The sun., 1909-05-30


which is something few society card
sharpers do.
CAUGHT WITH wHBKEY AND MoLAssEs.
Some years ago. before bridge had won
90 many players from the poker tables.
there was a prominent business man In
New York who had phenomenal luck in
the draw. Playing against old timers
as he did. they could not help remarkiug
that he filled out two pairs or made threee
oftener than was good for the rest OF the
players. "f
member Of the party happened to men
tion the matter to friend ono day and
was advised to call in the services OF MIR.
Busklrk, which he did. For some time
Buskirk could not discover what was
wrong, as tho mans shufding and deal
ing was that OF the ordinary card player,
and these society shsrps seldom resort
to anything deeper than faise shufies or
Upon examining the cards 'after the
game was fiRishod Buskirk found that all
the aces and kings were very lightly
scratched on the .corners Of the backs.
So lightly was the work done that 1t re-
quired q very delicate touch 10 discover It
and showed extraordinary work for an
amateur advantage player.
Having studied these MARKS carefully.
buskirk found that they could be seen in
certain light II one OF the, marked cards
ley on the top Of the psok. as well as felt
with the finger. The difficulty was to
prove that the suspected man marked
them or used tho marks upon them. but
the. professional was equal to the de-
mands Of the occasion. -.
Having SO arranged matters that
new pack of cards should be brought to
the table at the beginning OF the game
and that several other now packs should
be in readiness. .Buskirk asked his friend
to allow him to have a glass Of whiskey
and molasses on the table beside him,
filled so full that II would slop over a
little IL Jared.
As soon as Buskirk found the aces and
kings Of the new pack were marked he
would knock his glass OF .whiskey and
molasses slightly. just enough to spill
some more Oh the table. and then he would
get some Of his discard in tho sticky mix
ture and call for q new pack.
After repeating this two or three times
and assuring himself that he was right
about the man who was marking the
cards, which was done with the sharpened
point Of thumb nail hardened with a
certain chemical. Buskirk started his
counterplot.
The suspected man dealt and opened
a jackpot, drawing three cards. Buekirk
gave his friend the sign agreed on to
stay in and raise, observing at the sane
time that the dealer did not take the
tro,ble to look over bis draw before seeing
the first raise. .
After the second raise from Buskrk
and his friend the dealer picked up his
cards and skinned them oyer, as all
poker players will when they want time
to think a bit. HIS face Immediately
changed color and he looked 81 disccn.
certed that every one at the table re-
marked IT, Without saying a word he
threw up bis hand and said he would
pass out. .
Buskirk at once demanded to know
what the pot had been opened on and |
turned the dealer cards faoe up. revealing
pair OF kings. a deuce and two treys |
At the same time the man who had
brought Bnskirk into the gam. CARRIED !
ont his part Of the programme by holding |
his cards up TO the light and rerarkins |
with we'll feigned astonishment:
Why. these cards are marked"
-Of course they are rejoiped B,lskirk, !
instantly. Il don't know who marked |
the ao.s and kings, but marked all the |
deuces and treys.'
No ono acruaed any one Of doing any.
thing wrong, The expression on tho face |
Of the suspected man was quito sufficient
without anything being said When he |
arose from the table and excused himself !
for leaving the game 50 abruptly. never
to return. it dawned upon tho others
who were not in the secret that Tho great
mystery Of those lucky draws had been
solved.
The same exposure corres to many
men and women who fancy themselves |
secure from the possibility Of detection. |
More than one woman who moves in what |
is called good society is marked down |
for her turn when the time comes and the |
thing can BE- done quietly and grace
fully without any talk ur scandal. The |
gossip will follow Of course, but that IS
all Suits for damage are strictly for
bidden Society is it's own judge and jury
in such matters and there is no appeal
from. the verdict