The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-23
CRAPS IN "OLD MISS

oozen negroes squatted on the floor.
Already the dice were rafting: DOL
lar I shoot" said voice.
"What does he mean?" asked Mr..
Adams.
He bets dollar. Somebody takes
the bet-fades 'm,' and he rolls the
dice. 1t he throws seven or eleven
ne wins; If he throws double skies,
double aces, or ace and duce, he loses.
Thats craps. But suppose he rolls
eight Eight becomes his point, and
he must throw it again before he
throws seven. That's all there is to
it,
The game warmed up; they shot
Tor two dollars, four dollars at
time. and went broke without
murmur.
Bowleg had stood to one side until
the game got hot. Then he pushed
Into the circle, and when the dice
came around to him, showed out
handful of money, just as the clerk
had given it to him. II shoot nine
teen dollars and fifteen cents"
Adams grasped. That's every
cent he has,"
EYES," said Mr.. Kerr: "Now watch
these other roosters divide the bet"
For few seconds none of the play
ers said word; then Frog-Eye shov-
ed out five dollar bill. separated
five dollars from Bowleg's pile, and
covered it; SCOT you faded for Ave."
II got Ave." said Slimmy.
Give me two and half" War
dog pushed up his money
Got you for six bits" which was
all that Crab had left.
me and Silas-John takes five." re-
marked Spider.
Dat leaves jes ninety cents" sug-
gested Bowleg composedly.
"You amt gwine honey fer that"
Brutus pushed out the ninety cents.
The original stake now lay on the
floor divided into piles, each with its
corresponding amount besides it.
Bowleg took up the dice, rubbed
them in the dirt and sent them rat
tling across the floor. Double SKIES
turned up. Craps" announced the
pass ticker, and each man took down
his share Of Bowleg's money. Bow
leg never said word; he withdrew
from the crowd and took his seat on
bale Of cotton.
Mr.. Kerr nodded towards him:
He'll go back on his boat next
trip"
"Poor Devil" said Mr.. Adams:
lost the wages of his trip in two Sec
onds."
While nobody was looking Mr..
Adams edged his way out Of the
crowd and slipped into Bowleg's
hand dollar.
"Thank you, sub" Bowleg sprang
up and pushed back into the game
When the dice came around to him
he said: Dollar I shoot"
Brutus promptly tossed coin be-
side it,
Without any preliminaries Bowleg
rolled the dice; "Seben," announced
the pass-picker.
"'Two dollars I shoot''-and Bow
leg rolled eleven.
-Four dollars 1 shoot.
That time he rolled a six and a
four. "Big Dick from Boston," an
nounced the pass-picker.
Ten is hard point, the dice were
stubborn, but ne turned double fives.
Eight dollars I shoot" He won
again, and raked all the money into
pile.
sixteen dollars 1 shoot"
He's a gritty devil" whispered
Adams; and as he turned his eyes
again Bowleg gathered in the grapes.
Bowleg now had thirty two dollars
and the dice. The other rousters
grew impatient while he counted his
| money. Separating it into two piles
Bowleg showed a handful into the
middle of the ring. Nineteen dollars
and fifteen cents 1 shoot" that beins
the wages of the trip.
The others hesitated reluctant to
buck against Bowleg luck. Brutus
| and Spider were both winners;
Bowleg resting on hand and knees.
looked at them starlight in the eyes:
"Gwinter let me bluff you?"
Huh" grunted Brutus: you're like
an old buzzard. flyin' high but ye