Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-06
Feeling a art.
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


have very long. troubled life to look
back upon, including several terms In
the penitentiary. II stands out from the
rest OF my acts I'm odd contrast
1T was I'm the summer OF 1850 that
several OF us got together I'm north.
ern 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
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
ed myself in ministerial black and
wore white cravat. had been an
actor and could personnte Clergyman,
or any one else, for that matter. to
perfection.
The main cabin OF the steamers run
ming on the Mississippi river I'm those
days, when the table was not set for
meals, was occupied principally for
gambling. Poker. scven-up. euchro and
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. boyT | asked.
Mars done gone lose me TO n Mig
gah trader. Ma vito an pickaninnies
won't nebber see me no mo-
Il found that his master. n PLANTER.
had taken him TO Cairo as his BODY
servant, was returning. had lost all
the money he had with him at cards.
staked his darky and lost him too.
went into the cabin. where the plant
er and the trader were settling up.
the planter being ut the moment occu-
pied IL making out bill OF sale for
the slave.
az beg your pardon. SIR said TO
the planter. ON account OF my voca-
ton / am opposed, OF course TO gam.
bling In any form. but l dislike ex-
ceedingly the separation OF families.
understand that you have lost your
negro. would be pleased TO lend you
the money TO win him back
Tho gentleman accepted the OFFER.
brought out some new. crisp bills,
just from the press. and the game
started anew. 1t was euchre. j soon
saw that the gambler could go on
winning from the trader all day IL no
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 l had learned tho game
before becoming n clergyman and in
sisted on taking the planters place
Since WINS backing the latter he was
Obliged to yield to me In the matter,
which heidi with bad grace.
II had not only learned the game
before becoming clergyman but
all the tricks that went with IL and
many other games. / walked into that
card sharper In a 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.
IL was hard for me to keep straight
face. playing as was, n supposed min
istcr OF the gospel. with counterfeit
money and doing as neat bits OF thin
bIerigging ms had ever been prac-
ticed on that palntial steamboat The
negro trader was not professional
card sharper, though he didn't hesitate
TO cheat the planter. and never dream
ed that the somber man before him in
a spotless white necktie was placing
the cards exactly where he wanted
them.
"Of course 1 soon won the darky
for his master. Then arose from the
table. delivered homily on the sin OF
gambling and returned to the guards.
/ was followed by the planter, who
said to mo:
"'Pe'mit me, sub. TO say TO yo' that
yo're the hrst man OF the cloth that
hns even obtained my unbounded re.
spect, sub. Yo' have saved my boy.
sub, from being separated from his
wife and children, an act TO which
YOU'D have been TO blame. 1 have
suhlcient influence, sub, to control a
call TO tho First Baptist church OF -,
Mississippi II yo' Will accept II It
shall be yo's With n Fat salary
II thanked the gentleman for his of
fer, but declined It. When we reach
cd his landing he insisted so heartily
upon my visiting him at his planta-
ton that / consented.
II wos made welcome by his family,
and the wife and children Of the negro
I had saved from the trader came TO
tho house with tears I'm their eyes 20
thank me. j was n good looking young
fellow in those days and could see
that made an impression on one OF
the planters daughters. had every
thing at my disposal to perpetrate any
rascality / might choose. ] could get
the planters Endorsement. which would
enable me TO dispose OF my green
goods and ! believed could win his
daughter.
II did neither. For n brief season
enjoyed the sensation OF being a fine
fellow During TINT ffrna Z rorunfffod