The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-20
AT THEIR OWN GAME.
How Two Card Sharps Were Clever
Iy Beaten.

Iy Beaten.
From the New Orleans Times Demo-
crat.
1.-THE strangest and most exciting in
cident l ever witnessed in all the high
play 1 had seen on the river" said
an old steamboat captain, occurred
one night during a trip we were making
to St. Louis, shortly before the break
ing out of the war. We had on board
the usual crowd of planters, merchants,
gamblers and miscellaneous travellers
from the city and every night the So
cial hall was pretty well filled with
poker tables. l was chief clerk of our
boat at the time, and on the evening
have in mind had taken a seat near
the office to have a quiet smoke, when
my attention was attracted by three
men at an adjoining table. Two of
them / knew very well. They were
professional gamblers who travelled
regularly up and down the river and
had the reputation of being as smooth
a pair of pasteboard manipulators as
could be found in the business. The
third man was a stranger to me, and /
put him down mentally as the dupe.
l never saw him after that night, but
l remember him with perfect distinct
ness. He was about six feet high,
slender, with broad shoulders, and had
a dark, lean, smooth-shaven face of
rather attractive expression. l was
little puzzled to size him up but final
ly concluded he was a merchant from
some small town in the interior. From
where l sat l could easily overhear
the conversation of the group, and,
knowing It was against our policy to
interfere, the gamblers paid no atten-
al Toll
they proposed a game of poker but
the dark man begged to be excused. He
said he seldom played the game and
did not feel in the mood, and IN spite
of all their pressing he politely but
firmly declined.
Perhaps, then, you wouldn't mind
looking on said one of the gamblers.
at last. while ] entertain my friend
here for half an hour or SOP i would
enjoy it, he replied. courteously, and
the two sharpers began to play what
would be known now as freeze out
BY that time my interest was strongly
excited, for l knew, of course, that
some scheme was afoot to fleece the
stranger. and, from prior experience,
even had a general idea of what was
coming.
Both players bet heavily continued
the captain. land one of them. who set
UlI6CllN III lIOilA VI Nilt htii n man. NeS
presently more than $500 loser. A mo-
ment later two big hands were appar-
emily dealt. At any rate there was
swift interchange of betting and rails
ing before the draw that put perhaps
$3.50 on the table. when the sharper
on the opposite side suddenly hoisted
the not 500 more At that his com
panion made gesture of chagrin. I'D
see your hundred with pleasure he
said in a tone of bitter annoyance.
but I have less than $40 in my pocket.
Holdl' he added, as II struck by an af-
ter-thought. perhaps you will allow
me to show my hand TO our friend
You may II you like said the other
indifferently. and he passed the cards
10 the stranger. who was leaning for
ward. evidently deeply interested. The
hand. as I could see. contained four
aces and "a six OF clubs. The dark
man passed them back without disar
ranging them and the gambler imme-
diately laid them face down on the ta-
bile. How would you like TO back me
and go halves on that he asked. n
your friend II willing said the strang-
er deliberately. I have no objection
said the other man, and the stranger
counted out and handed over 81 600 IN
bills. The gambler 20 whom the loan
was made threw 5000 IN the pot ! see
your bet and raise you "a hundred. he
said i see g. said the other. and
now suppose We stop this foollng and
draw cards The big hand SIN lay
face down on the table. and. without
looking 90 3d. the gambler nuFhed
afidr The card on the DRfWme right.
where hc bad apparently placed the siS
~ clubs
"a wac on oid. cheap trick. and
Anew peIfccty We'll be Was discard