Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-09
GAMBLING By TELEPHONE.

A Man I'm ROchester who Made . Bet
ON . al Game in New York.
New York Sun.
did you ever hear of gambling by
telephone?' asked a sporting man at an
uptown hotel the other night. The in
ventor Sc far as | know was a German
comedian who may be called Dick.
About Six months ago Dick was act
ing in Rochester. He is fond of gamb-
ling, and his favorite pastime is faro.
One night after the show he asked a
friend if there were any games open
in the town. The friend declared that
every game was closed so far as he
knew. Then Dick, turning to one of his
companions, said:
Jack. / feel lucky tonight, and I'd
like to get a bet down some way or
other. This town is slow. and without
some excitement life is not worth liv-
ing. want to play taro."
but what are you going to do?"
asked his friend. All the joints are
closed, and l don't know of any place
where we could invest any money
'tDick pondered q moment. Abruptly
as il struck by an idea, he said:
1--we got it, Jack. I'm going to
bet if have TO lose a leg doing So
Jack was puzzled, but said moth
ing.
Where is the telephone?' said Dick
excitedly.' I'm going to phone to a
New York house where a gam is in
session at this very moment
Saying this, he left the room and
went to the phone. The instrument
was Of the automatic kind, and first
dropping $1.75 in the slot. Dick called
up a well-known New York gambling
house. In a few minutes Dick got a re-
ply. Then the following conversation
ensued:
"Dick-Is this Mr.. Blank?
"Voice-No, it's the colored steward.
"Dick-Call Mr.. Blank. Tell him
I'm Dick -, and I want to talk to
him.
Gin a few minutes Mr.. Blank came to
the phone, and Dick continued: How
dye do, Mr.. Blank? This is Dick -
and I'm in Rochester. Is there a game
on tonight?
"Voice-Yes.
'Dick-fWell, as soon as you come to
the last turn, let me know.
Dick, when in New York, always
%patronized the game, and was consid-
cred a good customer. and could al
ways have a marker for any amount.
Mr.. Blank-The last turn is now
IN. I've told the dealer to wait for
you.
'Dick-What is it?
rMr. Blank-The nine, the trey and
the six.
"Dick-Place $50 for me on the trey
to win; $50 on the nine coppered; $50
on the high card and $50 to call the
turn.
'Dick waited patiently, and in a jify
Mr.. Blank said: Dick, you're a lucky
dog. You've won every bet, and l owe
you $3.50 Then he rang off.
1.-THE comedian was all smiles when
he returned to his friends. He told his
friends what he had done, and 1t was
hard to make them believe what he said
was the truth. When he came to New
York again he convinced them that he
was moi joshing, and treated all hands
to several quart bottles. When Dick
called at the gambling house the pro-
prietor handed him $3.50 in bills, and,
of course, Dick blew again.
Dick says that the experience OF
gambling by wire is a novel one, but
thinks the scheme rather precarious.
1t convinced himof one thing, and that
was that there are some honest gamb-
lers in this world. Suppose Mr.. Blank
had told him he had lost? He had
nothing hut Blanks word for 1t, and
would of course, have had to make
good. But Dick won on the level, and
got all that was coming to him"