Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-02-05
Turning i |! Point.

{ II 81 81. - q - 1ssS1s
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Copyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-.
ciation.] zs.
Daniel Lester. professional gambler.
sat on 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, a Louisiana plant
er. 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 it. Dan Lester fell in with
one of these gamblers, who took a fan
cy to him and taught him the art.
But "blood will tell," and, though
smotheFed in the boy, it cropped out in
the man. He detested his calling. Con-
scquently. life not seeming to him to
be a paying condition. he was consiii-
ering the question of ending it.
"Aren't you going to take a chance
in the rattle, Lester?" asked passen-
ger.
what raf1le?' ..-
"Coiored girl and her boy. They be-
long to a young lady from Memphis on
Z, her way to New Orleans. She's short
Of money and wants to sell 'em. The
F: 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 a young slave woman with her
boy. ten years old. A blank bill of sale
lay on a table ready to be filled out in
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.
Call right" said the clerk. "We'll
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.
J "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-$50 a
chance. He would be cheap at $780,"
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 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. It was
agreed that Lester should open the
game. Having number of chances,
he threw for each chance, his highest
throw being forty in possible
dfty-four. The next Zee men threw
less than he. but the |. y 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. IF you
win, your mother and you will be free"
"Gentlemen," said Lester, 81 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. slave dealer,
who insisted on holding his chance.
"Very WE'LL" said Lester, IT will nav
the others for their shares and play
against yours. But want him to
have the last throw"
II don't care when I throw" said
the slave dealer.
every we'll, 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 ffty-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
CHANGER" he asked the slave dealer.
II won't sell at any price,"
"Well, then, since am so much in
terested in the matter, think I'll
throw for joe"
''Throw away: don't care who
throws"
II do. You're an expert thrower.
I've been on these boats for ten years,
and I never saw man who can roll