The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-08-20
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The Boy Who Won Himself.

ry Clay being on board.
That's a tough crew, from Natchez,' re
marked the clerk, who come upon the decl
as we were about going below. They plo.
hard and high
Let's 60 and look on awhile said tn
Judge
We went down into the saloon. where W,
found the parties at play. AT one Of the ia
bles sat four men, about which were gather
ing large number OF lockers on; and al
these proved to be the heavy players, We
| joined the group of spectators. The game
was twenty-deck poker, aud money wa:
changing hands with startling rapidity. One
OF the players, middlc-aged man, whose
face showed but too plainly the ravages Of
an excess that was sapping mis- life, and
who, afterwards learned, was a cotton
planter, bad staked his last dollar and called
his opponents hand. Be held four queens,
against which were laid down four kings.
And he was broken He started to his
feet as though he wonld leave the table.
Are ye dead broke colonel? p asked he
of the four kings.
Nes-to the last picayune
Give me yer note, and I'll lend ye'
'No,' replied the planter, with an oath.
Il can do better than that. Where's Wack-
man ?
Here, answered dork visagel man.
Bring that girl and boy h ere that |
bought at Natchcz. Uoll on the game Just
one minute, gentleman, aud Iii make a
rise
The man went away, and shortly return
cd accompanied by the girl and boy Said
girl proved to be bright mula,to womau,
OF iive-and-thirty, or thercabouts, and the
boy was her sen.
The boy was not far from ten years of
ago, with a face lighter in color than was
his mothers his features really handsome.
Look here gentleman spoke the planter,
rising, heres as likely pair, tora grl and
her brat, as you can scare mp, ! paid eight
hundred dollars Tor them. Who'll give
six p
Why not pul them up separate p asked
one.
'Twont do to sell 'eu separate. The girI
has sworn that she will kill herself if her
boy is sold away from her; and her old mas
ter says she'll be sure to keep her word
But don't you see the woman is worth more
han l 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
4 must have the money so here goes for
| rafiIe. Twenty dollars throw, and thirty
chances for the pair Come, gentleman, let's
zee the color OF your coin. Them that buys
irst will throw first
Here was excitement as well as chance,
or profit. The three players at the table
wo chances each. Then the spectators sur
.ed up, an twenty chances were sold as fast
S the planter could take the money aud
write down. the nsmes Then came a lul.
The planter himselftook two chances, where
pon his three companions each took one
lore Then three men in the crowd doubled
p.'
Two more chances, gentleman
Clay whispered apart to the Judge, and
hen made his way to the table, and threw,
own two gold eagles.
'What name ?
Give it to the woman
Nh the gal herseli|
'All right. One chance for Ninette.'
Before the planter could call agaiu, j Judge
nderwood had placed twenty dollars upon
ne table, saying as he did So
This is for the boy
Good = cried the owner of the property.
Iere's chance for Tommy. And that {
kes the lot Where's the clerk ?
Here
Have you got blanks for this sort of bust
esp
7
Yes.'
FThen won't YOU ill up bill of sale of
Iese two-Ninette n d Tommy-and .
ave place to put in the name of the win
sr?-Now for the dice, gentleman :
The dice we're brought on, aud the shak :,
g commenced. There were three dice, and
ch player was entitled to three throws