The Dickinson press., 1906-02-17
A GAMBLERS SCHEME
IT TOOK AN EXPERTS CAREFUL
STUDY TO uNMAsK IT.

Ut TOOK AN EXPERTS CAREFUL
STUDY TO uNMAsK II.
Story Of the Clever svindlins Trick
With which Sharper Flecced
London Clubmen and the Way In
Which 1t Was Exposed.
Some years ago I used frequently to
attend "at homes" in addition to CIV
ing lessons in legerdemain to ladies
as amateurs in giving exhibitions Of
their skill at evening parties, etc. Up
on n occasion, 1t wal an ''at home"
at Lady AS town house, I had given a
display Of card manipulation in addi-
ton to other sleight Of hand tricks.
After my performance l was approach
ed by one Of the gentlemen guests.
"Allow me to congratulate you, Mr..
Devant." he said, "your entertainment
has given me much pleasure. Your
card manipulation especially interested
me 1t occurs to me that with your OBJ
vious knowledge of cards and card de-
ceptions you might assist me in a per-
picking affair which has been exercis-
ing my mind for some time. If you
will be so good as to give me a few
minutes of your time l will describe
the nature of this dilemma to you. Al
low me to present my card"
Having signifed my willingness to
accord the interview requested, Sir
George L. escorted me to the conserva-
tory and said:
"Let me come to the point. While
watching your card manipulation, it
struck me that you might probably be
acquainted with some of the tricks
which are resorted to by card sharpers
and could set at rest some suspicious
Of mine concerning a certain gentle
man whose luck at cards Is prodigious.
I am strongly Of opinion that he is
nothing more or less than q profession
al sharper. This man I first encounter
ed at the B. club, of which I am a
member. He has been a frequent visi-
tor there as a guest Of a young friend
of mine, also a member, who has con-
ceived a Partially for the skillful card
player and is paying a rather high
price for the acquaintance.
1T is. not necessary that ! should
state more than that my young friend
ia a man of ample means, obstinate
to the degree Of pugnacity and not a
little self opinlonated. Although I have
tried again and again to convince him
that the luck of his acquaintance
seems too consistent to be legitimate,
he steadfastly refuses to listen to me,
declaring that he is not to be intim-
dated by a little i'll fortune. And SO
he goes on playing-and goes on pay
ing. l have watched the play closely,
but am quite unable to. detect any
trick or dodge on the part Of the sus-
pected man. l cannot, therefore, put
forward anything tangible to his detri-
ment or charge him with any offense.
Whatever his trick may be, it must be
a very clever one and of q somewhat
novel description. I have carefully ex-
amined the cards, some methods of
marking which l. have had described to
me, but have failed to trace the slight
est signs of their having been tamper-
ed with. The ordinary club cards are
used. which renders it all the more in
applicable how the fellow contrives to
work trickery with them. 1t struck
me that perhaps it might be a question
Of manipulation, but I could: not dis
cover anything beyond the ordinary
handling. It vas while In this d1lem-
ma that the idea occurred to me that
you, Mr.. Devant, might be able to
clear up the mystery. May I count
upon your assistanceY"
Certainly" I replied. Fl shall be
very pleased to render you what serv-
ice I can in the matter"
As a matter Of fact, Sir George had
piqued my curiosity, for, knowing a
good deal about card trickery, I was
eager to discover what cunning meth
cd of swindling-f any-the suspected
nan was resorting to.
do you know anything about the
mani" I asked.
every little" replied Sir George, Tex
cept that he is known as Mr.. De Lacy,
and is apparently Of French extraction,
speaking with a slight accent. Beyond
this there is much that is mysterious
about him. My friend knows nothing
Of him; he Is merely n of those cas-
ual ac~quaintances it is SO easy to make
in this cosmopolitan city Of ours"
"What games does he favor7"
"He plays most Of the gambling
games, but If he has a favorite I should
think it was solo,"
"And in the event Of my discovering
any trickery, should you make a police
matter of it,"
mo, l don't desire to do that. 1
want to unmask the fellow, expose
him there and then, convince my OBJ
stinate friend and have the sharper
kicked out of the club"
entered into the affair with zest.
An appointment was fixed up for a
certain evening, upon which I found
myself in the card room of the B. club,
bent upon creating a "scene." There
was a goodly assembly Of members
and friends, and the room presented an
animated appearance, with its groups
-