<P> Stephen Vincent Benét drew much of his inspiration for "The Devil and Daniel Webster" from this tale . </P> <P> The story starts with the legend of William Kidd the pirate . It is rumored that Kidd had buried a large treasure in a forest in colonial Massachusetts . Kidd made a deal with the devil to protect his money . The devil's conditions are unknown . Kidd died never able to reclaim his money, but the devil has protected it ever since . </P> <P> The story continues around 1727 . Tom Walker, a greedy, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife . They lived in a tarnished looking house, that had stood alone and had an air of starvation . This is until he takes a walk in the swamp at an old Indian fortress (a relic of King Philip's War of 1675 / 1678), and starts up a conversation with the Devil incarnate (referred to as "Old Scratch" and "The Black Man" in the story). Old Scratch appears as a lumberjack or a woodsman chopping trees, each with a prominent and wealthy colonialist's name branded on the trunk . One rotted and soon - to - fall tree has the name of a deacon who grew wealthy "trading" with the Indians . Another fallen trunk has that of a wealthy seaman rumored to be a pirate . Old Scratch strikes a deal with Tom Walker, offering the riches hidden in the swamp by Captain Kidd in exchange for a great price, which is often thought to be his soul . Tom agrees to think about it and returns home . </P> <P> Burdened with this secret, he tells his wife . While he has no scruples in selling himself to Old Scratch for the treasure, he does not wish to do so for his wife's sake . She meets Old Scratch herself but tells her husband Old Scratch requires an offering . When Tom is away, she takes all their valuables in and goes to make a deal with Old Scratch . When Tom searches for his wife and property, all he finds is her apron holding her heart and liver, tied to a tree . </P>

What is tom walker's deal with the devil
find me the text answering this question