The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-25
SIGN POKER PLAYING.
How Cork Leg Bent Three Aces-A
Community Where They cnt Cards
to Save n Good Hand.


Mid0letown. New. York. correspond
ence: Eve played In some pretty slick
poker games" said 4 weii-khown local
poker sharp last night. "but never ran
against such downright. mean luck as
did few days ago. I'd been against
big hands for two weeks. l ran into a
little hump-backed drummer in the no.
tel dining room. l managed 10 touch
his hump as we came out, and I felt
like a new man. We smoked cigar
together, for ! was quite willing to buy
him Perfecto under the circum-
stances. We talked about lots of
things, and finally the subject turned 10
poker. He said he didn't play much, for
there were SO many slick people In the
business that It was pretty hard for
square fellow to win.
why said he. I sat In q game last
trip in Syracuse when two fellows told
me OF 4 system they had OF pressing
feet toge,he. to give q signal OF the
worth OF each others hands. Four
pressures three Of q kind: one pressure
small pair and two pressu:es a biz
pair. Two long pressires, pause, and
then two taps, as an engine whistles for
crossing, meant I full house, and re-
versed, flush. 4 failure to respond
with tap meant II hold 4 better
hand" They claimed to have It down
TO a perfect system
The next time l dropped into the
game In the hotel who should | see
seated at the table but the humpback.
He was Intent on the game. and as his
checks were low he had n right to be.
No sign OF recognition passed between
us az the party moved up and let me
sit IL. was on his LEFT, and there were
four others In the game. Luck cont!n-
ued to run against him, and the good
fortune anticipated from having
touched his hump, failed to materallZe.
l lost 500 In four hands. Then fit of
dcvllishness seized me. I decided to do
a little slick work with the humpbacks
system II he would work In. The cards
were dealt out. and Humpg opened n 81
jackpot. | looked over my cards. I
had three beautiful aces. raised II s.,
and the others staged until the dealer
was reached, when he raised It $40, thc
limit. Humpy raised II $40. and chip
ped along on an extra $40. While the
dealer was thinking deeply over his
hand ! slid my foot over on top OF
tlumpy's and pressed three times good
and hard. He raised the dealers $40
this time without responding TO my
knock concluded we would 20
halves at the end Of the game. so
tossed my three aces outside and drop
tA.1 Ill. 4.
stopped boosting Humpy took one
card and tho dealer Just siit the top
card OFF To himself next. Humpy bet
SO and the others laid their hands
down. but the dealer called.
rive got four hearts said Humpy.
Got you beat replied the dealer.
I've got kings up
Good Lord! | glanced Mt Humpy,
but he did not look up. and left the
table disgusted.
That night met IIumpy In the BILL
Hard room and ! said to him: IT'S n
wonder you wouldn't stand by friend
In hard luck In n poker game. / knew
we could work that system on those fell
lows 10 perfection and whick up after
the game.
We'll said he. why didn't you try
Why. I did, I almost yelled. 7 had
three aces that. time, md l tapped your
foot three times.
"ilumpy thought FOR q moment, and
then broke out laughing.
! You sat m my LETT said he finally,
and this left leg OF mine Is store leG
from the knee down. thought you
knew n"
Old poker players In this city tell
good story on former well-known
merchant OF ihIs city. who died n few
years ago. This man was especially
fond of the seductive game Of draw,
and on one occasion wbIlr IN game
with four men from Goshen he picked up
his hand 10 ind four kings, nm ace and
tsn-spbt s,arlnN HIN in thu face.
They worc playing 81 1nckpots, with II
$40 limit. and he needed new stack OF
chips badly. He mentally condemned