The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-11
Poker Game
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

where he considered that they would
be safer than In border state. They
consisted Of a man, his wife and two
children, a boy and a girl He had
reached Bowling Green, where he was
obliged to wait for a train for Nash
vile, and was lounging with his hui
man chattels In the station when a
man stepped up to him and began to
chat with him, ringing in questions
about where he was going and what
be was going to DO with the negroes.
Having learned the facts, the stranger
asked II he would like to sell them.
Morgan said he would prefer that to
the trouble Of taking them south.
The stranger went away, but soon
returned with several men and said:
1--WE don't like TO see the niggers
going south we want EN- here. These
gentlemen and would like to buy
your slaves. but no one Of us has
enough money to buy 'em all, and
we're against the principle Of separat-
ing families. What do you say to
selling us chips to the amount Of your
price for 'em? Then wen play a
game OF poker and the man that even
tually gets all the chips has the Mig
gers"
Morgan. who was anxious to turn
his negroes into cash, consented, and
the party adjourned to a hotel near
the station to carry out the plan.
Twenty-four hundred dollars was
agreed upon as the value Of the prop
erty. The owner. much pleased to be
able to get so hlgh a price-for the
coming struggle had lowered the
market value OF negroes-agreed to
take share OF the chips and enter
the game with the rest AS they were
arranging themselves around the la
Bile a gentleman wearing white cra-
vat stepped up and demonstrated
against the sin Of gambling. When 1t
was explained to him that the object
of the party was to keep a family OF
negroes from being separated he re-
GREETED that be knew nothing about
the game or, clergyman that he was, be
would take share aud hand.
"Oh. come I'M" said one Of the party
EVEN show you how its done. and
you viii soon get used to IT.
All begged the clergyman to join
them, aud finally be agreed that since
the object Of the game was a noble one
there would be no sin IN taking a
share. allowing some one else 70 play
his hand, but they wished that he
would do that himself. and, dragging
sshsfds IL his hands.
For awhile the numerous questions
asked by the Clergyman about the val
ne OF the cards or the rules OF the
game delayed the play
Nothing but an occasional case Of
blind luck prevented his being frozen
out. Several times when his pile OF
chips was reduced TO a minimum he
held the winning hand in large pot
and saved himself. On this account,
while one by one the other players
dropped out Of the game. the dominic
kept his place Morgan also kept a
respectable pile before him, and when
ell but he and the clergyman had been
frozen out 1t began TO look as II he
would still own the negroes and the
E s2,400 besides. In case this turned out
TO be so he could not even be prevented
from selling them separately.
1T all depends upon you, parson,'
said one Of the party.
"Gentlemen," said the clergyman,
81 protest against the fate Of these
poor negroes being left in my hands.
One OF you play for me"
But Morgan protested, and the cleri-
cal gentleman was obliged to play bis
own hand Despite the blunders be
made he held hands that enabled him
to keep even. Morgan, seeing that bis
adversary was having run Of luck,
ceased to bet till that run seemed to
have ended. then made several appar-
ent bluffs with the view OF getting
considerable money Ii the pot and TAX
ing 1t. Singularly enough, every time
he tried this expedient the clergyman's
hand laid over his own.
When several OF these hands had
been played $1,000 OF the S2,400 was
before the clergyman. Morgan began
70 look concerned. 1t seemed singular
to him that man who at the begin
ming OF the game didn't know the value
of the cards should have remained In
the game and hold more than four
ffths Of the whole sum invested. He
east several scrutinizlng glances at his
adversary's face, but 1t showed moth
ing other than piety and beneyolence.
But finally each seemed to hold
hand that warranted high betting.
Morgan opened with $50; the clergy
man raised him So. Morgan raised
$50. Tho parson raised all Morgan
had left, $500. Morgan had gone too
far to withdraw. He saw his op-
ponent and--lost
The parson scooped up all the money
there was on the table, and Morgan,
cursing his luck, made out a bill Of
sale for the negroes.
what name?" be asked Of the min
fster.
Peter Harbeson"
"You Pete Harbeson7 Well, I've
been done!"
Pete Harbeson was one OF the most
noted gamblers in the south He had
been employed by an saboltionist" to
secure the freedom Of NJ -gan's ne
groes. They received free papers and
4rant n Ohia