Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1906)
ivy n THE MORNING ASTORIAN. ASTORIA. OREGON. FRIDAY, JANUARY if, te X OAMBLElt'S SCHEME IT TOOK AN EXPERT'S CAREFUl STUDY TO UNMASK IT. f the Ct,r SwUdllaa Trick aVatfc fetch tkirfft lltttH Inln llkBt aad. War ) Wktrk It Wa KHi Seme years s I used frequently to t attend "it honies,' Ib addition to fir ing lessons in kvrdeaiaiu to ladies end gentknueu who autused theuise Ivea m amateur In giving esblMtions of shrlr skill at evening parties, etc. a on occasion. It was an "at boms at Lad A.'a towu house, I had given a display of card manipulation la addi tion to otbr sleight of band tricks. After my performance I was approach ed by one of the gentlemen guests, "Allow me to congratulate you. Mr. Devant," he said, "your entertainment baa gtvea me much pleasure. Your card manipulation especially Interested sae. It occurs to me that with your ob Ttous know ledge of cards and card de ceptions you might assist me In a per atexing affair which has been exercla- tag my mind for some time. If you will bo so good aa to give me a few Minute of your time I will describe the nature of this dilemma to you. Al low me to present my card." - Having signified my willingness to accord tho Interview requested. Sir George L. escorted mt to the coneerva tary and said: . ; "Lot me come to tho point While watching your card manipulation. It track mo that yon might probably bo acquainted with soma of tho tricks which are resorted to by card aharpm and could set at rest some suspicions of mine concerning a certain gentle man whose, lock at cards Is prodigious. 1 am strongly of opinion that he a nothing mora or lesa than a profession al sharper. Tula man I first encounter od at the B. club, of which I am a member. He has been a frequent visi tor there as a guest of a young friend f mine, also a member, who has con ceived a partiality for the skillful card player and is paying a rather high price for the acquaintance. "It 1" not necessary that I should state more than that my young friend a a man of ample means, obstinate to the degree of pugnacity and not a little self opinionated. Although I have tried again and again to eouvlnee him that the luck' of his acquaintance cents too consistent to be legitimate, he steadfastly refuses to listen to me, declaring that he la not to be intim idated by a little ill fortune. And so h goes en playlng-and goes on pay ing. I bar watched the play closely, hot am quite unable to detect any trick or dodge on the part of the sus ltttsd man. I cannot, therefore, put forward anything tangible to bis detri ment or charge him with any offense. Whatever his trick msy be. It must be a very clever one and of a somewhat novel description. I have carefully ex timed the cards, some methods of 'king which I have bad described to bat have failed to trace the slight- gas of their having been tamper- h. The ordinary club cards are Mch renders it all the more In now the fellow contrives to Aery with them. It struck erbspa It might be a question tlatlon, but I could not dls- ythlng beyond the ordinary It was while in this dilem At the Idea occurred to me that Mr. Devant. might be able to ar ap the mystery. May I count 4oa your astdsunoer" "Certainly." I replied. "I tbsll bo very pleased to render you what serv ice 1 can In the matter." As a matter of fart, Sir George bad piqued niy curiosity, fur, knowing a good deal about card trickery, I was esger to discover what cuuning meth od of swindling- If any-tbe suspi-cted man was retorting to. "Do you know anything about the man?" I asked. "Very Uttle," replied 8ir Ceorse. "ex cept that be Is known as Mr. be Lary, and ta apparently of French extraction, speaking