Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1887 — The Biters Were Bitten. [ARTICLE]

The Biters Were Bitten.

One of the slickest tricks I ever saw . wm performed in a Denver faro-room.. The Loys had been hitting the bank pretty heavy, and, although it was early in the night, the bank was several thousand dollars loser. Dave Keets was running the game, and finally took the deal himself. Half an hour had passed, when one of .the players asked for a cigar. Dave said to the stranger, in the most natural way ima gin able: . —... , -—. “Try one of these. It is a brand I smoke myself,” and he began fumbling in a lower drawer, his head being below the table. The “lookout" at this moment turned his head to address a remark to a bystander, and the box was left unpro- • tected. In that brief space of time a small fortune was lost. The stranger who had asked for the cigar reached over, and, shoving the top card, disclosed the queen of hearts, and then replaced it before the dealer resumed his position. Handing over the cigar, Dave made a motion to shove the top card, but half a do en voices called to him to hold up. Of course, he waited, and a look of surprise passed over his face as every one began to copper the queen, and inside of five minutes every cent in the room—sl2,ooo —was coppered on that queen. Finally everyone was ready, and amid a silence in whit h I thought I heard the thumping of one man's heart, Dave shoved the top card, disclosing that selfsame queen of hearts, and every body breathed easier until Another push and the queen of diamonds lay bare. There were a number of groans and one oath or two, but the man who wanted a cigar had disappeared, and the bank took in half of all bets made in a silence forced by the consciousness that the biters had been bitten.— Washington Criii .