Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-19

sGAME FOR FREEDOMs
BY RICHARD MARkLEY. ,


Il hope you will get a good master. I
was about to give you your freedom
when this blow fell upon me. The law
takes you out of my hands and I have
no power to make you free. The col
onel who had a heart as big as an OK
had endorsed a note to save a friend
from bankruptcy, and thereby become
a bankrupt himself.
"We know dat Marse Colonel" said
the "Don't yo' worry yo'self
about dat; you couldn't help it."
The slaves were taken aboard the
boat which was bound for New Or
leans, showering blessings on their old
master, but as soon as they were off
on their journey southwark they began
to bewail their probable coming sepa-
ration; for they would doubtless be
sold to 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 ta-
ken, were half O dozen tables around
which sat card players with chips or
money stacked up 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 to be
sold, quite likely, separately. 1t 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. Will someone
please tell me what is a "freeze out?"
"What this plan is that has been sug-
gested to you, sir" said one of the
gamblers, sis 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
to other tables and induced others to
buy. But when he had got in all he
could it was only half enough. The
owners of the negroes wanted $1,000
for the two, and chips only to the val
ne of $500 could be sold.
"Friend," said the clergyman, 'all
the money 1 have in the world is sew
en- hundred dollars. I will buy the rest
of the chips if 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. "Pn divide it 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 a 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. I know moth
ing of the game, but In such a cause
the Lord will send me luck with enough
of the element of luck, I will need no
Skill"
The chip holders took a table and
the game began. It was a slow pro-
ceeding, for everything must be explain
ed to the parson. He neither won nor
lost for a time, but M by n the
players lost all the chips they had
bought except the owner of the slaves
n the clergyman. The former desir-
ing to hasten the winning Of the par
sons chips proposed a jack pot. When
a jack pot was explained to the parson
he acceded to it and after consider
able enlargement Of the pile on the TIA
bic his opponent opened 1t. The par
son won on three kings, the other
showing three knaves.
They played on with various success
till the parson laid his cards on the
table face down, and asked which was
the higher hand, three kings or, a queen
and four deuces. When told that four
deuces beat the kings he seemed sur
prised. But he took up his hand and,
after a profound study of it, put fifty
dollars in the pot. His opponent rails
ed him. He raised his opponent and
the raising went ON till all the chips
were on the table. The cards were
turned over.
rs that what you call a royal flush?'
asked the parson looking up from his
cards, showing four aces and a king.
Their was a clapping of hands
among the lookers-on. The slave own
er had been frozen out.
The clergyman made out free pa
pers for the slaves.
Who is that MANI" asked the slave
owner, Il think there is something
wrong about him."
something wrong and something
right" replied a bystander. "He's a
notorious card sharp, but he's given his
money and his skill to free a couple
of slaves"
Period Styles.
Often one hears persons who know
4 80 T.