with a slight accent. Beyond this there is much that I wjnterlons about him. My friend known nothing f him; he In niep-Iy one of those vac aal acquaintances it is no cany tu make in this ciwnjopoIUiin city of ours." "What game does he favor?" "lie play miwt if tie gambling game, but If bo has a favorite I should think it was olo." "And In the eveDt of my discovering any trickery, t-bould you make a police matter of It?" "No, I don't desire to do that I want to UDma-k the fello. expose hi in there and then, convince my ob stinate friend nnd have the cliarper kicked out of the club." I entered Into the affair wllh sent An appointment was fixed up for a certain evening, upon which I found myself In tho card room of the B. club, bent upon creating a "scene." There was a goodly aasemlily of nienihcM and friends, and the room presented an animated appearance, with It groups f faultlessly attired clubmen gather ed round the little green topped tables. I was Invited by Kir Oeorge to Join in a friendly game, having been already introduced to his friend, Mr. V., a tall, dark, clean shaved gentleman. By de sign our table was placed close to that at which the suspected man, with Mr. T. and others, was seated. I was thus enabled to watch the movements of Mr. Le Lacy without exciting suspi cion, I Judged Ie Lacy to be a man turned forty, with a beard which was beginning to rum gray, rsther sparse fair hair, a somewhat pallid face and broad shoulders. lie did not altogeth er lack a certain air of refinement., The clay proceeded. I bad previoua ftr tskea the oooortumty of exaatitfmg some of oe enrb enraa, nut had rounxi outing in any way suspicious about them. Our neighbors were playing oht, and the tuck appeared to be flue Mating a good deal, Mr, V. wlunlng occasionally. But this did not last long, and presently Mr. T lotey began to gather in rk-fa harvest I watched closely, but could detect uothlng to the discredit of the suspected one If yon except a faculty for wlunlng. Now and again half muttered Imprecation front Mr. V. told that IV Lacy had once wore scoticd the pool The ereulug was unproductive of anything practical In the way of dis covering trickery, yet there was some thing Indefinable about this man I Lacy which suggested fraud to uie and which made me more than ever deter mined to solve the mystery of his won derful luck." I therefore arranged to attend another night under similar cir cumstances, but even then nothing ot moment occurred, I obtained, how ever, a kind of vague Idea, the accura cy of which I was desirous of putting to the test At the close of play 1 spok to Sir George. 1 notice that Mr. De Lacy Invariably wears smoked glasses at the table," I aid. "Uaa he weak slgfatr "I believe so. He says that the glare of the gas troubles bis eyes." -I have an idea that those glai play some sort of part la the trickery." I said thoughtfully. "I don't know how; but coupled with certain move- utent ot one of his bands, they art sug gestive. I propose to make a test, and I should like to make the following ar rangement: I will take my place at your table, aa usual, another night After having played for awhile I aball ask to be allowed to girt np on the score of being tired. You will agree and take no further particular notice of me. If I make a discovery shall I expose the man openly V "Certalnlyr replied Sir George em phatlcally, The appointed night arrived. The room was full, as usual Aa before, our table was situated close to that at which sat Ie Lacy and others. The man wore bis customary look of Im perturbable good humor and bis smok ed glssses. Ills party was playing solo. with the usual varying luck, prepon derating In the long run with De Lacy The cards were shuffled and dealt Two "passed." Mr. V. "propped." but pe lacy called. "Abundance." 