Daily inter mountain., 1900-10-10

sometimes throws to the winds, and
greediy tilches in every big coup possible
to snatch by fair means or foul.
To detect a suspected cheat at card
playing, it should first of all be ascer-
tanned if there is any suspicion of a con-
federate's aiding him, by making of signs
with hands, month or eyes. This CO.
conspirator would take up a position
where the cards of the sharper's chief op-
ponents could easily be seen by the form
er. and he should also face the other
cheat.
1t is impossible here to mention all the
ingenious contrivances used by the dis
honest gambler. but l can make the
reader acquainted with those mostly in
use. Loaded dice can readily be de-
tected by comparing them in weight with
dice not tampered with.
The faxed" teetotum has movable
center pin. Pushing the pivot in slightly
one way will result in the spinner fall
ing on the sides on which are the low
numbers. increasing the length of the
center peg the other way ensures the
teetotum displaying uppermost the sides
on which are represented the lowest nS-
, ures.
The 'bester' first spins the article and
obtains the highest numbers possible to
obtain. Then. in passing it to anyone he
has marked out for victimizing. he Sc
cretly moves the pin with finger and
tnunD, CnuS eHSuTluS lue liloNlHS VI
high or low numbers as he desires
At baccarat. arranged or marked packs
of cards are frequently employed by
banker intending to sWindie his adVer-
saries. An arranged addition to the cards
already in uSe-termed portee-iS
common mode of swindling. and Will en-
able the banker to win every point. The
portee is usually added by placing the
palm of the left hand-in which it is con-
cea ed-over the pack of cards when
these are undergoing the process of
shuffling. The banker is himself liable
to be done by dishonest punter IN
endless ways.
At any ordinary game of cards-even
when played in the domestic circle-the
de fraunder can soon easily know how to
detect every card in use by it's back.
When first handling them. an impression
of his thumb. made on the glossy sur
face of the diverse side. will answer his
purpose, or a ring on his finger may be
so formed that slight punctures can be
made on the card backs when required.
MARKED CARDS.
A spring. hidden in the coat sleeve,
and working by the pressure of the elbow
on the table, will either add concealed
card to those held in the hand OF the
sharper or take one away when desired.
A disc of looking glass-abcut the size
Of a half dollar-resting on knee ANA
thus hl1Qen from sight, Will ieliSSl tAC
face of a card, temporarily held forward
as if about to be dealt in play.
All American detective agency has
among it's relics the originals of the Sc
cret contrivances once in use by an
English sharper. One night-When
on e visit to this country-this sharper
was induced to enter a certain club. On
this occasion the Englishman was out
wtted and surrounded by a crowd OF
feecers whom he had swindled ON his
various visits to other gambling houses.
He was thus compelled to pay a fair
game-probably in fear Of his life-and
permitted himself to be cheated to the
extent of about $1,000, his confederate
with whom he always worked-on this
event actually also winning portion of
the money. The latter invited his fellow
swindler to dine with him next day,
when the co-cheat was accused Of betray-
ing his chief and then received three
bullets in his body. and the card-sharper
went to penal servitude. for long term.
but a few months after his first visit to
these shores.