The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-05-28
The Man Who
SWore Off.

decade this case had Il woman in it, She
was good woman, too-si sort of guard
ian angel of the camp. Her name was
Lucy Mason She had brother Dick.
one of the uckieSt miners of the district.
1t seemed he WAS born under IL lucky star.
but when some of us suggested such a
possibility to him one day he declared he
was only born under the northeast end of
the Milky Way which would bring it
somewhere near Pike county, Missouri.
Tom Davis was the man to whom be
fell a large share of Dick Malson's gold.
which is TO say he was a gambler, wore a
big white hat, "a red tie and a brace Of
six-sshooterS. Tom manipulated u faro
bank in Jacksonville for several wears
and cleaned up more money than the best
six claims produced.
But all this time Lucy Mason was do
ing her good work in the camp. If gold
digger took sick she was the first to reach
his side. We considered it Il crime to be
caught groggy in Lucy Mason's presence.
We all had a warm spot in our hearts for
LllSy and there WAS not grZzled miner
in the camp but who would have waded
through fire knee deep for her She in
fuenced all of us, with the exception of
her brother Dick. Her pleadings her
tears had no more effect on him than
shot on II caSt-iron roof
In the course of her rounds, Lucy met
Tom Davis, the handsome gambler. Tom
was always polite and civil to her. but it
WAS u long time before she could reach in
him that tender spot which she had To-
Gated in all the rest of us.
Then the camp awoke one morning to
find Tom reincarnated. He closed his
faro bank, "swore Off on gambling and
drinking, discarded his red tie and dom
ned a red flannel shirt slnd brown over
allS. The next morning he was shovel
ing gravel in "a ground-suiee-an honest
digger-with the rest of u.s. The sequel
is not far to seek-he fell in love with
Lucy.
Though Tom had quit his old tricks.
he never failed to call i'm mt the saloons,
when he WINS in camp. just to meet the
boys, for he was the same jovinl fellow
he was before experiencing n change of
heart.
One day. just aS he was entering a Sc
loon, Lucy met him. and. with tears in
he" eyes, begged him to watch her broth
er Dick, who hHh inst arrived in camp
with his usual bag of dust. She was sure
he would bank it all on faro a"d To-,
just as he had always done before.
"llc will not listen to me, Tom, but |
think he will listen to you. Don't let him
lose HIS harl-eaTncd gold"
Lucy" Tom replied, taking her slight
fingers in his own big palm, II won't let
him lose his money. not if | have to drag
him ont by the scruff of the Leck."
Ton found Dick just as he was max
ing ready to stake four ounces on the
''red''
Hello, Tom" said Dick; mighty glad
to see YOU; aint seen YOU since the chap
arral doomed. Come up and have one"
No. thanks, old man." Tom answered
'Ivc quit"
Quit That's what you told me six
months ago"
eyes, | know it, and I'm still telling
you"
We'll, blamed if you amt as firm lis a
balked Government mule. Come have a
little game of double-ante then
Cant do it, Dick; there's no more
gambling for me, either"
"Oh gambling your Aunt Peggy. This
won't be gambling-just quiet little
game of poker for old friendships sake"
1t was harmleSS-appealing amusement
50 Tom acquieSced, and they found a
table in a quiet corner. The chips We're
divided, the deck, shuffled and the game
begun. After round OF two Dick
showed back his chair impatiently and ex-
claimed:
Bring us a pitcher of water and a
toothpick! This is too tame. It's just like
playing casino in a hayloft Let's have
small ante. Tom. to make it appear
more like a game of cards. and not so
much like a committee meeting. What's
the matter with "a two-bit bet?'
1t looked suspicious, but the touch of
the cards. the clink of the chips and the
spirit of the game brought back feeling
Tom had not known for many days, 80
he acquieSced again.
Once more the cards were shutf1ed and
dealt. Dick had won every game while
there was no money in sight. but now,
even though the ante was Il pigmy, luck,
the golden winged goddess that had 80
often lowered over him, again returned.
He could feed the touch of her wings, and
with the touch his blood grew warmer
and his heart beat faster.
Three times Tom won. then, on the
next game, when he glanced at his cards,
he said quietly: 'l'll just so you one bot
ter ami double tho hct.'
Dick examined his cards and returned:
Good; I'll 90 YOU still better and make
it half AN eagle"
"Wcll, Dick. you're getting rather
bloOdcd for quiet little game like this,
but, if you insist on running it up, III
make it hundred"
Dicks red face flushed yet more red.
Both men pulled their pouches and
placed their cards face down on the table
iS inn i,rsa iI,tr hlsiID