Jim Keene Beats a Gambler.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2014, 7 January 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Jim Keene Beats a Gambler.

Alongside the roadway near the Jerome Park races track a three-oard ewindler set _np his box. His chatter and his manipulation of the cards were uncommonly brisk, for there was momentary danger of a policeman coming to stop him. Passengers were being emptied from a train, and they surrounded the operator. But for a time his only betting was with his confederate who, of oonrse, won right along. James B. Keene, the Wall Streeter, arrived with several friends and looked on at the game. The gambler’s pel resorted to the familiar trick of slyly bending a corner of the face card—by_ that means making it appear that the winning one could be picked out to a certainty. Keene surprised the spectators by saying: “ I’ll take yon for 950 that I can pick cat the jack.” The earn was above the gambler's capital, hot he got 940 ont of his pockets, and the stakes were put into the hands of an honest bystander. “ Now, my fine fellow,” said Keene, “ You think you’ve got a sura thing on me. Bat yon haven’t.” The chances are exactly even. I shan’t choose the bent card, for, of coarse, that isn't the jack. You've smothered the jack in handling them, and bent one of the others. So the jack mast be one of the imooth cards; and in taking this one,” and aere he placed his hands on a card, “my chances are square against yon. See 7 Ah I Yes; I’ve won.” He pocketed the stakes, and was cheered by the instructed crowd.— Detroit Free Pre it.