Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-02-22
bead Mans Hand.


d Mississippi has seen great
hges. For ages she knew only the
men hunting on her banks or dart
hither and thither in their canoes,
ing streaks Of light on her broad
pm. She saw De Soto come, an
aritioD from another world. Later
fiatboat, the sun glittering on its
er dripping sweeps, marked the
roach of civilization. The steamer
owed the fiatboat. an era that
ked the old rivers greatest glory,
lory of which she was robbed by
railroad built on her banks.
the middle of the last century
1t was then regarded floating pal
stopped at Memphis, took ON pas
gers and proceeded on her way
IN toward New Orleans. Among
be who came aboard at Memphis
Arthur Davidson. the son OF a
ow living on her plantation near
city, Her husband had been a
ndthrift and had mortgaged his
ntation. From the day Of his death
ten years Mrs. Davidson struggled
saved, scraping together every
Be coin that came in her way to
off this mortgage and leave her
ntation to her children free from
t. These were two girls and two
%. The eldest boy, Arthur, was
nty-one, the youngest boy eleven.
widow determined to send Arthur
New Orleans, where the money had
n borrowed to pay it or and to en-
upon business life. Her property
to be reserved for her minor chill
n.
t that time, when the long table in
cabin was not set for meals,
nber of groups were scattered
but playing various games Of cards.
hur Davidson stood over one of
Sc tables looking ON. 1t was not
v Arthur that listened to the fasci-
ing click Of gold pieces (for our in
iduality Is merged into that OF our
ents and our children; 1t was both
and HIS weak father. He sat down
] joined in the game.
lie had In his pocketbook money for
travelling expenses. The $4,000
h which to pay of the mortgage
8 in a money belt about his waist.
thur Davidson soon lost his expense
ney, rose from the table and walk
out on the guards, struggling the
lie against temptation to go back
redeem his loss by risking the
ney tntrusted to his care. The inn
of his mother came up before him
error stricken, pleading. He saw his
anger brother and sisters ruined at
age when they could not at that
hope to provide for themselves.
t the temptation was too strong for
%. Feverishly he unbuckled his belt
d, taking out a number of $500 bills,
iced them unfolded In his pocket
ok. Then he returned to the cabin
d resumed his place at the table.
While there were gambler sharks on
Mississippi, there were many
mes made up Of planters, COW men
d others in legitimate occupations.
le game in which Arthur Davidson
rs playing was fair, but he was reck-
is, doing an inordinate amount of
lfing, and he lost steadily. The
pre- his mothers savings diminished
more reckless he became. The
me continued far into the night, and
ward the small hours of the morning
had parted with more than one-half
had taken from his belt.
It was about 2 o'clock when some
e of the players opened a fat pot,
d every one stayed in. 1t was Da-
dson's last say. He raised, as he
ually did, and still no one dropped
It. This transferred to the pot about
lf Of what he had left of his origi-
] sum. The cards were now drawn.
be opener drew three, the next two
ew two each and the last three one
ch. Davidson was one Of those who
ew one card. The opener bet, and
Wilson raised him with all the mon
he had left. Since he was so given
blufing, the others, suppOsing he
d drawn but one card to scare them
called him.
{ he won he would win twice the
Prtgage money. If he lost he would
We nothing left. After the last bet
laid his cards on the table face
wn. 1t was noticed that he was la
BRING under a terrible excitement
e bent over the table, his head rest
'g on his arms. The rest showed
eir hands. The opener had one
pail pair, another had a pair Of
les, third had two pairs. sevens and
urs, and the fourth man had a pair
queens. The highest hand in the
was the sevens and tours. not
rd one to beat
f'Come, Davidson; show your hand"
Davidson didn't move. One Of the
ayers. impatient to know the result,
rned over the young mans hand. It
ntained pair Of tens and a pair Of
rees. II had won.
The pots yours. yOungster," called
e Of the players. wake up"
All expected Davidson to start up
d eagerly clutch his winnings. In
Fad he remained immOvable. They
OOk him. They turned his face so
taf thar seor.l1 49, ma, @oa&uvna IL