The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-25
Hop1 Bill ,Garvis
Was Cheated.


Poker playing was an industry in the
state Of Montana when "OId Bill" Jarvis
used to "sft In" and begin his storytell-
Ing while he deftly shifted the cut" Bill
had been "all over" and was reckoned
about as strong at the game as the best
of them. Bill could shift the CUT so
deity that even postmaster would find
it difficult to nip him in the act-and Bill
made 1T so pleasant for the others in the
game with his choice yarns that he was
popular. despite his known tendency to
take the best Of 1t whenever opportunity
offered. Whenever 1t was Bill Jarvis deal
every man in the jack pot kept his wealth
er eye open, but Bill would ''shift the
cut" just the same.
One evening out in Butte. during q little
game of draw in which Jarvis was con-
testant, stranger in the game saw, or
thought he saw, a false move on the part
of Bill while dealing, and he asked the
privilege of cutting the cards." Bill
promptly showed the pasteboards over to
the suspicious Individual, who gave them
cut and passed them back.
All right now?' asked BILL
80, yes, 1 guess so,' responded the
stranger, smilingly.
Well" continued Bill, ''that reminds
me of a little story. An old friend of
mine was playing in a game, while his
little son looked on. There was fellow
in the game who was suspicious Of my
friend, and he persisted in cutting the
cards whenever he dealt Finally the
boy-a bright little lad he was, said:
Say, pop; why does that man always cut
the cards on you. You shift them right
back on him. And that is what I did
with you," said Bill
And he did, for his confederate in the
game came out with an ace full, and won
the jack pot.
Bill Travelled all over Montana with a
cuff man, and raked in q big roll of
money. Finally one day he got into a
game without his pal. He lost steadily.
There was a full hand out every time
Bill made big bet Bill grew sus-
picious. He kept his eyes glued on the
dealer, but never got line until he was
nearly broke. when one Of the players
raised" Bill, drew three cards. and
showed down full hand. Bill got up
and walked out of the room. He mo-
toned for one of the men in the game
to follow him. When they were out OF
the hearing Of the others he said:
Say, don't tell on me, but I'm on. And
say, my cuff man Ia Ill., and I want
you"
Bills guess was a good one. He had
been cheated at the very trick he had
so often played on others.
1t is related out in Montana that: Bill
Jarvis played scurvy trick on the
boys with marked cards. He went into
town where there was but one poker
room and bought up all the cards in the
village drug store. informing the pro-
prietor that he intended to start an OPP
position game. Bill took the gross Of
pasteboards over to his room, marked
them repasted the packages and then
took them back to the drug store, tell
ing the man he had originally bought
them from that he had been bought off
and had decided not to start up his
game.
"And I've no use for these cards. now
said Bill. What will you give me for
them?" - -
The drug man bought the lot back for
a song, and sold them at a discount to
the only poker room in the town. Bill
"sat in and cleaned that game. He
could read the cards from the backs as
rapidly as could the others with the face
toward them.