The Portland daily press., 1895-04-05
4 DEAD GAME SPORT.

/
Bradley S future and not favorably. Sad
lerville was the postoffice of a farming COM
munity, and the ordinary run of local
events was not sufficient to divert the in
habitants from a pretty liberal discussion
of the affairs of their neighbors.
Farmer Josiah Bradley had two sons
and two daughters. Whe eldest son,
Abram, and the daughters were Gard
working and thrifty, as their parents had
always been. Buck, SO called after Presi-
dent James Buchanan, had decided turn
for sports, and while he did not shirk the
share of farm work that fell to his lot he
did not indulge in that vocation with en-
thusiasm. The little spending money that
came into his hands he would risk on a
game of cards or quickly take up what he
regarded as a winning bet. In the main
his Judgment was good, and for the amount
of capital in hand and the limited oppor-
tunities to play it he was quite successful.
1t was this fact that caused the gossips of
the village store to predict that his gam
bling Instincts were leading him to ruin.
horse fair in a neighboring county
gave Buck the chance for which he had
been waiting There was to be a series of
trotting and pacing races scheduled, and
while they were not of very pretentious
order there was an opportunity to wager
bigger money than was ever exposed to
chance by anybody in Sadlerville.
Buck spent q week at the fair backing
his judgment as to probable winners His
luck did not desert him, and when he re-
turned to Sadlervlle it was known that
ha had avera ued ac r,,,1ob GS0 dow IL,
winnings, which was an astounding
amount in that community for young
man to get without working for it,
The incident, however, developed into
a scandal when, on the following week,
he went to a still more distant town
where racing was in progress. 1t became
known that he was following tho horses
through the circuit, and the villagers of
SaderVillle united in an agreement that
Buck Bradley, in harmony with their pre-
vious predictions, had now finally launch
ed himself on the road to perdition.
The occasional visits of Buck Bradley
to Sadlervilte seemed to revive interest in
his probable future, which was often dis
cussed in spirit bordering on jealousy.
His clothing bore evidence of good tailor
ing, and his manners had become those of
a man of the world.
Former associates whom he used to beat
easily at cards for small stakes could now
win from him without effort, and it began
to dawn upon them that he lost trifing
amounts out of pure liberality and be-
cause he took no interest in play except
when it was heavy enough to comport
with his advanced ideas as a sport. On
one occasion he lifted the veil slightly by
demonstrating to some of the players what
could be done by a professional in the way
of running up a deck, slipping the cut,
stripping and dealing seconds, to say moth
ing of such mechanical devices as sleeve
and vest holdouts and mirrors concealed
in the palm of the hand. After these rev
elations Sadlerville regarded him as the
greatest poker expert that had ever been
developed.
Farmer Josiah Bradley was taken sud
denly ill, and the members of the family
were summoned to his bedside Medical
skill was of no avail, and he passed away,
his last admonition being that despite his
wild ways he wanted the others to care
for Buck if he should ever be in need.
Buck himself arrived in time for the fu-
neral, and the minister requested him not
to depart until the will was read. This
document was soon forthcoming 1t di-
vided the real estate and personal property
between the elder son and the two daugh-
ters. An amount equivalent to that willed
to each of these heirs was reserved in cash
for Buck.
This bequest, however, was conditioned
on the proposition that Buck should per-
manently give up gaming in every form
and, as evidence of good faith, in case he
accepted he was to undertake a period of
probation for two years. At the end of
that time the money was to be turned over
to Buck by the family pastor, provided
the latter was convinced that Buck had
not turned card or placed a wager.
The proposition was accordingly put to
Buck by the family pastor, the Rev. Dun
can Smith, and he received a characteris-
tic reply, indicating the mathematical cal
culations involved in Bucks speculation
and which had resulted in winnings.
Pastor said he, 'sI've been playing
against horses cards and sports generally
since / left Sadierville l have made few
thousand dollars, which I may increase or
lose altogether by keeping up the play.
Now, figure that it will be good gam
BILE for me to spend the next two years in
Sadlerville earning that bequest and hold
ing on to what I've made already"
That's right, my son., said the pas
tor. II am glad to see you turn back
from the path that leadeth to destruction. /"
To demonstrate that his intentions were
sincere Buck invested his winnings in Sc
curities remained at the old homestead
and indulged in no greater excitement
than game of checkers or backgammon.
"Buck,' said Pastor Duncan Smith,
who had called at the homestead a few
days before the two years of probation
were about to EXPIRE II am convinced
that you have kept the faith in regard to
your fathers WILL and l have suggestion
to make The two years that have been
intrusted with your legacy will end one
week from next Thursday. Don't you
think it would be good idea to have a
family picnic on that day at Glenn's
grove, and ] will formally turn over to
you the bequest?"
The retired horseman and card player
had never taken any interest in the social
gatherings Of his buoolic neighbors and
picnic was not by any means gratifying
suggestion, but he acquiesced, as the pas
tor seemed to hint that there was some
special significance in having picnic at