The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-04-30
A RATTLE
 FOR LIBERTY
foriginall

south. A planter had died. and his negroes were to be sold under the hammer. A young mulatto. his wife and baby were about to be put up sep arately.
 "step up, Ben" said the auctoneer.
 .stopg' said a gentleman with ruff aed shirt front. 'rhese three should go In one lot, suh."
 "Reckon there's not money enough here in any one pocket to buy lem all, colonel"
 "Try 1t. suh."
 The auctioneer ordered the young mother with her babe on to the stand and called for bids. but there was no offer except from the colonel. and that was below the limit.
 "I'Il tell you what you'd better do" said the colonel-"raffie lem. I'll take chances to the amount of my bid"
 "Tn take an equal amount to the colonel's," said a man with large dia- mond in his shirt bosom As the dis position of the crowd seemed to favor the plan. 1t was adopted.
 "They're worth $1 800" said the auc- tioneer. Suppose we make 1t eighteen shares at sl00 share"
 "I take fou' shares" Baid the colonel.
 'sThat lets me in for foul" said the diamond stud man.
 After some delay the shares were all taken except one.
 "One chance left. Who takes itr' called the auctioneer.
 Gentlemen" said the husband and father. If the auctioneer will be SO kind as to take my agreement fo' a hundred dollars in work I'll soiemnly promise to pay the amount" He look. ed at the upturned faces wistfully.
 Cant do that" said the auctioneer. Its all cash here"
 'T'n indorse his note for hundred" said the colonel.
 Don't take paper" said the auc- tioneer.
 "I'n lend him a hundred on the colo nei's indorsemcnt." said the man with the diamond stud.
 A note was drawn, the colonel put bis signature on the back. and all was ready for the raffie.
 "How will you have 1t. gentlemen" asked the auctioneer-"dice or cardsr'
 q would be much obliged" said tho owner of a single chance for his and his family's freedom. "f yo' would make 1t dice, and I would prefer that my little boy throw fo' me"
 Shall 1t be dice. gentlemenr
 "Dice 1t is." said the shareholders one after another.
 q have a set here in my pocket" said the diamond stud man. He took out a box, shook 1t and rolled the dice on the platform. "Colonel, will Sou throwr
 The colonel gathered up the dice and threw thlrty-seven. The next throw was twenty-five. the next thirty-ninc. The last thrower but one was the dia- mond stud man. who threw forty-eight
 By common consent the last throw had been reserved for the slave. As he took the box his hand trembled yisibly. The highest number that could possibly be thrown was fifty-four. and to make this the thrower must get three sizes three times in succession As even this was only six more than the highest. he knew that he had but n ghost or a chance for his freedom He put the box in his baby's hand. a plckaninny of eleven months. but 1t was SO clumsy that the child could not grasp 1t.
 Hold on." said the diamond stud man. "l'll just go Into the saloon over thar and get smaller set"
 He went to the saloon and returned In a few minutes with a very small dicebox and three tiny dice.
 "Yo' gal" he said to the mother, take yo' boys hand in you's and throw had. Dice don't roll lucky unless you make 'em roll"
 The box was put in the baby's hand. and the mother threw them. They rolled out six. a i've and six"
 "Seyenteenp called the auctioneer.
 The next throw was two sizes and a three.
 ''Thirty-two"
 The anxiety on the fathers face was painful to see. He knew that the throwing of two sixes twice was re- markable. To beat the best figure (for- ty-eighD be must throw two sixes again. and the third die must turn up at least a five.
 "Roll 'em we'll" said the diamond stud man to the mother. She did roll them well. and when they came to turn they showed up three sixes.
 The negro fell over in a faint His wife. who knew nothing about dice, looked at the auctioneer piteously.
 "LostY she asked. "Losti No. Thirty-two and eighteen are fifty. Fifty wins. Gentlemen. this family belongs to itself. Make out the bill of sale"
 The crowd separated. most of them good humoredly. for at that time the southern people were especially given 4o &.Htor ,honcaa .,H kuaur hnur fo