The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-11-08
A MODEL MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.

-Sc-:6ner's Monthly.
A MODEL MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.
In the good old steamboating days,
the steamboats, plying between New
Orleans and st. Louis, and New Orleans
and Cincinnati, never made trip with
out carrying one or more cheuaiier dm-
dustrie, who turned any trick that came
in his way, from robbing state-room
TO wringing in a cold deck on fiat in
a game of draw poker. The men were
invariably well dressed and gentlemanly,
and were rarely without roll Of 81 800
or $1,000. They generally travelled in
pairs, as it was frequently possible for
one of the fakirs to render his COM
panion valuable assistance, especially in
little game of draw, where the dealer
would stock the cards, slip the cut, and
deal in such a manner as to give the
man at his left full hand, but to fur
nish his partner with larger full. The
victim, if smart, would stumble to the
game and jump it" after getting out
rageously beaten once or twice on al
most invincible hands, but the black.
legs would already have made enough
TO pay them we'll for the trip. One of
the most noted of the professionals ives
Humphrey Davis, small, dapper, and
rather good-looking man, of perhaps 80
years of age, who travelled almost con-
tinually on the boats, but made his
home in New Orleans, where he sup
ported woman in luxurious style. He
was not married to her, but seemed to
entertain an unusual affection for her,
and treated her with the greatest ten
derness, although he was naturally
utterly cold and unscrupulous. He
weighed only 100 or 125 pounds, but his
word was never disputed by his reckless
companions, who knew that he would
brook contradiction or interference from
no one, and that his hand readily fell
on the hilt of knife or the handle OF
a revolver. Unlike many of the others,
he frequently travelled alone, and was
always ready to test his skill in q. game
of poker with one or more strangers
but the professionals who knew him
only by reputation hesitated at trying
to beat him by illegitimate means, vel
knowing that, should the cheat be dis
covered, it would involve the loss oi
their money, if not their lives.
On one occasion, when coming up
from New Orleans, DAVIS met a party
who expressed a desire to engage in q
little poker, and, as he manifested nc
reluctance, they all adjourned to the
cabin after supper: and, wheeling out
a table, commenced to play. One oi
the party was a man standing over si1
feet in his stockings, and perfect giant
in muscle and strength. He had heard
OF Davis, but probably underestimsteo
his shrewdness or courage, and deter
mined to win his money by raising colo
hands from his lap and playing them
While he was reserving material for ar
invincible hand Davis noticed it, bu'
said nothing, and the game went on
Finally. DAVIS received a more than or
dinarily good hand, and bet fifty dollar
on it. The giant adroitly changed tn
hand given him for the reserve on hi
knee, and thinking that the msneuve
had not been observed, raised the origi
nal bet one hundred dollars more
Davis saw the one hundred raise, ant
in turn raised one hundred dollars. Th'
other, thinking he had sure thing
raised two hundred dollars more, ant
SO it went until $500 or 500 were up
and Davis called. The giant threw tn
stolen hand on tie table, and Davi
quietly remarked, after looking at il
That's a good hand" The other az
+. sented, and reached out to draw tn
money in, when Davis said, "Don'
touch that just yet"
"Why nOt?" said the Goliah 81 hav
the best hand"
al say. don't touch it," repeatet
Davis, whose eyes were beginning I.
gleam, although he was outwardly cain
and collected.
"Yes, l will touch it, too," said tn
other, in a sneering way, as he swcp
the money teward him with his arms
He had barely placed his arms on tn
table when Davis reached over tn,
table with hi. left hand and caught hin
by the hair, while with his right b.
drew revolver and fred pointblani
at hs body. Although shot through
the chest, the vitality of the man was 81
remarkable that the wound appeared
TO affect him but little, and, rising Il
ms feet, he caught Davis by the hai
with his right hand, and, throwing hi
LETT arm about him, forced his heat
back, with the intention, as he after
wards said, of breaking his neck. Davi
comprehended his design in an instant
and, quick as lightning, fired two shot
into the giants right shoulder, com
pletely crippling his arm. lie theI
sent another ball through his left arm
and, as he fell back into his chair, fire.
the fifth shot, the bulletpassing througl
his antagonists right arm near the e
bow, seveiing one of the tendons.
The wounded mans friend had, j
tne mean time, crowded back out {
The way, and Davis swept his pisto
which still contained one load, aroup
the table once or twice, and, still hole
ing it in his right hand, called after
lop to the cards which the blackleg LA
dropped, and coolly remarked, al tol
you not to touch that money, but yo
would do it," He then crumpled u
the bills In his left hand, crsmms
them intn his unckst ond ,,nc,.I....