The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-08
A Turning Point.


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, be saw moth
ing attractive in his past, present or
future. Hfs father, 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 1t. Dan Lester fell in with
one of these gamblers, who took fan
cy to him and taught him the art.
But blood win TELL" and, though
smothered in the boy, It cropped out in
the man. He detested his calling Con-
sequently, life not seeming to him to
be a paying condition, he was consid-
ering the question Of ending It.
aren't you going to take a chance
in the rattle, Lester?' asked a passen-
ger.
what raffaeT
"Colored girl and her boy. They be-
long to a young lady from Memphis on
her way to New Orleans She's short
of money ard wants to sell 'em. The
clerk Of the boat offered to get up a
rattle for 'eIn."
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 filed ont 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.
"All right" said the clerk. wen
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 raf1ed for $500 value-S50 g
chance. He would be cheap at $780,"
eff the winner" said Lester, twill
put up the mother with the boy, max
ing a pool for the two Of $1,000, II
take half the chances"
"Done," said the winner, who would
make a profitable cash turn by the
transaction.
Lester took half the chances, as ht
had agreed, and had one chance en-
tered in the name Of little Joe, the boy
chances began to throw. 1t wa
agreed that Lester should open tx
game. Having a number of chances
! he threw for each chance, his highes
throw being forty-ive in a possibl
: ffty-four The next three men threy
D less than he, but the last man to throw
before the boys chance came to b
tested threw forty seven.
. "Come, joe" said the clerk, "throy
for yourself. There you are If yol
q win, your mother and you will be free
Gentlemen" said Lester 81 wi
q pay each man here what he has pu
in for his share If 1 can buy them al
7 their freedom"
All the holders of chances agreed t
sell except one man, a slave dealer
who insisted on holding his chance.
Every WELL" said Lester, 81 will pa
the others for their shares and pla
u against yours. But l want him I
have the last throw
Il don't care when 1 throw" sal
the slave dealer.
Every well, throw now"
Lester tossed the dice on the tabl,
the slave dealer picked them up, pr
them in the box and rolled them on
There were two skies and a four. III
second throw was three skies. His Ias
was six. five, six. He had undoubtedl
won with fifty-one because to bes
that the boy would have to thro-
within two of the highest possib
number.
Again Lester took up the dice.
What Will you take for you
CHANGER he asked the slave dealer.
81 won't sell at any price"
"Well, then, since 1 am so much i
terested in the matter, I think I
throw for joe"
Throw away. I don't care wi
throws"
81 do. You're an expert throwe
= I've been on these boats for ten year
! and l never saw a man who can re
X out the flves and skies as you can"
id Lester spread his arms on the tahl
DO taking the dice box in his right han
Id On the third finger of his left hand ]
IS, wore an enormous seal ring. His fir
e. throw was three skies, his secol
- throw was three skies, his last ty
skies and a five, making in all fit
Of three points and winning by one poir
M The slave woman tainted, while t
ly others gave themselves over to excit
Sc. ment. When Lester looked up he sa
m over the heads Of the men sittii
e around the table the face Of a woma
It was not only beautiful-it wore
expression Of many mingled emotio
combining to express appreciation
Mr.. Lester for what he had done S
was the mistress of the slaves.
IL