Jack Oakie's character and the ending

*spoiler alert*

The trivia section states the ending was changed because audiences didn't like seeing Jack Oakie's character die. However, this nullifies a scene foreshadowing his death. If you recall, he a pair of lucky dice that would always roll sevens, but before he begins his journey back to Dawson to file the claim, he rolls snake eyes with the dice. I thought this indicated something bad would happen to him, but it never materialized. I was right, but the preview audiences altered the payoff for me.