Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-16
\ ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ - ~ - 80
.GAME FOR FREEDOM.
by RICHARD mARKLEY.


MS VIE who were about TO be taken on
board n steamer at vicksburg. in 1910.
Il hope you will get good master. II
was about 90 give you your freedom
when this blow fell upon me. The law
takes you out Of my hands and have
no power to make you free. The col
onel who had heart rs big as an or
had endorsed note to save n friend
from bankruptcy, and thereby become
a bankrupt himself.
I'VE know dat Marse Colonel" said
the woman. Don't yo' worry yo'self
about dat; you couldn't help IT,"
The slaves were taken abOe-d the |
boat which was bound for New Or
leans. showering blessings on their old |
master, but as soon as they were OF |
on their journey southwark they began |
to bewail their probable coming sepa-
ration; for they would doubtless be |
sold 10 different masters.
In those days the steamers plying on |
the Mississippi river were infested |
with gamblers. In the cabin Of the
steamer on which these slaves were Ia
htNs NNIt huiA u hNLth AuUltN
which sat card players with chips or
money stacked mp before them. A man
whose serious mind marked him for a
clergyman, went TO one OF the tables
and said to those playing:
Gentlemen, there are a couple Of
slaves on this boat, a man and his wife,
who are going TO New Orleans 20 be
sold, quite likely, separately. II has
been suggested to me that a game Of
"freeze out" be played for them-what-
ever that may be-the winner TO give
them their freedom. VIII someone
please tell me what Is n freeze outT"
"what this plan is that has been sug-
gested "a you, sir" said one Of the
gamblers, "is to sell chips TO the
amount OF the price the owner puts on
his slaves, and the chip holders play
a game Of poker till one Of them owns
all the chips. He then buys the slaves
and sets them free"
Several of the players at the table
bought chips. and the clergyman went
20 other tables and induced others to
buy. But when he had got In all he
could IL was only half enough. The
owners of the negroes wanted Sl,GOO
for the two, and chips Only 10 the val.
ne OF 5000 could be sold.
Friend" said the clergyman, "all
the money have in the world is sew
en- hundred dollars. ! win buy the rest
OF the chips II anyone who knows how
TO play this game Of poker will play
for me-"
you needn't take all the unsold
chips, parson," said the owner Of the
slaves. "rll divide II with you. I'll
take half; you take the other half"
The game was arranged but there
was trouble in finding anyone TO play
for the parson. He would not commit
the interest TO any professional gam
bier OF which class he professed hor-
ror; and no one else would accept the
responsibility Of playing for him.
Gentlemen" he said at last, "the
Lord will play for me. l know moth
ing Of the game, but in such a cause
the Lord will send me luck with enough
Of the element OF luck, will need no
skill"
The chip holders took table and
the game began. II was a slow pro-
ceedlng, for everything must be explain
ed 20 the parson. He neither won nor
lost for time, but one by one the
players lost all the chips they had
bought except the owner Of the slaves
and the clergyman. The former dcslr-
ing TO hasten the winning Of the par
sons chips proposed Jack pot. When
jack pot was explained 90 the parSon
he acceded 20 Il snd after consider
able enlargement Of the pile on the ta-
BILE his opponent opened It. The par
son won on three kings, the other
showing three knavcs.
They played ON with various success
tlll the parson laid his cards on the
table face down. and asked which was
the higher hand. thrae kings or queen
und four deuces. when todd that Lpur
deuces beat the kings lN seemed sur
prised. But he took up his hand and,
after a profound study Of IL, Q1t fifty
dollars In the pot. His opponent rails
ed him. He raised his opponent urd
the raising went on till all the chips
were on the table. The cards we're
turned over.
rs that what you call royal flushY"
asked the parson looking up from his
cards, showing four aces and a king.
There WAS a clupping OF hands
among the lOokers-on. The slave own
or had been frozen out.
The clergyman made out free pa.
pers for the slaves.
"Who is that manT" asked the slave
owner, II think there IL something
wrong about him."
Something wrong aud something
right" replied a bystander. Hes a
Notorious card sharp, but he's given his
money and his skill 10 free "A couple