The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-04
Dead Mans Hard.

red men hunting on her banks or dart
ing hither and thlther In their canoes
leaving streaks Of light on her broad
bosom. She saw De Soto come, ar
apparItlon from another world. Later
the flatboat, the sun glltterlng on III
water dripping sweeps, marked the
approach Of civilization. The steamer
followed the fiatboat. an era that
marked the old rivers greatest glory,
a 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
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 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 or 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 II of and to en-
ter upon 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.
number of groups were scattered
about playing various games Of cards.
Arthur Davidson stood over one OF
these tables looking on IL was not
only Arthur that listened to the fasci-
mating click Of gold pieces flor our In.
dividuality Is merged into that Of our
parents and our children; 1t was both
he and his weak father. He sat down
and joined In the game.
He had in bis pocketbook money for
bis travelling expenses. The $4,000
with which to pay of 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 tho
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
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 uDbuckled his belt
and, taking out number Of $500 bills,
placed them unfolded in his pocket
book. Then be returned to the cabin
and resumed bis 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
and be 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
be had parted with more than oRe-half
be 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. Il was Da-
Wilson's last say. He raised, as he
did. and still no one dropped
out. This transferred to the pot about
half Of what he had left Of his origl- |
nal sum. The cards were now drawn. |
The opener drew three, the next two
Drew two each and the last three one |
Zach Davidson was one Of those who |
rev one card The opener bet, and
Davidson raised him with all the mon
~ he had left Since he was so given
10 blu1ing, the others, supposing he
rad drawn but one card to scare them
,ff. called him.
IL he won he would win twice the
mortgage money II be lost he would
have nothing left. After the last bet
be laid his cards on the table face
Town. 1t was noticed that he was la
3oring under a terrible excitement.
dc bent over the table, his head rest
ny on his arms. The rest showed
heir hands. The opener had one
small pair, another had pair Of
ices. a third had two pairs sevens and
ours, and the fourth man had a pair
# queens. The highest hand in the
OF was the seveus and fours. not a
lard one to beat,
Come, Davidson; show your hand"
Davidson didn't move. One Of the
,layers, impatient to know the result,
urned over the young mans hand II
obtained a pair Of tens and pair Of
hrees 1t had won,
THE pots yours. youngster," called
ne Of the players Wake up"
All expected Davidson TO start up
nd eagerly clutch bis winnings In
tead be remained immovable They
hook him. They turned his face so
hat they could see his features. It
Tas livid
rs there doctor aboardp"
Word was passed. and q man In the
,dies' cabin came forward, raised
Davidson. looked into his face. felt bis
ulse and pronounced him dead His
cart had yielded to the excitement
+ standing on the precipice between
uin and a doubling OF the money he
ad been tempted to risk
Dayidson's body was shipped back