'Again." ejaculated Mr. V. In amaie- ment. De Lacy smiled Indulgently. He had a splendid band and got borne easily. At this Juncture I gave up aa ar ranged, and. rising carelessly from my eat strolled a few yards with the ap parent desire to "stretch my legs." I worked round by degrees until I had got directly behind De Lacy and quickly donned a pair of smoked glasses, with which I had come prepar ed, lie had Just scored another "abua dance" when, gaxlng over his shoulder at the cards through my smoked glasses, I discovered tbc secret of bis trickery. "There Is no plating against such luckr protested Mr. V. half angrily, There is so playing against sod) cbeatlngr I exclaimed, snatching some cards from the table. Then, ere De Lacy could make a movement, I (brust several fingers Into one of bis waistcoat pockets. With an exclama tion of anger be rose to his feet, but staggered back when be perceived that I also was wearing smoked glasses, "Gentlemen." I exclaimed, "It is my painful duty to Inform you that yon hare In your midst a professional card sharper I" The whole room was Immediately In an uproar. All the men lert their ta bles and crowded around us. De Lacy at first betrayed a trembliug lip, but presently, with au effort, he gained control of himself and thereafter main tained an air of doggt-d dcilaiu-e. "This man." I continued, "bus been marking the cards with luminous paint. a suiull quantity or wtil-u be keeps in bis wastcuat pocket and conveyi to the card with lis flng'T nails. The paint, quite invixlMe iu this brilliantly light ed room, he Is ul.le to see by means of his Muokr-d glasoes. Will some of you kindly examine these cards through the glaxitcs. I brought with uie fur the purpose of unmasking this man? Look at my flng'-rs, too. which I Just now thruKt into Lis walsti-oat pocket." Eagerly the clubmen crowded round ui: una ii ii examination was made ail round. I'y the aid of the glasses the tiuy paint marks or the cards were clearly detected, as well as the smear ou my niigt-r. Tlie fraud was fully l.poed. With -rles of indlgtiatiou the cliibiiK-u advauissl upon the trickster, and things I (,, in lo ""k ugly for the ingenious lh' jr-y. He wns very roughly bandied, denuded of ,hls 111 gotten gains uud llicu literally kicked out i.f the club. Mr. V., convinced nt last that he bad been fleeced by an unscrupulous rogue, tendered an nology to his fellow mem bers for Introducing under a lulsappre-Ii-un1ou such u disreputable Individual into the club, an upoU'gy that was, of course, nt once accepted. He also thanked Kir George and myself. I have not elm beard or seen any thing of Mr. Ie Lac?, under that or any other name. He doubtless con sidered it expedient to seek fresh woods and pastures new after bla dis concerting experiences, but bla trick was a smart one, perhaps the smartest I bar ever encounterTxL Wide World. Sometimes nervou woman's s mic tions are Imaginar . Airin ther are s form of sctoal aad terrible lllnes.. Tn sny event, nolli-ter's Rocky Mmmlain Te makes yon well. A great nrv Ionic. S5 cents, Ta or Tn'et -. Prank iiicu of HELP WANTED, VYASTKD Elderly woman to a-lt ia hou-fwoik, cooking suj washing; call a'teruont between 1 and 1 !J Com itirreMl ttri-et. V.XTKI-LADY WITH GOOD REF erence, to travel for firm of $250,000 capital; salary (1072 per year and ex- pen; salary paid weekly and ex- pentes advanced. Address, with stamp, J. A. Alexander, Atorla, Ore, WASTED A SOBER, STEADY, 1I0X et young man with some ca-h for a good. legitimate busineaa; no exper ience required; no agents. Address 11. fid, Astorlsn. LKABX ICLXCaAPHT AXD ft. ft. Accounting. ISO