered it, and called
him i have four aces said he, as he
turned up his hand. and then, when he
saw it, he uttered an awful oath and
shouted: We'll, / be blamed if they
didn't change right before my very
eyes, l know they did said l, and
pocketed all the coin, and your paper
amt worth two cents a pound playing
me- continued |, as l left the place,
about $500 richer
Paper men have many ways of
marking cards. Some of them carry a
small machine which is attached to
their finger, and which resembles
ring. and with this they cut the backs
of the cards near the corners, so that
when they are dealing they always
have the advantage.
Hold out men are men who. when
playing, conceal cards in the palms Of
their hands. They do this very clever.
IL, sometimes dealing and handling the
deck while pal ming half dozen cards,
and then they get rid of them without
detection. For instance, one of these
fellows will sometimes hold four aces
in his hand until il comes to his age.
After the dealer has given out the cards
and laid down the deck the 'hold-out
man will put his hand down on the
deck. thereby putting his four aces on
top. and utter: Wait awhile: this should
have been my deal This is merely an
excuse TO put the four aces on top Of
the pack. After little dispute he Will
draw four cards, and as he is the first
to get cards he will pull four aces.
SIT not only requires skill to perform
these tricks, but to use them as a gam
bier man must possess a good nerve
and never get ratified. Some magicians
are very clever with cards: in fact. more
so than gambler, but they can't play
draw poker with an expert card player