The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-18
A DEADLY STAKE.
Tragic Ending of Game Of Cards ON .
Mississippi River Steamer.


Mississippi River steamer.
"But by all odds the notwithstanding
game ever saw was played ON the
Belle Lamar, in 1857" said an old Mis-
sissippi river man to Chicago report
er. "Thepe were circumstances con-
nected with il which made it an all
absorbing event to the few people who
understood what it really meant. The
players were two only. They are both
dead, and probably all their descend
ants have followed them to the grave,
SO may mention their names and tell
you about the train of events which led
to that game and its attendant tragedy.
In 1856 there lived in small town in
Kentucky beautiful girl named Alice
Crayton. She had a number of suitors,
but of all of them two only seemed to
meet with passing favor in her eyes.
One was rich young planter named
Horace Ellison, and the other young
lawyer, recently from the North, named
Converse. Ellison had the advantage
of his rival in looks and accomplish
ments. He had travelled extensively,
was well read, polished and bore the
reputation of being daredevil in af-
3
not over upright and honorable in his
affairs with women. He was the
sort of a man TO attract most girls.
But Miss Crayton preferred Con-
verse, plain young fellow, and
finally married him. Ellison, after
swearing to be revenged, went abroad.
In the course of a year Converse and
his wife went to New Orleans to live.
Two years after their marriage Con-
verse, returning home on the Belle La
mar, after business trip North, dis
covered his old rival, Ellison, among
the passengers All feelings of resent
ment had died out in his heart and he
greeted Ellison heartily, the latter re-
turning his handshake with well-sim-
ulated warmth. For day the two
men chatted together agreeably, TO all
appearances good friends. The next
evening Ellison proposed a little draw
to while away the monotony of the voy-
age. Converse readily assented and
they started the game in a large state
room. Four or five others were present
but they didn't join it. At first the ante
was triting. AS Converse steadily lost
he insisted on raising it with each deal
aud began drinking, a rare thing for
him to do. HIS ill-fortune continued,
and after q seance of two hours he be-
gan to borrow money from his friends
in the room, having lost all of his own
to Ellison. The latter was cool and
firm as a rock. He seldom spoke, and
then in cutting accents which added TO
the fast-growing enmity his epponent
felt toward him.
Perhaps, if Mr.. Converse would
finger his glass less and hls cards more,
his game would be more interesting and
less easy to beat, Ellison remarked.
4" Mr.. Converse can take care of him
self under all circumstances, Converse
retorted
"'Yes, he demonstrated his facility
for looking after lis own interests, two
years ago, when he won great stake,
but not 10y fair play
Il saw Converse's face flush. He un-
derstood the allusion to the old rivalry
between him aud Ellison and its covert
insinuation. He started, as though to
say something, brt stopped. The game
went on and soon after Converse mad
lost every penny and his watch and
diamond pin.
Ellison laughed sneeringly Mr..
Converse should apply his methods in
loye-making to cGsd-playing, he said.
"' What do YOU mean, srY
60 What you please. Shall We con-
tinue the game|
Converse was wild with fury. The
gambling spirit, mingled with hate and
rage, was on him. As if in answer TO
his outspoken thoughts, Ellison said, in
his cold, exasperating tones, You lack
a stake. L will hazard all my winnings
against the night-key of your house.
We will play three hands in five for it.
This monstrous proposition struck
us all dumb. Converse bounded from
his chair and gasped. He was speech
less. In fact the emotion of this great
experience had deprived him of the
power of words. Ellison alone was un-
moved. He sat quietly tossing the
pile of gold before him with his white
fingers.
90 Do you consent? 2 he asked.
"frhe loss Converse had sustained he
could not replace. Ruin was before
him. On the other hand, the privilege
he was invited to hazard meant, if he
lost it, dishonor worse than death
nat thoughts passed through Unat
mans mind in few seconds will never
be known. He grasped the back of his
chair, stared wildly around and hoarsely
muttered, yes
"You may imagine how breathlessly
we bent over the players now. They
shuffled the cards in silence. Ellison
won the first two deals. The next Con-
verse won. The fourth time, amid 81
lence in the room deep as the tomb,
Ellison dealt and gave Converse two
queens, a jack and two nine-spots. The
letter drew one card and announced
himself ready. Ellison glanced quickly
at him and laid down four aces.
always thought he had stocked his
hand.
"'You have won the key said Con-
verse. He drew it off the ring, and
then, quick as lightning, crowded it
into the barrel of his revolver Take
it, and pulled the trigger. Then he
turned the weapon upon himself, and
fell dead upon the corpse of his antag-
tvbpsa 4,