to 1300 a Month sal- 7 assured our graduates under bond. Our ate schoola the Urgest la Amsstea tad endorsed by aO ftaffrnana Writs tor catalogue. UORSI SCHOOL OF rELEGRAPHY, OaoUaatL 0, Buffalo, f. T, Atlanta, On, La Crosse, Wis, Tax rkana, Tex, Saa IVkaoasoo, Cai LADIES ONLY READ TII1S-H you boneitly with to make money, a ad will canva-s the women of your local ity, ws hare the article for ou; pat ented; guaranteed, and great sellers; nd SO cents for complete samples; money rcluuded if not sstisisctory. Ramona Novelty Ag- ncy, 203 Mohawk Bids, Portland, Ore. WASTED: YOUNG MEN, PREPARE yourtelves to fill the pwitions that will be mated as fast as the numerous h:i..l,,U.iVa:..lM.l..n.J.i,lii. 1900; salaries paid tclegrsph operators (80 to $150 p-r month; we prepare you st boms by msil nrtt and you can enter our school later, saving 1 to'2 months' board and tuition; write for our terms today. Faciue Coast School of Tele- grsphy, Portland, Ore ros kest ruxmsBSD BOOKS. FOR REXT-S FVRMSHED IIOUSK- keeping rooms. 6TS CommereisL FOB SALE, rOR 8AIX-SBCOND-HAKD T COL uma newspaper outfit; complete a- Mpt prs; cheap. Inquire at wis Sec. FOB SALECHEAP HORSE, BUU- gy aad harness. Inquire Astoriaa of- LOST AlfD rOCBD. I.OST-IXK TWTII WATCII CIIARM on tod IU-kl-. rinnrr virmom st this office and receive reward. 13.00 RHVARD WILL EE FAID UU the return of Chinese d-rtincate No. C3O0 of Wong Shee Moy, hxt shout S week spo. Ri turn to Wing Chin Chong. S Eit-hth strut. MUSIC TEACHES. WANTED THREE Ml Nit; rurii-n- Inquire st Astorian oiriw. MANDOLIN LESSONS GIVEN-MKM. C. D. Ptewsrt, 127 Seventh strwt. fOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS. SIXOND HAND IXJMvr.1 wixr.a for sale, suiUWe for togfring and K,.;.tln nurnmcs. For drurrintlon ana pries apply to F. D. Ku.ttner, AstorU. Oregon. HOUSE WANTID Furnlhhed howe wanted; no children; rwponsihle porti- s. Address "8. C" care Antorian. left over reduction. great AUo big discounts offered on all rrgular tinea. Yokohama Bazar 4 1 n 'normal Sinwt, AUnrl HI lllllli 1 -1 111- n l wiU be sold at Ell Situations Wanted Advertisements Inserted Twice Without Charge. BUSINESS DIRECTORY REITAUWANTS. GUM WAH CO. fitstaataat 7 Astor St Astoria, Ore. Ifoedles and Chop All kinds af meaU Susy. TOM POINT OYSTIft HOCSX. Eastsra and Shoalwatcr Day Oysters Steaks, Chops, Etc. Open day sod night. lltk St, next to Scully's dgar store FIRST-CLASS MEAL for 15c; nice cake, coffee, pie, or doughnuts, 5c, at V. 8. Restaur ant. 434 Boud St BEST 15 CENT MEAL. You can always find the beet 15-cect meal in the city at the Rising Sun Restaurant 612 OouiuiercialSt. LAUNDRIES, The Troy Laundry The only white labor laundry In the city. Dose the best work at reasonsbls ariees and Is in every way worthy ef ' y0UP patronage. I 10th and DUANf Its, Fhenc 1t EVBBOrDEBT LESSORS CITElf LESSONS IX UARDAKCER EM breUary is given by Airs, Julius Erkksoa, 63 West Bond street, Astoria, for 15 eanta per hour. WOOD YARDS. WOOD! WOOD! WCOD Cord wood, run wood, aai weed, aay kind af wood at lowest prkca, EsDy, the tfaatfwr aua. Those sigi Kaia, Ban sa Twelfth, opposite opera house. TAXLOBIHO. B. MARTINSON Flu merchant tailoring, Room 5, over Cooper's store, K. of P, Building. As toria, FURNITURE. ROBINSON H1LDEBRAND Qoodman Bldg. 581 Commsrsisl St U F.N ITU RE, Carpets, 6dding Stsvss, Maltli.g. Window Shsdss, LINOLEUM, Etc BROKERAGE. C. J. TKENCIIAUI) Rtal Estate, Ineurancs, Commissioi and Shipping. CUSTOM HOUSE BROKER. Iffics 133 Ninth Strsst, Nsat te Justie Off.os. ASTORIA, OREGON The Smith Premier is the simplest and strong est of all writing machines. It does better work, does it quicker, Masts longer, and costs less in the long run than any other