The morning times., 1897-03-09

made large sums Of money and to have
aided BarTios, and in the confusion lat
followed bothhe and McCune were arrested,
tried and condemned TO DEATH
The property of Davis was confiscated
and he was thrown into prison. McCune
was promptly hanged outside the walls Of
Champerico, and his body filled with bul-
lets. Then began the battle Of wits to
save the life OF Davis.
Davis, with the true instinct of the
gambler, had bought unset diamonds when
ever he could Around his body under his
clothes he wore broad iJelt filled with
them. This he took to prison with him.
His former gener oSity recommended
hiiH to the graces of the governor OF the
prison, and he was introduced to the
governors wife, who became interested
in the slight, good looking young American.
AT the first opportunity he presented her
with diamond from his belt and pro-
posed that she assist in keeping him
alive until his friends could come to him.
The governors wife was u woman Of
good wit, and she liked diamonds. She
telegraphed to a friend of Davis in Kan
sas City, Il young merchant, who related
the story TO q reporter of the Star The
telegram aske dhim to get in communication
with the little coterie Of boyhood friends
and classmates in the Joplin school, to
raise all the money possible and send it
TO San Jose de Guatemala.
The wires were putin operation, and tele-
grams flew to all parts of the country. But
the sports were all broke" Cummings
sent $4,000; the Kansas City man had
81 800 to spare. That was all Sam Parks
was in Paris, where, it was believed, he
was running aprofitable game. A telegram
was sent TO the governors wife, telling her
that $4,000 would be sent by express at
once. Back came a reply;
Not enough money. Come yourself.
Where is Parks?"
Parks, in Paris, was no doubt astomshed
to receive two Telegram one from Kansas
City, the other from Guatemala, demand
ing his immediate presence in the Central
American republic with all the money he
could bring. Parks was game. lie could
not 70 back on a friend in distress. He
closed his game, changed his money into
gold, and took passage on q slow, rolling
steamer TO Guatemala.
Meanwhile, Davis was planning intrigues
TO keep from being shot. II he could hold
out for a few weeks, until Parks arrived,
he knew that a golden key would procure
his release Every delay cost diamond or
two. He paid a doctor several diamonds to
report to the governor of the prison that
be was too i'll TO be removed from his cell
His diam ondS paid for kilograms, luxuries
and delay.
Parks, on board the etumblinglittIesteame
fumed at the delay. At last, however, he
reached the port Of Champerico. The first
thing that met his gaze was the body ef Nc
CUne, blowing about in the dry air from the
end of chain slung over the city wall.
The buzZardS had left his eyeless sockets
staring into nothing. The body ratified
like dry pod whenever il rotated against
the wan. The hot winds had dried it like
q skin.
Parks tried TO have it cut down andburied.
But the soldiers would not allow it. and,
having lost a day in persuasion, he hur.
RED on TO San Jose. There he met the wife
OF the governor OF the prison.
Parks had about $4,000 in notes and
gold-enough money to have ransomed a
prince. let alone an American gambler
The governors wife outlined a plan fol
Davis escape. and Parks began the invest
ment OF his money.
The guards OF the Jail tasted some good
cheer that night. 1t was the day Of some
saint or other. Nearly every day is a saints
dayin Central America, bItthiS was the da Y
OF the patron saint of the governors wife,
whercrorethe guards celebrasedin wine and
song.
AT o'clock that night the governor sat
down to play poker with Parks, who
passed for an American merchant The
gambler dealt clumsy hands: he was bluffed
with infinite ease: the governor thought
be had never met an easier opponent.
Piles OF notes crossed over the table
from Parks to the governor, then pieces of
gold, and at last whole stacks OF gold
pieces. The governor was drunk with the
lust of the Americans yellow money
And while they played Davis, with q
trowel and short iron bar, was digging,
and digging doggedly, at the stone wall of
bis cell. The drunken guards snored
The governor was in high good humor
The keen ears of the American gambler
opposite him could hear the ring of the
metal bar on the stones The governors