The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-02-18
Dead Mans Hand.



changes. For ages she knew only the
red nlrn hn"fin- o. bar bank; cr dart
ing hit..4r ;!i.ti t.t.,.!~r ii t.l, II cLnveS,
leaving StreakS OF light On her broad
BOSOM She saw De Soto come, an
apparitiop from another world. Later
the fatboat, the sun glittering on it's
water dripping sweeps. marked the
approach of civilization. The steamer
followed the fatboat. an era that
marked the old rivers greatest glory,
q glory of which she was robbed by
the railroad built on her banks.
In the middle Of the last century
what was then regarded II liUating pal
ace stopped at Memphis, took on pas
sengers and proceeded on her way
down toward New Orleans. Among
those who came aboard at Memphis
was Arthur Davidson, the son of a
widow living Gu her plantation near
that city. Her husband had been
spendthrift and had mortgaged his
plantation. From the day of his death
for ten years Mrs. Davidson struggled
and saved, scraping together every
loose coin, that came in her way to
pay off this mortgage and leave her
plantation to her children free from
debt. These were two girls and two
boys. The eldest boy, Arthur, was
twenty-one. the youngest boy eleven.
The widow determined to send Arthur
to New Orleans, where the money had
been borrowed to Pay it off and to en-
ter upon a business life. Her property
was to be reserved for her minor chill
dren.
At that time, when the long table in
the cabin was not set for meals, q
number of groups were scattered
about playing various games Of cards.
Arthur Davidson stood over one Of
these tables looking on. 1t was not
only Arthur that listened to the fasci.
mating click Of gold pieces (for our in.
dividuality Is merged into that of our
parents and our children; it was both
he and his weak father. He sat down
and joined In the game.
He had in his pocketbook money for
his travelling expenses. The $4,000
with which to pay off the mortgage
was. in a money belt about his waist.
Arthur Davidson soon lost his expense
money, rose from the table and walk
ed out on the guards, struggling the
while against temptation to go back
and redeem his loss by risking the
money intrusted to his care. The i'm
age Of his mother came up before him
terror stricken, pleading. He saw his
younger brother and sisters ruined at
an age when they could not at that
day hope to provide for themselves.
But the temptation was too strong for
him. Feverishly he unbuckled his belt
and, taking out number of $500 bills,
placed them unfolded In his pocket
book Then he returned TO the cabin
and resumed his place at the table.
While there were gambler sharks on
the Mississippi, there were many
games made up of planters, cow men
and others in legitimate occupations.
The game In which Arthur Davidson
was playing was fair. but he was reck-
less. doing an inordinate amount of
more his mothers savings diminished
the more reckless he became. The
game continued far into the night. and
toward the small hours of the morning
he had parted with more than ;one-half
he had taken from his belt
1t was about 2 o'clock when some
one of the players opened fat pot,
and every one stayed in. 1t was Da-
Wilson's last say. He raised, as be
usually did, and still no one dropped
out This transferred to the pot about
half Of what he had left Of his Origi-
nal sum The cards were now drawn.
The opener drew three, the next two
drew two each and the last three one
each. Davidson was one Of those who
drew one card. The opener bet, and
Davidson raised him with all the mon
ey he had left. Since he was so given
to bluffing, the others, supposing he
bad drawn but one card to scare them
off, called him.
If he won he would win twice the
mortgage money. If he lost he would
have nothing left. After the last bet
he laid his cards on the table face
down. 1t was noticed that he was la
boring under terrible excitement
He bent over the table, his head rest
ing on his arms. The rest showed
their hands. The opener had one
small pair, another had a pair Of
aces, third had two pairs, sevens and
tours, and the fourth man had pair
of queens. The highest hand In the
lot was the sevens and tours, not
hard one to beat.
"Come. Davidson; show your hand
Davidson didn't move. One of the
players, impatient to know the result,
turned over the young mans hand. 1t
contained a pair of tens and pair of
threes 1t had won.
1.-The pots yours. youngster," called
one Of the players. Wake up"
All expected Davidson to start up
and eagerly clutch his winnings. In
stead ne remained immOvable. They
shook him. They turned his face so
that they could see his features. 1t
was livid.
"Is there doctor aboard?'
Word was passed, and man in the
ladies' cabin came forward, raised
Davidson, looked into his face. felt his
pulse and pronounced him dead. His
heart had yielded to the excitement
of standing on the precipice between
ruin and a doubling of the money he
had been tempted to risk.
Davidson's body was shipped back