Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-03-04
A Turning Point.

sat Oh the guard" Of the Prairie Belle.
plying between st. Louis and New Or
leans, Lester was tired Of life. Though
but thirty-two years old, he saw moth
ing attractive in his past. present or
future His father, Louisiana plant
err had died insolvent, and his son had
been thrown upon the world. In those
days-the first half Of the last century
gambling was not considered so de
basing a profession as now, and men
of otherwise irreproachable character
engaged in 1t. Dan Lester fell in with
one of these gamblers. who took fan
CIV to him and taught him the art
But blood will tell" and. though
smothered in the boy, 1t cropped out In
the man. He detested his calling. Con-
scquently, life not seeming to him to
be a paying condition. he was consid-
ering the question Of ending 1t.
aren't you going to take chance
in the rattle, LesterT" asked a passen-
ger
What raff1e?"
"Colored girl and her boy. They be-
long to young lady from Memphis on
her way to New Orleans. She's short
of money and wants to sell 'em. The
clerk Of the boat offered to get up
rattle for EN-"
Lester slowly rose from his chair
and went into the cabin. There he
found n young slave woman with her
boy, ten years old. A blank bill OF sale
lay on a table ready to be filled out III
the name Of the winner. A number OF
men had gathered round. some OF
whom were putting down their names
for chances in the rattle.
"All right" said the clerk "Well
first throw for the gal"
Three dice were thrown three times.
Whoever threw the highest number In
three throws was to win the woman
A stockman won her, and she began
to beg him to buy her little boy. He
told her the boy would be Of no use to
him. Her pleadings were pathetic.
Come. let's have the matter over
with" said the clerk. PUT down your
names gentlemen. for the boy. He's
to be ratified for $500 value-$5O a
chance. He would be cheap at $500"
"If the winner" said Lester. will
put up the mother with the boy. max
Ing pool for the two Of $1,000, I'll
take half the chances"
Done" said the winner. who would
make a profitable cash turn by the
transaction.
Lester took half the chances as he
had agreed. and had one chance en-
tered in the name Of little Joe. the boy.
When all was ready the owners OF
chances began to throw. 1t was
agreed that Lester should open the
game Having number of chances,
he threw for each chance, his highest
throw being forty-tive in possible
fifty-four. The next three men threw
less than he. but the last man to throw
before the boys chance came to be
tested threw forty-seven.
Come joe" said the clerk. throw
for Yourself There you are. II you
win. your mother and YOU will be free"
Gentlemen" said Lester. II will
pay each man here what he has put
in for his share If can buy them all.
| propose TO give the mother and child
their freedom"
All the holders Of chances agreed to
sell except one man. a slave dealer,
who insisted on holding his chance.
every WELL" said Lester II will pay
the others for their shares and play
against yours. But | want him to
have the last throw"
II don't care when throw" said
the slave dealer.
every well. throw now"
Lester tossed the dice on the table.
the slave dealer picked them up, put
them In the box and rolled them out
There were two skies and four His
second throw was three skies His last
was six. five, six He had undoubtedly
won with tifty,one because to beat
that the boy would have to throw
within two Of the highest possible
number
Again Lester took up the dice
"What will you take for your
chanceT" he asked the slave dealer
~ won't sell at any price"
"Well. then. since | am SO much in
terested in the matter, | think III
throw for Joe"
Throw away. | don't care who
throws"
81 do. You're an expert thr"wer
I've been on these boats for ten years.
and ! never saw a man who can roll
out the tivps and SKIES as You can"
Lester spread his arms on tn" table
taking the dice box in his right hand
ON the third finger Of his left hand he
wore an enormous seal ring. His first
throw was three skies. his second
throw was three SKIES. his last two
SKIES and five making in all fifty.
three points and winning hy one point
The slave woman tainted while the
others gave themselves over to excite.
ment When Lester looked up he saw
over the heads Of the men sitting
around the table the face Of a woman.
1t was not only bcautifulit wore an
expression of many mingled emotions
combining to express appreciation to
Mr. Lester fer what he had done. She
was the mistress of the slaves
'What remarkable luck" she said to
him as she invited him to the ladies'
cabin.
at wasn't luck" he said. taking of
his seal ring. There is a magnet
there, and the dice were loaded"
That was the last occasion on which
he used the ring or any other such de-
vice 1t was also a turning point In
his life. He married the lady, her
former slaves stayed with them. and
ho hr1lyar