Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
MY DUSkT FRIEND,
$4,000
TOFigfuai

/ can well remember the ladies' CABIN
curtained OF from the mems. l can
sc the captain, now. few minutes
before the sound of the dinner bell.
push aside these curtains, enter the
ladies cabin and escort them 10 the
table where the men stood waiting.
each behind the chair he intended 10
occupy. till all the women were seated
at the end reserved for them. Then
at The first tap of the bell every man
sprang into his seat and began TO eat
whatever was nearest TO him
made several trips when boy
with my mother from st Louis for
my health She tried 10 keep me with
her, but 1 WAS usually To be found IN
the pantry, where L was favorite. or
i'll the mems cabin playing about the
tables, where they were gambling, !
longing for the white. red and blue
ivory chips. My best friend ana con-
slant companion was Job. a colOred
man, the property OF Colonel Ashley
of New Orleans.
one day | was with dob when lie
was brushing his masters clothes and
noticed that he was troubled. Several
times he went into the cabin. where
his master WAS playing poker. The
game had been played 10y a number
Of men, bat all had dropped out eX-
cept Colonel Ashley and one other. ON
one of Jobs returns he WAS talking TO
himself
Mars : the biggest fool VIVA lie
want 10 glib dat nigga trader. skinner,
chance 10 fleece him TO: He's done
touken all de cunnels money and now
Is de stakes. Don keer, l amt gwine
to Ieabe mars if dat nigga trader win
me 100 times"
fIe went back to the table The
colonel ordered him away, but he
would not go Presently the game was
finished. Skinner had won Job At
the same time Job said:
"CunneI. DAT nigga trader been
cheatin'"
skinner looked up at Job with an
expression that frightened me, for
was standing by. and said:
''You Internal niSGer. l own you and
when | get you ashore III fog YOU"
Ashley had been depressed at losing
his favorite slave. The proposed fog
giHg filled him with horror.
Il have means at hOme' said the
colonel I'll give you $1,000 for Job
in my note of hand"
Il won't sell him"
What have YOU to say to his
CHARGE"
I've nothing to say to the charge of
niger
very well. I viii assume Jobs in
suit have no doubt he has told the
truth"
That WAS all that was required to in
sure mortal combat Some of the
passengers wondered that Colonel Ash
ley should demean himself to fight with
Il negro trader. but the reason WAS
soon understood. There could be no
duel till the boat stopped again for
wood which would not be till the aft
eruoon
Meanwhile | was tagging about after
Job. who was too much preoccupied
TO pay any attention 10 me. He WAS
continually mutJering to himself "Ec
dat mjs'able skinner Kill de cunnei
he got L fight me Sho'. Nigga cant
| stan up and fight with white man lax
gentlemen. but he Kin git white man
| in a corner and max him fight. So
/ he kin"
! / was TOO young to understand this
| sOliloquy or. indeed, the importance of
! the whole matter. but remember he
/ ing impressed that there was trouble
/ brewing.
The boat did not stop till after dark.
/ when l saw crowd going over the
| gdngplank, headed by Colonel Ashley
| and Skinner. All the sympathy was
| with the colonel and Skinner found il
| difficult TO secure second. | was on
! the guard watching the deck hands
carry in wood when heard two shots
| | did not know What they meant. but
n few minutes later I saw a sight thar
/ IS as vivid 10 me today rs 1t was then.
! Colonel Ashley was being carried to the
| boat, his face a whitish blue, his vest
| covered with blood. He had been kill
ed instantly. Job was helping to carry
| him
| Later l was with Job Ia the state
| room the colonel had occupied lie
was packing the coIoucl's belongings.
l saw him take revolver from
| trunk and conceal ii under his shirt
/ But l had no idea what he intended 10
/ do with il. Just before l WAS put TO
! bed | asked permission to go and say
I good night 10 Job. ! saw him led be-
! tween two men, crowd following.
| down into the lower part of the boat
/ I did not know what ii meant then.
/ but the rest Of the story learned when
/ ! was older.
! job had Swallowed Skinner at dis
/ lance. Skinner. who was stunned by
/ every person aboard, went up on to the
/ hurricane deck AZ far a # as a.. coI,ld
/ go and was smoking alone Several
/ shots were heard. and officers OF the
/ boat on going aft found skinner shot
dead. Job was standing over him.
/ Job owned To the deed and gave him
/ self up On Skinner was found re-
/ volver with two chambers exploded
/ That's the last I saw Of job for years
/ When / was nearly grown / received
a call al my home in ST. Louis from a
negro. who proved TO be Job. He told