Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-06-20
SLAVE OR FREE?

OI llvc bUlfly OF tucfchDOut,
and tho "boy" was her son.
Tho boy was not far from 10 years OF
age, with u face lighter In color than was
his mothers, his features really handsome.
"Look here gentlemen" spoke tho
planter rising, "hcrc's M likely pair, for
girl and her brat, as you can scare up. I
paid $500 for 'em. Who'll give s6OOS"
"Why not put 'em up separates" asked
one
'Twon't do to sell 'em separate The
girl has sworn that she will kill herself IL
her boy Is sold away from her, and her old
master says she'll DO slSe To keep her
word. But don't ye sec the woman is
worth more'n / ask for tho pair. Now
what dye say? Who'll take 'em Mt SCOOP
The owner waited few seconds with
out receiving an answer and then said:
II must have tho money, SO here goes
for IA rattle. Twenty dollars a throw and
80 chances for the pair"
The chances all but two, werc quickly
taken by those Mt tho table.
1.-TWO more chances gentlemen.
A man whispered apart TO the judge
and then made his way TO the table and
threw down two gold eagles.
"What namer'
"Give IL to the woman"
"Ehp The gal hcrselfY'
"Yes; give her IA chance"
"All right. One chance for Ninettev
Before the planter could call again Judge
Underwood had placed $50 upon the table,
saying as he did SO:
"This Is for the boy"
"Goodp cried tho owner Of the proper
ty "Here's a chance for Tommy, and that
takes the lot. Where's the clerkp"
"Here."
"Have ye got blanks for this sort Of bust
ness?'
"Yes."
"Thcn won't ye fill up bill Of sale Of
these two-Ninette and Tommy-and leave
u place to put In the name OF the winner?
"Now for the dice, gentlemen"
The dice were brought on, and the shak-
ing commenced. OF the first ten throws
36 was the biggest number cast. The elev-
enth throw turned up AZ. Then the scores
fell again till the twenty first throw, when
| one of tho gamesters threw out 49,
| The crowd were now all excitement.
Forty nine was hard point to beat.
| The lowest number that could be thrown
was o, and the highest (nine sixes) was
| 81, making what Is called an average
throw about y. OF 100 throws the ma
jority will fall below 32.
Again the dice ratified in tho box as the
| second gamester took his turn, but his
throw was low one. The twenty eighth
throw belonged to the clerk OF the boat
who had now returned with tho bill of
sale. He threw 40, tying the gamester.
"ConA2, Ninette; it's your turn"
The woman started and quivered and
pressed her hand over her heart. Only the
groaning and putting of the engine broke
the stiffness of the place.
"Will the gentleman who paid for the
| chance throw for me?' she said in n low,
musical voice, earnest and imploring and
of purest accent.
"Let your boy throw for you, !" returned
the man. "His luck should be better than
mine"
Tommy came forward and took the box.
His mothers hands were clasped, and her
lips moved. The boy trembled like an
| aspen. What werld Of veal or woe hung
upon the tickle chancel He held in his
hand the scaled book in which was written
the fate Of his mother and himself, and it
was to be opened upon the hazard of die!
He shook the box and turned the dice
upon the table Three acesl A moment
he gazed upon the three single spots, and
then dropping the box he sank back, pale
and frightened.
"Shake again, Tommy" said the
| planter.
"It's no use, master. I can't get 49,"
But you've got your own chance my
boy"
AYE" Dried the judge. "That was
| your mothers chance Now throw for
yourself-throw for the chance gave you
.--brace up and take heart, and may heav-
en- help your
That was not an assembly of religiously
inclined persons by any means, but the
fervent petition Of the Judge met with a
warm and impulsive response of "Amen"
from nearly all present.
Again the boy came forward and lifted
the box. His lips were tightly shut, and
the old quivering of the limbs was hushed.
The only sound in that saloon, above the
deep breathing Of the spectators, was the
clicking Of the ivory cubes. Presently the
6rst throw was made.
"Five, five six, are 16p' announced the
planter, setting down the figures.
Tho dice were gathered up and thrown
again.
"Six, six and five. GoodL That's IL"
The boy was pale as death as nc took the
box for the last throw, and his mother
leaned against stanchion for support.
At,length-and the book was opened
"Three sixes-1S! and that's 81! My
boy, you're n trumpl Now, Mr.. Clerk, fill
up the bill of sale, and I'll sign 1t before
these witnesses
Tho scene that followed can be better
imagined than described. The last time
heard from Judge Underwood he was alive
apd well, though long retired from active
life. Ninette was his housekcepcr and
Tommy his most trustful and trusted