The sun., 1909-02-28
MINDREADER IN POKER GAME
PREVIOUSLy HE HAD SUR
PRISED GREEN AT Loo

And Green Had Framed Up an Elaborate
Plan 10 Recover His Money and Get
Even - Mississippi River Gamblers
Experience when Play Was High.
Along in the '7os one Of the famous
characters on the Mississippi boats was
gambler who went by the name Of Andy
Green and had a theory that 1t was bad
policy TO cheat man unless there was a
big pot to be made on one hand, or you
were getting the worst Of 1t and had to
break even.
Among the games which were then in
vogue was three card loo. which many
preferred to poker because Of the play
In it. although there are only three cards
In each hand and only three tricks to be
won. Andy was an expert at loo, and
usually waited until several players who
had decided to stand their hands and
failed to get any Of the three tricks had
ma de up the pool to respectable size by
eight players at the table. every man that
stands on his cards and does not win q
trick has to double the pool
Going down the river on one Of his trips
Andy got into a game Of loo which he
judged to be made up Of business men and
| planters. None of them could shuttle
cards as il he was a gambler, and Mr..
Green felt himself safe for killing before
the game was over.
He was in the end seat and on each
side OF him was a well dressed man with
the spotless linen and heavy gold watch
chains Of the South. The man on his
left was Mr.. Richardson. who had been
introduced to him as a mind reader,
whatever that might mean.
He wore his slouch hat all the time and
was continually drawing his black goatee
to a point In the hollow Of his left hand
as il he were trying to make it as sharp
as possible. This man had very little
to say. but somehow Andy Green felt
that there was something sinister about
him that made one uneasy.
Through several men having stood on
their three cards and failed to get a trick
the pool had gradually increased until
there was about $500 in it. 1t ives not
Andy's deal, but he was the first man to
say and was delighted to find the ace
and queen Of trumps in his hand. so he
declared to play.
The mind reader. on his left. passed
out. but three others came in, so that
Andy was certain Of looing one Of them
and by winning two tricks himself he
might loo two OF them and make the
next pool 500 for his own deal.
This is just what happened and Andy
took occasion to remark that clubs
seemed to be a lucky suit for trumps
and that il II came clubs agatf' he would
stand on the deuce, as he would be sure
to get trick.
The confidence with which he made
this remark about clubs being trumpe
would have been better appreciated by
the company had they known that MIR.
Green had already deposited the ace.
king and queen Of clubs upon his knee and
had a small club on the bottom OF the
pack ready to turn up for trump.
In spite Of Mr.. Green's confident tone.
the gentleman on his left remark ed. after
pulling his goatee slowly through his
hand. that he would just bet sco0 that Mr..
also bet him $500 TO 500 that he would
not win, two out Of the three tricks again,
even il he did come in.
After due hesitation and some hagglng
about the odds Andy accepted both
propositions and offered the pack to be
cut. Having got the cut safely shifted
and the fingers OF his left hand on the four
himself safe in Offering to give the gentle
man on his left a chance to hedge on his
two bets by offering to wager that IL he
came in. which Of course was still uncer-
tain. and if he should win two tricks that
he would win the third also.
Before either man looked at his cards
this proposition was finally accepted for
81 coo in addition to the other bets. and
Andy began TO have visions Of fling at
high life in Memphis.
The mind reader came into the pool
himself. and Mr. Green took advantage
Of a momentary distraction Of attention
TO raise his three cards from his knee, !
When he, as dealer, was asked the usual
question How many in?' he replied |
widow and two intending to turn over |
his three trumps and claim the pool with |
out playing for il.
But instead OF the ace. king and queen |
OF clubs he found that the three cards he !
had lifted from his knee were two small |
hearts and a diamond.
While he was still looking at them in ,
blank amazement Mr. Richardson. the |
mind reader, quietly laid down the three
high trumps and took in the pool, remark
ing at the same time: That makes it |
ten hundred dollars you owe me, Mr..
Dealer. believer"
Now 81 900 was about $500 more
than Mr.. Green had about him at that
moment and he had to put up for the next
pool. All he could do was to nod in recog-
milton OF the obligation and hand over the
cards for the next deal. Mr.. Richardson
thought he would stop after he had dealt.
as he felt little tired
BY dint Of hard work Mr.. Green man
aged to pull about $500 out Of the other
players before the game broke up and
by borrowing fifty from the barkeeper
he had just enough to settle up with the
mind reader. whose touch had been deli
cate enough TO lift those three trumps
from Andy's knee and replace them with
much as the air above the nap Of Mr..
Green's trousers. That might be mind
but II struck Mr. Green as much
more like sleight Of hand.
day or two after the boat landed its
in Memphis Andy learned
from his friends that Mr. Richardson
had drfted into one Of the big poker
games in town and was acquitting him
self very creditably
We haven't quite made up our minds
vet" one Of them remarked, whether
he Is sport or a gentleman. but the way
he can size up what the other man is doing
is simply wonderful
Seems like he could read what the
other man had in his lap, eh?' suggested
Andy. In his hand. mean
Not that so much as that he seems to
know what the other man thinks he has
That's where he gets his big plays. He