Arizona republican., 1910-02-12
eAMsLEo FOR A TOMBSTONE
Story of Ben Thompson Recalled By the Tearing Down of the Iron
 Front .af

Austin. TeXas,-The old two story stone building in Austin that was i occupied for forty years by the Iron Front saloon and gambling hall is being torn down to make room for a 1 modern eight-story office building In tearing down the building the other day the wOrkmen came across a marble tombstone.
 That marble slab was won by Ben Thompson in a game of poker more than twenty-five years ago." said Jim Long. 'I remember the circumstances very well. A tomb stone peddler named Luke Watts. travelled over this part of the coun- try in one horse covered wagon. He carried few samples of tomb stones with him and took orders for them among the people in the differ ent communities. This fellow Watts was a pretty good stone cutter, and if buyer of a slab wanted some words cut on it Watts did. the work right on the spot
 Watts drove into Austin from San Antonio one day with quite a bunch of money in his pocket. and no sooner had he put up his horse and wagon than he headed for the Iron Front and began to play Pret- ty soon Ben Thompson showed up and sat into the game.
 Thompson was feeling good and he jollied Watts about selling tomb- stones and making a living off dead people and all that sort of thing Watts knew that Thompson had sev- eral notches on his gun, but he came back at him good and strong
 Ben. you'll be took off sudden one
 Ben, you'll be took off sudden one of these days. and I may not be around just at the time to sell a tombstone or ornament your grave You'd better order one from me now"
 "A wooden board is about all l need replied Ben with a laugh
 The game continued and Watts was a steady. loser Finally about midnight Watts started to get upz E
 Boys. I'm cleaned out he said.
 Hold on there; how much are those tombstones of yours worth?' asked Ben Thompson.
 Watts looked across at Ben.
 It depends upon what kind of stone it is" he replied.
 "1 don't want any cheap monu- ment,' Ben said. Have you got any that's made out of marble?'
 I've got as fine a marble slab down there in my wagon as you cant find south of St. Louis,' Watts re- piled.
 How much is il worth?'
 Not a cent less than s2OO'
 Put that tombstone in pot against my s2O0 and I will play you to win or lose
 Agreed said Watts.
 Bring the monument up here: Il want to see it first Ben told the peddler.
 Watts went down to the wagon yard. hitched up his horse to the wagon and hauled the marble tomb- stone up to the front of the saloon It was then about o'clock in the morning. With the aid of the porters about the place he carried the heavy stone up the stairs and set it down alongside of Ben Thompson. Ben ex- pressed himself as satisfied with it. The game began and in short time Ben won the tombstone a,
 Watts was unconcerned
 Better let me carve the iascrip- ton on it now he said to Ben.
 No, you can wait until I have done something that will give you the subject for a befitting epitaph.'
 ''The tombstone occupied the cen- ter of the gambling room for several days and attracted much attention. Finally it was removed by Ben's order and its existence was for gotten until it's discovery the other day in an out of the way corner of the room.