The Ketchikan miner., 1909-03-06
A Turning Point.

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 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 noth- { ing attractive in his past. present or ] future. His father. a Louisiana plant ] CT had died insolvent. and his son had
 been thrown upon the world In those ] days-the first half of the last century gambling vas not considered so de- ! basing a profession as now, and mon of otherwise irreproachable character ] engaged in it. Dan Lester fell in with one of these gamblers. who took q fan cy to him and taught him the art.
 But blood will tell" and, though
 smothered in the boy. il cropped out in ] the man. He detested his calling. Con
 scquently, life not seeming to him to | be T paying condition. he was eonsid ering the question of ending 1t.
 Aren't you going to take chance in the rafle. Lester?" asked a nassen- ger.
 What rafle?"
 "Colered girl and her boy. They be ] long to a young lady from Memphis on i her way to New Orleans Shes shegt of money and wants to sell 'em. The clerk of the beat offered to get up Il rattle fer 'em."
 l Lester slowly rose from his chair and went into the cabin. There he l found young slave woman with her l boy. ten years cid blank bill of sale l lay on table ready to be filed ont in ! the name of the winner X number of men had gathered round, some of whom were putting down their names ] for chances in the raHe. ] Mi right" said the clerk. "We'H
 first throw for the gal l Three dice were thrown three times ] Whoever threw the highest number in three throws was 10 win fhe woman.
 X ssoekman Wen her. ard she began ] to beg him to buy her ll.tle boy He ] told her the boy would he of no use to
 him. Her pleadinss were pathetic. 1 Come. lets have the matter over
 wlgh." said the clerk. Put down your ] names. gentlemen. fer the boy. He's ] to be raliled fer $500 value-Sao a chance He would be cheap at s5eo" If the winner" said Lester. will
 put ID 1he mother with the boy mak-
 ing q pool for the two of $1000, 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 I number of chances.
 he threw for each chance his highest
 throw being forty-lve in possible ] ffty-faur The next three men threw less than he. but the last man to throw l before the boys chance came to be
 tested threw fortE-seyea. Come. Jce." said the clerk. throw
 for yourself There you are. If you
 win. yaar mother and you will be free % "Genflemen." said Lester. T will ] pay each man here what he has put
 in for his share if can hny them all.
 I pr0rose to give the mother and child
 their freedom"
 ] All the holders Of chances agreed 10 ! sell except one man. g slave dealer
 who insisted CD holding his chance. i "Nerg well.s said E.es -er. "I will pay ] the others for their shares and play 1 against yours. But I want him to
 have the las. throw"
 l T don't care when throw" said
 the slave dealer
 ''yery well. throw ne8.' j Lester tossed 1he dice on the table
 the slave dealer picked them I'D. put
 them il Inc box and rol.ed them out. j There were tFo sizes and four His i second throw was three sixes Ills Inst
 was six. five. six He had undoubtedly
 won with afty-ene because To beat
 that the boy would have to throw
 within two of the highest possible
 number
 Aeain Lester tool up the dl~e
 What will you take for your
 chance:" he asked the slave dealer.
 T won't sell at any price" Well. then. since am so much in-
 terested in the matter. think I'll
 throw for Joe"
 l Throw away don't care who
 throws
 T do. You're an expert thrower ] I've been on these boats fer ten years and never saw q nan who can roll | out the fves and sizes as y0u can"
 Lester spread his arms on tie table
 taking the dice box in lis right hand l On the third finger of his left hand he
 wore an enorfnous seal ring. His first ! throw was three sizes. his second l throw was three sizes his last two i tixes and q five. mating in all fifty
 three points and winning hy cne point ] The slave woman fainfed whiie the
 others gave themselves eYer to excite ment When Lester locked up he saw over the heads If the men sitting
 around the table tbe face of woinaa
 It WAS not ou!y beauiful-it wore an expression Of many mingled emotions combining 10 expregs appreciation to
 Mir Lester for what he had done She