The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-01-05

!
Il take TO- shares" said the colonel
THAT lets me in for TO-" said the
| diamond stud man.
After some delay the shares were
all taken except one.
| Zone chance left. Who takes it"
called the auctioneer.
Gentlemen" said the husband and
father, ''if the auctioneer will be so
kind as to take my agreement TO-
500 In work I'll solemnly promise to
| pay the amount" He looked at the
upturned faces wistfully.
Cant do that" said the auctioneer.
'It's all cash here"
'1ll indorse his note for a hundred. -
said the colonel.
Don't take paper" said the auction
eer
"Tll lend him a hundred on the
colonel's Endorsement" said the man
with the diamond stud.
A note was drawn, the colonel put
his signature on the back, and all was
ready for the rattle.
"How will you have it, gentlemen"
asked the auctioneer, "dice or cards ~
II would be much obliged" said the
owner Of a single chance for his and
his family's freedom, 'if yo' would
make it dice, and would prefer that
my little boy throw TO- me-"
Shall it be dice, gentlemenT
'Dice it Isl said the shareholders
one after another.
Il have a set here in my pocket"
said the diamond stud man. He took
out box, shook it and rolled the dice
on the platform. Colonel, will you
| throw"
The colonel gathered up the dice and
threw thirty-seven. The next throw
was twenty-five, the next thirty-nine
The last thrower but one was the dia-
mond stud man, who threw forty
eight.
By common consent the last throw
had been reserved for the slave. AS
he took the box his hand trembled
visibly. The highest number that could
possibly be thrown was fifty-four, and
to make this the thrower must get
three SKIES three times in succession.
As even this was only six more than
the highest, he knew that he had but
a ghost Of a chance for his freedom.
He put the box in his baby's hand,
ptckaninny Of eleven months, but it
was so clumsy that the child could not
grasp it.
Hold on" said the diamond stud
man. "I'll just go into the saloon over
thar and get smaller set"
He went to the saloon and returned
in a few minutes with a very small
dfcebox and three tiny dice.
"Yo', GAL" he said to the mother,
take yo' boys hand in yo's and throw
had. Dice don't roll lucky unless yo'
make em roll
The box was put in the baby's hand,
and the mother threw them. They
rolled out six, five and SIX"
''Seventeenr' called the aucttoneer.
The next throw was two SKIES and
three .f
''Thirty-twov
The anxiety on the fathers face was
painful to see. He knew that the
throwing of two SKIES twice was re-
markable. To beat the best figure (for-
ty-eight) he must throw two SKIES
again, and the third die must turn up
at least five.
"Roll 'em WELL" said the diamond
stud man to the mother.
She did roll them well, and when
they came to turn they showed up
three skies.
The negro fell over in faint. His
wife, who knew nothing about dice,
looked at the auctioneer piteously.
Lost 2" she asked.
Lost! No. Thirty-two and eight
cen are fifty. Fifty wins. Gentlemen,
this family belongs to itself. Make out
the bill Of sale"
The crowd separated, most OF them
good hurnoredly, for at that time the
southern people were especially given
to taking chances and knew how to
lose their money with a good grace.
The colonel stepped up to the man OF
the diamond stud and whispered TO
him:
"You internal gambler, those little
dice were loaded"
'sNot in a bad cause, colonel.
you took TO- hundred dollars OUT
me, yo' rascal, and gave It to fnat
niggah"
"But yo' note II be paid. colonel
| I'm out some myself.
"Innocent men-men who took
chances expecting fair play-were TOD
bed, subj
"Well, colonel. what are yo' a-goln ~
do about it?'
"Do? What am goin' to 5oI COINS
and have drink, sub"