Sharping the Sharpers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 111, 5 April 1884, Page 3

Sharping the Sharpers.

■■•". " Malvolio" contributes the following good story to the Cbristchurch Telegraph : — Heie is a yarn whose troth I can vouch for, and the incidents of which happened m a town on the West Coast, The town has a name, and so have the persons mentioned, but for reasons no unconnected with the law 'of -libel,- they" must be nameless hetefor evormore, as Mr E. A. Poe would 5 say. A yonnfi! surveyor fresh from the wilds, and with a year's cheque m his pocket entered the parlor of the principal hotel of the toV'h and found-there three leading tradesmen and big wigs enjoying a Httte gainW of jiokferV' He was Bsked to join thefti; and consented when they urged the point. He knew their respeclibility and perhaps was not avevse to a little gambling. He played for tv^o hours and lost a considerable sum. He could afford to lose it but rumin»itiug on the cowr c of the game,he was struck by the reraomberance that he had been holding very fair hands^^ood enough to' make money on as a rule, but m this case always beaten by something hotter. As a result of this recollection he added to itißas^ariio's :-j— "In ; my school days when I 'had. lost oneshaft, Ishot his fellow of tltesel'f.«ame flight, to find the other forth^" and sat down : to continue the. game. Presently there fell- to hiiu two ares and some rubbish: He concealed the aces m his coat, and slung his hand l «p; 'Follbwing the sam 6 tactics he amassed a full hand, and. then the game began. He went heavily on it ; the enemy came to see him ; he raided ; they raised ; he raised. JFitially one -of them* put up a Tise which brought}- the sum on the table up to £150, and d'ske*! to see him. The iuiFMnd was shown, and our patient friend gathered £150 ""intb his pocket With one quick sweep, and stepped smartly back to the fifeplace, from which' he armed himself with the poker. 'Now, gentlemen,' he said, * you may be Wondering where that full hand come from. Perhaps these may help yoti to understand,' and !he drew from his bren«t l five cards, and ; tb,rew them on the table! The four 'nigjCi rbseto their feet, and dneof them shut the dobr. " '" ow, young fellow,', he^said." 'just ante xip, ; or ;you won't leave this rboxfi.' ' 'Who wants to leave the room?' returned^ our hero; and he brandished the poker wildly . 'I don't, for one. '^'6w, just you sit down while I teli you something. Tis is' a nice little game of cards that we've been having, isn't it? But you play it too flbany ways for. me. 1 stand no 'show with youl. For instance, that fellow with the fine red bead baa a -card m it hbwj and you've been dealing from the bottom of the pack all the time ; aud those two gentlemen over there have J improved every hand dealt to them by judicious selection and exchange. »* ow, if you;jilease, I won't expose you m your own town',' and you can open that door and go,' The four worthies looked at one another then ar. the Then the red-l»ear«led man pulled the 'caiti from its hiding-place/laid it gently on the table, and said, * Boyn, I rt'ekon We'll get.' Aiid I hey got. The surveyor kept Hjs owii" mo'ii'ov, 'l'hd'rt; coinmlsnion oh "the rest' ; ';'for troublii :i]n(l risk,' and handed the M.Vlance omt ito the local hospite^ '* tV(|m four re|r<'iit.uiL sinnera.'/'H^ fsJhßw' i»i <''!irisrehif bli, and says 'he has p&yirig. poker with" respec|;ablestf angers.