Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1910-12-02
Feeling a Part
BY REGINALD D HAVEN
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association,

others. H oCCuEIcu Hoh9 sN"'S "eN
and as am now very old man and
have very long. troubled life to look
hack upon, including several terms Ia
the nenitentiary, Il stands out from the
rest OF my acts In odd contrast
''lt was In the summer OF 1880 that
several OF us got together In a north
srn city and manufactured n number
OF twenty dollar counterfeit bills, As
soon as we had finished the Job We
DESTROYED the outfit. divided the bills
ana 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,
l started for New Orleans In order
the better TO impose on people dress
ed myself In ministerial black and
wore a white cravat. had been an |
actor and could personate a 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
gambling. Poker. seyen-up. euchro and
other games were played. though the
parties playing were not large and Of
ten two persons only occupied a table.
was sitting on the guards one day
when q negro came out OF the cabin
wringing his hands.
"'whats the matter. boyr asked
"'Mars' done gone lose me TO a mig
gah trader. Ma wife an pickaninnles
won't nebber see me no mo-
II found that his master, planter,
had taken him to Cairo as his body
servant, was returning, had lost nll
! the money he had with him at cards,
staked his darky and lost him too
went into the cabin. where the plant
I er and the trader were settling ur
: the planter being at the moment occu'
pied In making out bill OF sale for
the slave.
e "T beg your pardon, SIR said to
!. the planter. on account OF my yoca
>, tion / am opposed. Of course. TO gam'
;" bling in any form, but ! dislike ex'
J. ceedingly the separation OF families
: understand that you have lost youf
negro. would be pleased to lend you
the money to win him back
- "The gentleman accepted the ofrer
r. I brought out some new, crisp bills
lust from the press. aud the gam'
k. started anew. Ii wns euchre, sooi
L, saw that the gambler could so OF
~ winning from the trader all day II h
H. liked, for the former was pcrpetratini
'" one Of the commonest tricks on him
.oa that Is, turning jack In other words
when he dealt he would always tur
on up a knave for himself. Seeing TIL
nd and other cheating, interfcred.
he told him that had learned the gam
urt before becoming Clergyman and u
OF sisted on taking the planters plac
'nu Since was backing the latter he WI
m Obliged to yield to me In the matte
Ion which he did with bad grace.
"I had not only learned the gan
de. before becoming a clergyman b'
the all the tricks that went with II al
Ior. many other games. | walked into th
and card sharper In q way that opened b
ooc eyes. The negro at stake had follo'
'eb ed me into the cabin and was standlI
um watching the game with bulging eye
W IL was hard for me to keep straig
face, playing as l was, supposed iii
all Ister Of the gospel, with counteri'
lien money and doing as neat bits OF thil
Uses blerigging as had ever been prf
to- ticed on that palatlal steamboat. L
nty' negro trader was not profession
uar' card sharper, though he didn't hesita
,rth' to cheat the planter, and never drea
ed that the somber man before MN
$40 spotless white necktie was placi
,ho .he cards exactly where he want
ance Them.
pro. "Of course / soon won the dar
the for his master. Then arose from
Hill table, delivered bomily on the sin
due gambling and returned to the guar
mt TO I was followed by the planter, "
oeie, said to me:
ms "Pe'mit me, sub, to say to 20 u
70. y6re the first man of the cloth q
,ents has even obtained my unbounded
ceru spect, sub. Y0 have saved my b
sub, from being separated from
Ill OF wife and children, an act fo' whlcl
d for would have been to blame. hi
and sufficient influence, sub, to contro
lend call to the First Baptist church of :
N oy' Mississippi. If yo' will accept II
y part "'ia" "1 pe go ~ o,,o,nor for b,s
Court fer, but declined 1t. When we ref
pnr. ed his landing he insisted so hear
acing upon my visiting him at his plal
lmed ton that consented.
lereof 81 was made welcome by his fan
other and the wife and children of the ne
seem I had saved from the trader came
an the house with tears in their eyei
pnD thank me. l was q good looking yo
com. fellow in those days and could
o and that I made an impression on ont
,ursu. the planters daughters. had ev
,,,,Ior thIru of INV dicnncal tO narnptFate