The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1910-10-31
Feeling a Part
By REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

and as | am now very old man and
have very long. troubled life to look
back upon. including several terms in
the penitentiary. it stands out from the
rest of my acts in odd contrast.
1T was in the summer of 1859 that
several of US got together in a north
crn city and manufactured Il number
OF twenty dollar counterfeit bills. AS
soon as we had finished the job we
destroyed the outfit, divided the bills
and started for different parts of the
country TO put them out on the public.
my section being the south. Boarding
one of the crack steamers of that day,
| started for New Orleans. In order
The better to impose on people dress
I'd myself in ministerial black and
wore white cravat. had been an
actor and could personate clergyman,
or any one else, for that matter, TO
perfection
The main cabin of the steamers run
ming on the Mississippi river in those
days. when the table was not set for
meals. was occupied principally for
S-sAlibiillS~. OAti. SCNtlf-ulP. tuCuit anu
other games were played. though the
parties playing were not large and of
ten two persons only occupied table
| was sitting on the guards one day
when negro came out of the cabin,
wringing his hands
What's the matter. boy?' asked.
Mars done gone lose me to mig
gah trader Ma wife an pickaninnes
won't nebbcr see me no mo-
| Il found that his master. planter.
| had taken him to. Cairo rs his body
servant, was returning. had lost all
the money he had with him at cards.
! staked his darby and lost him too
| went into the cabin. where the plant
| er and the trader were settling up
| the planter being mt the moment occu-
pied in making out bill of sale for
| the slave.
~ beg YOUR pardon. sir l said to
the planter. On account Of my voca-
| ton | am opposed. os course. 10 gam
bling in any form. but 1 dislike ex-
ceedingly the separation Of families
| understand that you have lost your
negro. | would lie pleased TO lend you
| the money 10 win him back
The gentleman accepted the offer
brought out some new, crisp bills.
| Just from the press. and the game
started anew 1T was euchrc. ! soon
saw that the gambler could 30 on
winning from the trader all day 1. he
liked. for the former was perpetrating
! one Of the commoneSt tricks on him
| that is. turning jack. In other words.
when he dealt he would always turn
up a knave for himself Seeing this
and other cheating | interfered
told him that | had learned the game
! before becoming clergyman and in.
sisted on taking the planters place
Since | was backing he latter he was
, obliged 10 yield TO me in the matter.
which he did With Il bad grace
Il had not only learned the game
| before becoming Clergyman but
| all the tricks that went with it and
many other gaines. I walked into that
card sharper in Il WAY that opened his
eyes. The negro at stake had follow
ed me into the cabin and was standing
watching the game with bullying eyes
Ii was hard for me to keep Il straight
| face. playing us ! was. Il supposed min
lister of the gospel. with counterfeit
| money aud doing as neat bits Of thin
blerigging rs had ever been pI'ac-
ticed OH that pa!aiial steamboat The
negro trader was not Il professional
lard sharper. though he didn't hesitate
10 cheat the planter. and never drpa M
| I'd that the SOmber man before him in
1 Spotiess white necktie was placing
| the cards exactly where he wanted
hem.
''Of course ] soon won the darky
for his master. Then ! arose from the
table. delivered Il hOmily on the sin of
gambling and returned to the guards
WAS followed by the planter. who
said to me:
Permit me, sub. TO say TO yO' that
yo're the first man of the cloth that
has evch obtained my unboundpd re
spect. sub. 70 have saved my boy,
sub. from being separated from his
wife and children, I'm act TO which |
would have been To blame. | have
sufficient influence. sub. to control
call TO he First Baptist church of -.
Mississippi. II 80 will accept it it
shall be yO'S with fat salary
Il thanked the gentleman for his Of
fer, but declined it, When we reach
ed his landing he insisted so heartily
upon my visiting him at his planta-
ton that | consented.
Il was made welcome by his family.
md the wife and children of the negro
had saved from the trader came to
the house with tears in their eyes to
thank Inc. | was Il good looking yOun.
fellow i'll those days and could see
that | made an impression on one of
the planters daughters. ! had every
thing at my disposal TO perpeirate any
rascality | might choose. sUnld gel
the planters Endorsement. which would
enable me to dispose Of my green
goods aud | believed | could win his
daughter
Il did neither. For brief season
enjoyed the sensation OF being fnc
fellow. During that time permitted
myself to feel the part just as IN actor
Will feel the character he is personal
N -