The Washington herald., 1911-03-12
TRICKS OF THE GAMBLERS TRADE
EXPOSED BY VETERAN CANISTER

That the life Of the professional gam
bier is by no means the romantic and
prosperous existence that many have
supposed it to he IS the revelation made
by Harry Patterson, author of this arti-
Gle, who for many years made his living
by turning the tricks OF the ''sure-thing
artist" The ingenious devices employed
by the professional gambler to separate
the novice from his coin arc explained
by one whom many years of practice
have made an adept in this art and who
has become convinced that, everything
considered, gambling doesn't pay"
NV name is Harry Patterson but those
who have known me for these many
years have always called me steamboat
Harry" Those who didn't know my
'monaker'' either never knew me by any
name. or to them l was Mr.. Jones or
Mr. Smith. or Mr.. Somebodyelse. Those
who really knew me and called me
steamboat Harry were the wise ones
of the profession. My profession: Gam
bling
For over twenty years. or ever since l
was a boy of less than eighteen years, I
have been a professional gambler, and
with a thorough knowledge of all the
best tricks of the ''Sure-thing artist"
made my living as such. I've won lots
Of money. and I've spent it being a
good fellow" It's a dead certainty I
haven't got anything to show for my
winnings now. I've got just one asset,
and that is a determination to make my
way in the world now honestly.
1t was while I was going to school that
learned to gamble. 1 fell in with a
young fellow-student who was an adept
card player and a smooth Cheater. He
knew the game we'll, and ] didn't, but
thought he was a pretty good fellow, and
l was willing to learn. He took me for
the easy mark, and | was. but I didn't
seem to be able to get wise" to it Any
way, whenever I had money l was his
best friend. and I sloughed off my money
to him as fast as / got it playing draw"
Every time l got my allowance from
home ! played cards with him and he
''copped the coin" Most of the time
was in debt to him. for he seemed willing
enough to stake me to a loan as long
as l was willing to lose my money to
him.
Then my father began to have a
'hunCh." 1 wanted moro money than
my regular needs would have demanded,
and finally he sent for me and I had to
go home. Back under my fathers roof
again, l was put to work with the ulti-
matum that / would have to earn my
own living. But the gambling mania
was upon me now, and the money /
made wended its accustomed route across
the green cloth.
One day my father gave me a check
for 500 with directions to get it cashed.
The money was to be used to pay of
men who were working for him. Well. 1
cashed il all right, but the 500 was too
big a bank roll for me, and with 1t l sat
in good stiff game. But I didn't win,
and when the "kale' was nearly all gone
I knew my only course-or 1 thought l
knew-was to beat it." and I did.
Having been the fall guy this long
time, I finally got hep and determined
to find a few easy ones myself. By
chance-I called it luck then-I fell in
with a fellow whose name was Scott
"Scotty'' was a chap who had more
brains than money, and his brains were
the kind that knew cards. He tipped me
that he was a professional gambler, and
offered 10 take me in with him IL I'd fur
nish enough money to stake the two OF
US in a game and follow his directions.
A start for Prosperity.
The result was we hooked up" and
with the little wad had left out of the
500 we soon managed to accumulate a
pretty fair start toward new prosperity.
Ny newly found, pal liked me first rate,
and we got along together in satisfactory
style. He taught me the first principles
of the profession tricks, and by this
time had developed a determination to
learn them and make the world furnish
my living for me. With this resolve I
practced the crooked devices Of the game