El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-27
ON THE CAST OF
AIDE.

1t was on the mississippi In 1893 Ihe
Colonel had lost his last dollar ut poker.
Bring the girl and boy here that
bought at Natchez. Hold on the game
just one minute. gentlemen. and III make
| Q raise"
| turned. accompanied by the girl and
boy" Said girl proved to be a bright
mulatto of five and thirty or therea bout,
and the boy" was her son.
| The boy was not far from 10 years of
age. with a face lighter in color than was
his mothers, his features really hand
| some.
Look here. gentlemen" spoke the
planter. rising: heres as likely a pair.
for n girl and her brat. as you can scare
5000" pA'' ~ ''f GU VINO" gave
why not put 'em up separator" asked
one.
'Twon't do TO sell 'em separate. The
girl has sworn that she will kin herself
IL her boy is sold away from her, and her
| old master says she'll be sure TO keep her
| word. But don't We see the woman is
worth morc'n I ask for the pair. Now,
| what dye say! Who'll take 'em at
$6OO?'
The owner waited a few seconds with
| out receiving an answer and then said:
Il must have the money. so here goes
30 chances for the pair"
The chances. all but two, were quickly
taken by those ut the table.
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 name!'
Give it to the woman"
Eth! The gal herself?'
Yes: give her a chance
"All right. One chance for Ninettei"
Before the planter could call again
Judge Underwood had placed $40 upon
the table, saying as he did so:
This is for the boy
Good" cried the owner of the proper
ty. Here's a chance for Tommy, and
that takes the lot. Where's the clerk?'
Have We got blanks for this sor, of
businessr'
Yes"
Then won't ye fill up a bill of sale of
these two-Ninctte and Tommy-and
leave place to put in the name of the
winner?"
Now for the dice. gentlemen"
The dice were brought on, and the
shaking commenced. OF the first ten
throws 80 was the biggest cast. The
eleventh throw turned up AZ. Then the
scores fell again till the twenty-fi first
throw, when one OF the gamesters threw
out 40.
The crowd were now all excitement.
Forty nine was a hard point to beat.
The lowest number that could be thrown
was o, and the highest, nine skies,
was "a, making what is called an aver
age throw about BIZ. or 100 throws
the majority will fall below 30.
Again the dice ratified in the box as the
next gamester took his turn, but his
throw was n low one. The TWEEN y-eighth
throw belonged to the clerk OF the boat,
who had now returned with the bill of
sale. He threw 40. tying the gamester.
Come, 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 a low,
musical voice, earnest and imploring and
OF purest accent.
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 What a world of
veal or woe hung upon the tickle chance!
He held in his hand the sealed book in
which was written the fate OF his mother
upon the hazard OF die
He shook the box and turned the dice
upon the table. Three acesi 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.
ITS no use, master. 1 can't get 40"
But you've got your own chance, my
boy"
AYE" cried the Judge THAT was
your mothers chance. Now throw for
for the chance / gave
you. Brace UP and take heart, and may
heaven help you,"
That was not an assembly OF religious
ly inclined persons by any means, but the
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 quivcring of the limbs was hush
ed. The only sound in that saloon, above
the deep breathing of the spectators, was
the clicking OF the ivory cubes Present
ly the first throw was made.
Five. FIVE, six. are 16i' announced the
planter, setting down the figures.
The dice were gathered up and thrown
again
''Six. six and a FIVE. Good. That's
II"
The boy was pale as death as he took
the box for the last throw, and his moth
er leaned against a stanchion for support
At length-and the book was opened
Three sixes-1S! And that's 81! Ny
boy. you're Il trump! Now. Mr. Clerk,
fill up the bill of sale, and III sign it be-
fore those Witnesses