The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-07-26
An Exciting Rattle.

Il lS4S, Judge Underwood and Henry
Clay being on board.
That's a tough crew from Natchez."
remarked the clerk, who came upon the
deck as we were about going below
They play hard and high"
" Lets go and look on for a while"
said the judge.
We went into the saloon where we
found two parties at play. At one of the
tables sat four men, about whom were
gathered large number of lockers on,
and as these proved to be the heavy play
ers, we joined the group of spectators.-
The game was twenty-dcck poker, and
money was changing hands with startling
rapidity. One of the players, middle
aged man, whose face showed but too
plainly the ravages of an excess that was
sapping his life, and who, afterwards
learned, was a cotton-planter, had staked
his last dollar, and " called his opponents
hand. He held four queens, against
which were laid down four kings. And
he was broken" He started to his feet
as though he would leave the table.
Are ye dead-broke, colonel ?" asked
he Of the four kings.
Yes-to the last picayune."
Give me yer note, and I'll lend ye."
No." replied the planter with an
oath, " | can do better than that "Where
is Wackman 2"
Here" answered dark-visaged man.
Bring the girl and boy here that
bought at Natchez Hold on the game
just one minute, gentleman, and L Il make
raise"
The man went away and shortly re-
turned, accompanied by the "girl and
boy" Said girl" proved to be bright
Mulatto woman Of fve-and thirty, or
thereabout and the " boy" was her son.
The boy was not far from ten years of
age, with a face lighter in color than was
his mothers; his features really hand
some.
Look here, gentlemen" said the plan
ter, rising, here's as likely pair, for a
girl and her brat, as you can scare up
[ paid eight hundred dollars for them
Who'll give six?"
Why not put 'em up separate ?" ask
ed one.
"Twont do to put them up separate.
The gal has sworn that she will kill her
self if her boy is sold away from her
and her old master says she'll be sure to
keep her word. But don't you see the
woman is worth more'n ask for the pair.
Now, what dye say? Who'll take 'em
at six hundred"
The owner then waited few seconds
without receiving an answer, and then
said:
" I must have the money, so here goes
for rattle Twenty dollars throw and
thirty chances for the pair. Come, gen
tlemen, let's see the color of your coin.
Them that buys first will throw first"
Here was excitement as we'll as a
chance for profit. The three players at
the table took two chances each. Then
the spectators surged up, and twenty
chances were sold as fast as the planter
could take the money and write down the
names Then came lull. The planter
himself took two chances, whereupon his
three companions took each one more
Then three men in the crowd "doub-
led up"
"lwo more chances, gentlemen"
Clay whispered apart to the Judge, and
then made his way to the table, and
threw down his gold eaglets.
"What name ?"
" Give it to the woman"
" Eth |! the gal herself?"
Yes. GIVE her chance.'f
"All right. One chance for Ninette p
Before the planter could call again.
Judge Underwood had placed twenty dol
lars upon the table, saying, as he did so :
This is for the boy :"
"Good!' cried the owner of the prop
erty," " here's chance for Tommy. And
that takes the lot. Where's the clerk ?"
" Here !"
Have you got blanks for that sort of
business %
eyes"
"Then won't ye fill up bill of sale of
these two-Ninette and Tommv-and