The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-25
My DUsky Friend
Ioriginal

T bore on her bosom her floating palaces. | can well remember the ladies cabin curtained off from the mems. can see the captain, now, few minutes before the sound of the dinner bell push aside these curtains, enter the ladies cabin and escort them to the table, where the men stood waiting each behind the chair he intended to occupy, till all the women were seated at the end reserved for them. Then at the first tap of the bell avery man sprang into his seat and began Co eat whatever was nearest to him. Il I made several trips when a boy | with my mother from St Louis for | my health. She tried to keep me with | her but l was usually Co be found in the pantry, where was a favoritc, or in the mems cabin playing about the tables, where they were gambling, ! longing for the white, red and blue ivory chips. My best friend and con stant companion was Job, a co!ored man. the property Of Colonel Ashley of New Orleans.
 One day I was with Job when be was brushing his masters clothes and noticed that he was troubled. Several times be went into the cabin, where his master was playing poker. The game had been played by a number of men, but all had dropped out ex- cept Colon,l Ashley and one other. On one of Jobs returns he was talking to himself.
 Mars s the biggest fool. Wha' he want to gIb dat nigga trader, skinner, chance Co fleece him fo'i He's done tooken an de cunners money and now Is de stakes Don kccr! amt gwine to leabe mars if dat nigga trader win me l5O times"
 He went back to the table. The colonel ordered him away, but he would not go. Presently the game was finished. skinner had won Joh. Al the same time Job said:
 "Cunnel dat nigga trader been chcatin'."
 Skinner looked up at Job with an ! eAlNANN~lNu AAAA AANANAAANAA AAAAH ANA wa, standing by, and said:
 You internal nigCcr, I own you and when get you ashore I'll fog you"
 A ,hlcy had been depressed at losing his favoyitc slave. The proposed log gin- fllgl Elm with horror.
 "l have means at home" snid the colonel "ru give you Sl,oOo for Job In ny note of hand"
 "l won't sell h,m."
 "What have you to say to bi- chE ge:'
 i've ayt!liug ,o s.y Co Jls Cla, Sc 5l n ggcr."
 "iery well. | VIII assume Jobs iu suit. have no doubt he has told the truth"
 That was all that was required to iu sure a mortal combat Some of the passengers wondered that Colonel Ash ley should demean himself to fight with negro trader, but the reason was soon understood. There could be no , duel tiTl the boat stopped again for wood, which would not he tlll the aft. ernoon.
 Meanwhils was tagging about after Job, who was too much preoccupled to pay any attention Co me. He was continually mutterlng 10 himself. "Ef dat miSuUle skinner kin de cunnel he got ( fight me sho' Nigga can't stan up and fight with white man lak gentlemen, but he kin git white man in corner and mak' him fight. So he kin
 was too young to understand this sol,oQuy or, indeed. the importance of the whole matter, but I remember be- ! my impressed that there was trouble , brewing
 The boat did not stop tll after dark. when ! saw crowd going over the glugplauk. headed by Colonel Ashley and Skinner. All the sympathy was with the colonel. nnd skinner found it difficult to secure second. l was on the guard watching the deck hands carry In wood when l heard two shots. I Lil not know what they meant, but a few minutes later saw a sight that Is as vivid to me today as it was then. Colonel Ashley was being carried to the boat, his face whitish blue his vest covered with blood. He had been kill cd instantly. Job was helping Co carry him
 Later was with Job In the state room the colonel had occupied. He was packing the coloners belongings saw him take revolver from a trunk and conceal it under hls shirt But had no idea what he intended to do with lt Just before was put Co bed asked permission Co % and say good night to Job. saw him led be tween two men. a crowd following down Into the lower part Of the boat I did not know what it meant then, but the rest Of the story learned when l was older.
 Job had shadowed Skinner at a dis tance. Skinner, who was\shunned by every person aboard. went up on Co the hurricane deck as far aft as he could go and was smoking alone. Several shots were heard, and officers of the boat on going aft found skinner shot ! nas4