The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1911-06-10
RULING PASSION IS
STRONG IN DEATH


James W. Nye, appointed by Prcsi '
dent Lincoln ~ first territorial COVER.
nor 81 Nevada after 1t was admitted
to the Union, was in his day nationally
renowned as a political speaker. 1t was
said of him that better than any other
man, Lincoln alone accepted. Nye corld
tell a story TO illustrate a point. To a
group Of ,a.tern friends he one LAY told
"a good auecdotr, illustratice Of the old
saying that ones ruling passion d,
atrong in death.
81 suppose - said Governor Nye, with
a reminiscent smilr-he was then a
member OF the United States Senate
the territory OF Nevada, when ! hr
came governor Of IL, was about the
weirdest and most lawless community
then ecistiug anywhere on the face OF
the earth. Every form Of gice prevail.
ID openly there, aud yet there was IN
existence a kind Of rude cole Of honor
which served betted thar any written
law to restrain the lawl,ss from carry.
ing things on with what might he called
a high hard.
"Among this element when ! arrived
IN Nevada was a desperate, a gambler,
who practically ruled the territory. His
passion for gambling was 50 inveteratc
that he was willing to wager a bet up.
on any event. lie was fond of betting
upon the weather, and he would even
bet upon the course Of the wind as that
might be developed the next day AZ a
certain fixed hour. lie would take any
conceivable chance. ! got alorg very
we'll with this man, and h $ emed "a
entertain some friendship for me, 80 that
when word came from this gambler tu
ne that he was desperately i'll Il think
with pneumonia was Penuin ly sorry.
1.-THE doctor attending the gambler
had told him that he could not 1--we,
and, knowing his patients mode OF
life, the physician had supplemented this
information by limiting that II the gamb.
Ter wished 10 make any statement ol
leave any message with n man of God
he had better send for one Immediately
That the gambler had done, but hi
messengers could lind no clergyman any
where, and when they 30 reported, thu
gambler had asked that ! be sent for
You're the governor explained tn,
messenger, aud he says that's the bes
thing to being a clergyman, aud besides
he likes you
Though not very experienced i
giving religious consolation, | determiu
ed to do what | could for the gambler
ilurrying to his bedside say at
glance that he was very near dealt
4 lie looked up at me and smiled f~aintl!
Well, Jim | said, you seem 10 J.
pretty sick
',lu reply, he told me that he kue'
his time had come, aud that he felt i
had something 20 say-he wanted
leave the world squsrely. knew wh'
he meant, aud as well as | could ! toI
HIM that the Good Book said that
anyone confessed his sins, evan At u
last moment, and was really sorry f
them, there was no doubt OF that man
pardon.
"For a moment he lay still, with h
eyes closed. Then he looked earnest
into my face. And II | an really 50
roy, ] will go to heaveni' he asked.
Yes, Jim | said, j an sure "
wA'
"'DO you expect to 20 to heaven
he asked after another pause. And
told him that hoped to 20 there.
"'Shall we both be angelsP
asked, with all sincerity, like a lit
child, aud with a child's pathetic year
ing In his eyes.
~ could only answer, Yes
"a beautiful smile fitted across q
mans face. Governor he said, AZ,
. moment, and In tho faintest of voi,'
when we re both in heaven and a
gels, I II bet YOU Ave dollars ] can I
faster than you can
at was the ruling passion strong
death. Aud ave minutes later he W
dead"
Copyright, 1911, BY n. J. EDWARDS.