Connecticut western news., 1909-03-11
Dead Mans Hand.

[Copyright. 1909, by American Press Asso- |. ciation.l
 Old Mississippi has seen great changes. For ages she knew only the red men hunting on her banks or dart ing htther ard thither in their canoes, leaving strci;ks Cf light on her broad bosom. She saw De Soto come, an npparitioD from another world. Later the hatboat, the sun glittering on its water dripping sweeps, marked the approach of civilization. The steamer followed the fatboat, an era that marked the old rivers greatest glory, d glory of which she was robbed by the railroad built on her banks. In the middle of the last century what was then regarded a floating pal ace stopped at Memphis, took on pas sen.ers aud proceeded on her way down toward New Orleans. Among those who came aboard at Memphis was Arthur Davidson, the son of widow living on her plantation near that city. Her husband had been a 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 q business life. Her property was to be reserved for her minor chil- dren.
 At that time, when the long table in the cabin was not set for meals, a number of groups were scattered about playing various games of cards. Arthur Davidson stood over one of these tables looking on. It was not only Arthur that listened to the fasci- hating click of gold pieces (for our in dividuality is merged into that of OUT parents and our children; 1t was bot he and his weak father. He sat dow and joined In the game
 He had in his pocketbook money for
 
 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 bis 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 a 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 blufing, and he lost steadily. The 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.
 It was about o'clock when some one of the players opened a fat pot, and every one stayed in. It was Da- wilson's last say. He raised, as he 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 1rew one card. The opener bet, and Davidson raised him with all the mon- ey he had left. Since he was so given 10 blufing, the others, suppOsing he had 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 he laid his cards on the table face down. It was noticed that he was la boring under a terrible excitement. He bent over the table, his head rest Ing on his arms. The rest showed heir hands. The opener had one small pair, another had a pair of aces, third had two pairs, sevens and fours, and the fourth man had a pair of queens. The highest hand in the lot was the sevens and fours, not a 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. It contained a pair of tens and a pair of l threeS. It had won.
 ''The pots yours. youngster," called )ne of the players. Wake up"
 All expected Davidson to start up and eagerly clutch his winnings. h. stead he remained immovable. They shook him. They turned his face so that they could see his features. It was liyid