Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-02
BORN GAMBLERS
By George Slater Beck.

Of his ancestors which he loved 10 the
hour Of his death and in which be could
see no wrong. He married the daughter Of
a gambler who had worked as a "capper''
for his father for many years and she. too.
was and is thoroughly co1versant with the
sure things that always were her husbands
stock in trade. Notwithstanding that
Dawes dice were always loaded. his thin
bic fixed. his cards marked and his strap
and loop certsinties, he and his wife al
ways maintained that he wsss an honest
man, because, as they both vehemently de-
clared, he never won a cent from any man
who was not trying to ain from him. He
made much money and his family lived
high, but in his later years his fortunes
varied, and when he died as the result Of
the wound referred to by our friend his
legacy TO his wife waSA few dollars wing
around the house. the diamonds on her
neck and fingers. six months rent due the
landlord and other debts amounting TO $500
or 500, a gamblers outfit and a pair Of
twins-John and Olivia--l0 years old.
! was called professionally WHEN he was
brought home wounded from the race track
and prescribed an opiate 70 alleviate his
pain. but he refused il, saying: I'm bet
tenner that the stuff would kill me.
never took nothin' 10 make me game when
was al wool. an I'd be sucker TO take
dope TO die on" When I told him he had
but few moments to live. and that il he
desired TO say anything 10 his wife IL must
be said at once, he took her hand and.
clasping II TO his heart, said:
If Doc hasn't dsped this news out wrong
and my feelin's Amt playin' me false. that
swiPe's gimiet has done me Up good and
proper an. you amt goir' TO have no
further use for your marriage recent
pretty soon. Now. don't cry. Rirlie, Re a
peach-be as cool as an oysteT-and show
up brave. II hurts me cause / can; leave
you a bag o coin, cause NE know that
Widders' characters amt safe wlaout de
coin; but say, girlie, you know. I'd touch
you in De woods or on de train-an' Won
know, don't you. that I'm rot ho;-airip'
when / say I've done &c best I can.
say grille. take one o. your blazers 10
Dc hook shop. ana Wid de rnorey pay Does
BIB an &c rent Plant me cheaD out In
Greenwood. 4 man who loved a swine to
Sass'nafe him amt got no business OK
pectin' solid silver handles on Ms oofrir
or a bard at his finale. Let the other debts
q" The feed and clothing guys took dere
chances on me. an II ley kick. blame &,
on de swipe. say. gir.te don't let johnny
chuck de dice or trow de loop on ie stree,
for a. de fairs 'uH after you're co.ksrr.
he's got Il right cause II he goes ont
'prsnuceliks. he'll fan by De wavside an.
dlsgraee de family, And say grille. dom
"esr no mournin' toys Don't Eo-v-sv--
trorn-New-York-foE bet"
But the gambling spirit whieh. born IN
MN. had dominated Dawes entire llfe. vas
/ on its way 70 other realms. and none Il as
VIII ever know what he wanted 70 Law his
| last bet on.
That man was a gambler because BE-
eouidn BE- anything else. and ] Will write
an editorial on the subject Of he-e,litv
when get hack TO my ofEice." declared
the Editor - p.
Ard ny first sermon after nv return Ca
my parish VII be on the subject OF how
the sins OF the fathers are visited uDon The
children, even unto the third ana r,,,,.,,
generation Of those VINO hate the Lord p,
said the Preacher
! Il hope that my Dan Patch colt viii 20.
low hts sire as closely as Dave Mortirp,r
followed hts dad" calculated the Rae.
Track Official
That history beats ANYTHING that ever
4 happened In any generation q the rrcst
Gilmore family Of aerohats" chlmed in the
Circus Man.
But doctor did the Same mania Tor
gambling develop IN The twin children "a
this precious pair I inquired
Great heavens" he replied II bts
fathers was clear case of hsredity ,hs
young sons Is - plain that you can al
most photograph H. The undertaken who
prepared Dawes body for burial toid me