New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-06-05
Taking in a Knowing One.
THE BTrEa BIT.

Mr.. Trayers Denham, a resident of Calcutta,
was civilian Of dashing exterior and plausible
manners, though in fact q r0us-an adventurer
--one who sought to bet and to play at every.
opportunity, and who df,sdys won, and won in
such manner as to raise strange suspicious,
and something worse than suspicious, in the
breast of o certain Major Byrne, whose regi-
ment was then stationed in the above city.
1t 50 happened that the latter one day entered
the house of an official personage--one who, in
MT ner. figured high in the society Of Calcut-
ta-Whose hospitality vas equal to his wealth,
and whose urbanity and fine nature were on
par with both. On being shown into splendid
drawing room, where some furniture just re-
ceiyed from Europe lay unpacked, he found Mr.
Trayers Denham, arrived there before him, in
conversation with the host, who was warmly
pressing him to dine with him next day. Care
lessly saluting Denham, Byrne advanced to the
chimney piece, at the side Of which small con-
cave mirror, of an elegant but still old fashioned
shape, was fixed among group of small paint
ings, a4t.
When Denham was gone, Major Byrne turned
to the host, and said: IF Mr.. Denham offers to
make a bet with you about that dining-table,''
pointing to new one, ss take him at his word y
&c A bet The table! my dear fellow began
the other.
g sWhisht, and listen to me- said the major !;
and he communicated to his friend what. by the
extrayagant fit Of laughter it produced must
have been highly amusing.
The morrow came The guests assembled, and
with them were Major Byrne and Mr.. Denham
Among the articles of furniture remarked, was
the new dining table, and, as Byrne had ex-
pected, Denham was on the gui Uive.
s' The table would certainly be splendid one
were it not little too high observed the lat
ter, with knowing glance at its proportions.
'.Too high Nonsense returned its owner,
laughing, Its only the usual height--say
thirty inches"
MY eye is rarely deceived said Denham,
confidently; ssand am certain that it is more
than that-nay, that it is one and thirty inches
high
sc Well, think this time your eye does de-
ceive you,'' retorted their host 50 and -''
s'And | am SO confident of the contrary y
continued DenhaIn, that / should not mind
making wager it is full the measurement I
state''
Their host looked at Byrne, who winked drol-
ly in return, unobserved by the clever gamester
and then he quietly replied:
''A wager! My dear fellow you would be
sure to lose, take my word for it,
''Lose, eh!" and Denham smiled "Well,
if you like, FL bet you cool thousand-aye,
two that it is you who are in the wrong
f'Two thousand!' and their host shook his
head, and looked very grayely at Denham, and
again at the table.
eyes, two thousend,'' said Denham, getting
warm with eagerness, and taking out his pocket.
book, from which he counted out notes TO that
amount. He had fieeoed several young fellows
lately--been lucky, he calledIit, without re-
morse-and was tolerably flush of money.
''Why," hesitated the challenged, 81 think il
would be foolish wager; but, by CAD | don't
like to be put at defiance, and so I'll bet - and
at the instant he also drew forth the like sum,
which, with Denham's two thousand, was de-
posed in the hands of q gentleman present.
{" You are sure to lose," cried Denham
triumphantly, and scarcely able to conceal his
delight
81 am certain to win,' the host said, very
gravely, as with expectation on tip-toe, a pri-
yate in the engineers, who was at hand, and
called in, proceeded to measure the height of the
table
'' Thirty inches!' pronounced the latter,
after pause. 4"4.."7.
i" ?'' cried Denham, with a start of
rage, flushing, and then turning pale. ss It
mast be mistake
ss No. several of the guests said. "Thirtg
inches is the height. Come and judge for your
self" And Enthusiastically the height so turned
out.
1.-The devil" exclaimed Denham, carried
away now by his ruinous failure. "Im certain
that yesterday measured it to be thirty -one
inches
" g Yes, faith" said Byrne, stepping forward,
" it's meself that saw ye, me boy, marking the
same on your hip as ye stood beside it, and,
thinking whatye were up to, bedad we had the
legs saacn off an inch and, now, think, for
once the tables are turned upon ye!'' and,
amidst a roar of laughter as the money was
handed to the winner, the discomftted gambler
rushed from the room, and was soon after pro-
ftably missed from his haunts and circle.