type writing machine. It is The World's Best Typewriter Lft at mis' yam aw Ink book ktKnf H abort k. Typewriter wppfe. M chiiMiraMsd, Stnwtnp heis hnkhmi. Tha Smith Pramlor Typewriter Company - f ill ,itt!;i: sri-Sv V gOLOJ nir in ii if nun iinnnrl midicau 1 IHb H hx UMIIVel 1 inn WOltKlNGMK-S'S H0TEU Good board and cleaa beds, Kswly renovated throughout. L. R. Abercrombie rtop. Cornar 14th and Exchange SU. (Formerly KehsWm Uoum.) PROFESSIONAL CAROi. PHYSICIANS. jay tuttle; m. d. FBT8I0IAN AND 8UKQE05 AsUag Aatetsal laiisea V. B. MarlM UusallAl Umnttm Oaos bourss II to II am. I te 4:11 .as. TT Oommarctal Street, tnd ricof. DR. J. P. GO RAY, Specialist EYE, EAR, HOSE AND THSOAT S05 Orcgoaiaa BuUdtBg, P0BTLAZID .... OKSGOir osTEOPATHirra, DB. BB0DA C BICES OSTKOrATU Office Usnseu lUd. Phone Black toll 171 Commercial BL. Astoria, Ore. DENTISTS. . DR. T. L. BALL, DENTIST. 624 Coramerdal St Astoria Oreson. Da. VAUGIIAN, Dentist Pythian Building. Astoria, Oregon. Dr. W. 0. LOGAN DENTIST (78 Commercial St., Sbanabaa Boildlni DR. C. W. BARR, Dentist, liannell Building Telephone Red S0C1 Astoria, Oregon SEASIDE DIRECTORY. WINES AND LIQUORS. THE GEM An up to-date resort for Crntlemrn. Choice Winn, Liquors and Cigars. Civs us a call and vs'll do tha resL 0. E. HUNTER. Prop, Seaside, Ore 60 V CARS' EXPERIENCE fl liiiii Tnaoc Massta Disionc CoeysioMTS Ad. A mjtmm nAlng m kmt fh and 4mitiam mm fnlrkif Mn.rt.iin aur oihik,, tt nhilMr aa liiriilMin M .r.hnt.lf ttlrlnnl. f',mmunl. thiarirllf ronllilmtli'. NDNOBUOt at'alHnt aatil fri. Ol.lcit nytH,rf litf MMjrlng pti)a. I'aldiiia iFirmwk Mun SI, ratal, tmtrut wiihul ctioma, la lUa SciciKinc Jtinericdiis fcanrlsnffiftlf ItNietpfarcarl tiktf, !rart rtp. list tit mnf aVHMtUfln turiis, mrm; $4 u t f'nr ni-.ntliau AL Moid br all ftay4irtm. MU Co 'New York brauvk OIBoa, M W St, Waakiaaiuu, U. C M0BNIN 0 ASTORIAN la on Sale In Astoria at J. IT. GRIFFIN'S BOOKSTORE. 1 asBBacaaas) OTZINGER'S HEWS DEPOT, OCCIDENT HOTEL OFFICE, SCULLY'S CMAB STORE, JOS. JACOBS, CIGAR STORE. and v, TBE ASTORIAN OFFICE, Tcath an J ComaereU! Sta. 1UIIU IIUUOL 2 ?r :jrkjrrT.r-iivmvm a THE Dr. C.CEEW Chinese Medicine Co'i Formerly located St AklerKtrcetl ht U past uveyoarclIAY iVlOVKD Into t) large brick buihba at the anuth.aui mm nsrol first sod Morrison Blrceta, Es iranoc no. iwi rront at. Successful Home Treataeat igMtiraiiiM t Ihmii ih. .id or a kaifts viumwI ao( snS ail d Imm with m.rfil mtimmma u artM,hrtia. mm Vfmimbhn that ar mm Snows to minimi J. u 1. u. 1- - and Ih poo, h th u af Um, bwuUm eat im twantulMi bo car CfUirK Ajduaa, Lcag Ticcals. ft 1 onanist, wrescssces. Sath, Uvr. tUmy, Ttrntk Weakness sad a duvale D iuhi MKalB 1 t-mmmt StssiBS hie uuiiocdui sndnirpuUr. Aiiinmm. TN C 0c Wee CMecss MedUac Caw, Hm. Ml I imi b C " atraUna inu rmnUmi" HOTELS. HOTEL PORTLANI F0RTLANO. ORE. rtnset Hotel In the Nerthwes. San Francbeo's leading coa Wnicnct and family hotel centrally located. Ceifae' nnient to au car Unetj-' places of amusement anc w Icreat. Caa and Grill at tached, Rate 1 1 00 pet day aad on, Street can direct te kotcl from and to all depota, i HOUSE Saa Francisco, CaL i Tills ike kind of & &ioty for NATIONAL MAGAZINE is paying $10,000 too nirncoiT I" rnlala kn vana (a, m.l. la, awrtwa al aM m--oftm. imm,, ama a, mut m um M M, i,m ,. hTJ " " iaiia ti . TJa MMiMSlMlMaltk know of a Letter one Wtant littta atmiM. SMcdntM, Uh tl aucuioa of bouk that hu Ruda wi ' ' Think, Laugh or Cry t,aprliwltl ta (ivan for IhalntaU Thaanlr condilinn lot snlarlnc thUmm. palltiiml that arnd aiih ..5 fa the Nallo..! MmtrnZrAlXZi JOE CIIAPP1E, Editor BoicacsTca avenue. "V: "' I.,!. r Jh,l la ... torf, -..1 ll.lB" tui Ma M o.,,. t4 aa la, ... - , i art, drupjrisL