The sun., 1909-05-30
AMATEUR CARD .SHARPERS
CASES SOCIETY DISPOSES OF
WITHOUT SCANDAL.

Methods by which Unfair Players Are
Detected in Clubs and Private Houses
Experts Who Are Called In When
Too Much Luck Excttes Suspicion
Every now and then one hears the echo
OF some rumor about some person or
persons suspected OF using unfair methods
at the card table. Sometimes 1t is moth
ing but q question which Is asked here and
there: Did you ever notice anything 6
peculiar about their play?" or else II is,
sHow is it that Mrs. Hoosit always has
such luck at bridge?"
Sometimes 1t is a remark made in strict
confidence to the effect that 1t is certainly
peculiar that Mr.. and Mrs. O'Trigger
always insist on playing as partners and
that they almost invariably win. Some
times 1t is o direct accusation that GER
tain couple use private signals: but
there is another side to the matter OF which
less Is heard than Of the rumors
1t Is well known that the big stores en-
ploy detectives to watch their counters,
It is a matter Of common knowledge that
many hostesses in New York employ
private detectives. who are apparently
guests. TO guard the interests OF those
they entertain as we'll as their own silver
ware. whenever they give an entertain
ment which brings together so large a
number OF people that unbidden guests
might slip in among the rest.
1t is not so generally known that the
managing directors Of clubs in which
cards are played for high stakes some
times call in the services OF experts in
advantage PLAYING il they suspect any
thing wrong in the card room. Many
women in New York who, give bridge
parties also know where to hnd men who
are thoroughly informed on everv trick
Of the card sharpers trade and who can
be introduced as guests and mix freely
With the others without exciting any
suspicion that they are there simply for
the purpose OF watching some person
who Is under suspicion.
There are two men in particular in New
York who make business of safeguard
ing the interests of honest card players
in the clubs and elsewhere. One of them
is man well known In his way Of business,
who would never be suspected Of knowing
as much as he does Of the card sharper's
tricks. About the last thing that any one
would suspect on meeting him at club
or in a private house would be that he
was there for the purpose Of ferreting
out card sharper from among the guests.
The other man is professional gambler
a man Of fine appearance and polished
manners, but who must always be pre-
eented under a false name.
Many Of the men and women who are
in the habit OF practising some little ad-
vantage at the card table. confidently
imagining that no one ever suspects
them. have been marked down by one
or other Of these two men and are on the
blacklist of more than one hostess and
club manager. No one accuses them; no
one says anything to them. Those in
the know avoid them; that is all.
If any of these amateur sharpers who
have been working their tricks success
fully and without apparent discovery have
remarked that they are not invited to
houses they were once welcome to or
that certain people seem to avoid cutting
into the same table with them at bridge
parties where the play is for stakes it is
more than probable that they have been
watched and marked when they least
suspected it and that their methods have
been carefully noted in writing for future
reference. There are men and women
who pay for this information about their
acquaintances but keep it to themselves,
not even a smile betraying the fact that
the little game Of the sharper is no secret
to them.
GENTLE HINTS.
Upon occasion Of course the temptation
b too much for the man who sees himself
being rocked in the most clumsy manner
by some person whom he has been warned
against. Not long ago such man, who
may be called Mr.. Cornley, found himself
at the bridge table with couple whom
he had never met before but whom he had
been privately warned against, although
they moved freely on the fringe of society
Keeping his eyes open, Mr.. Cornley
observed the little trick that was played
on one of the amateur sharper's deals
Instead of making any remark or pro-
test he put forth his hand under the table
very gently and tickled, the card sharper
on the knee.
In answer to the look of astonishment
and reproof which he received Mr.. Corn
ley smiled sweetly and looked his man
squarely in the eve. When the rubber
was finished Mr.. Cornley regretted ex-
tremely that bis adversaries found it
necessary to go home 80 early, but his
smile had lost none of its sweetness.
A certain hostess in New York was
quietly informed that one of her guests
was in the habit of dealing in a peculiar
way. Seating herself at the same table
With the suspected woman. the hostess
watched her closely when she dealt,
and then this brief colloquy ensucd;
Didn't you drop card. my dear?'
asked the hostess.
why. no. think not looking on the
door,
Then perhaps you took card that did
not belong to your with smile of ravish-
ng Sweetness.
Why. no. How could II"
Then the deal is perfectly regular is
IT, and the hostess smiled again while the
dealer turned crimson. She probably
went home not quite sure what those
questions really meant; but guilty con-
science can safely be left to work out its
own conclusions.
CASE AT A CLUB.
The manner in which those who make
business of detecting amateur card