Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-06-24
TAKEN IN AND DONE FOR.
THE BITTER BIT.

Mr.. Travers Denham, i resident of Calcutta,
was civilian of dashIng exterior and plausible
manners, though in fact i rOuG-an adventurer
-one who sought to bet and to play at every
opportunity, and who al,cayS won, and won in
such a manner as to raise strange suspicious
in the breast of 4 certain Major Byrne, whose
regiment was then stationed in the above city,
Ii so happened that The latter one day enter.
ed the house Of an official personage-one
who, in manner, figured high in the society of
Calcutta, whose hospitality was equal to his
wealth, and whose urbanity and good nature
We're on a par with both. On being shown in
TO splendid drawing room, where some furni-
ture just received from Europe lay unpacked,
he found Mr.. Travers Denhan, arrived there
before him, in conversation with the host, who
was warmly pressing him to dine with him the
next day. Carelessly saluting Denham, Byrne
advanced to the chimney-piecc, at the side of
which small concave mirror of an elegant
but still old fashioned shape, was fixed among
gronp of small paintings.
When Denham was gone, Ma or By rne turn
ed to the host and said: If Mr.. Denham offers
to make bet with you about that dining table
pointing to new one, take him at his word
"A bet! the table! my dear fellow'--began
the other.
sWhisht, and listen to me- said the Major;
and he communicated to his friend what, by the
extravagant fit of laughter it produced, must
have been highly amusing
The morrow came. The guests assembled,
and with them were Maj Byrne and Mr. Den
ham. Among the articles Of furniture remark
ed, was the new dning-ta able, and, as Byrne had
expected, Denham was on the qui pire
The table would certainly be splendid one
were it not little too high,' with knowing
glance at its proportions.
Too high! Nonsense returned the owner,
laughing, it's only the usual height, say thirty
incbes.'
My eye is rarely deceived said Denham
confidently, and I'm certain that it is more than
that-nay, that it is ones -and-thrty inches
well, | think this time your eye does de-
ceive you,' retorted their host, and
And am so confident of the contrary con-
tinued Denham, that should not mind making
a wager it is full the measurement state
Their host looked at Byrne, who winked
knowingly in return, unobserved by the clever
games:er, and then he quietly replied:
"A wager! My dear fellow you would be
sure to lose, take my word for it,
Lose, eh! and Dentiam smiled. well, ifyou
like, I'll bet you cool thousand-aye, two
that it is you who are in the wrong
Two thousand and their host shook his head
and looked very gravely at Denham, and again
at the table.
'Yes, two thousand said Denham. getting
warm with eagerness, and taking out his pocket.
book from which he counted out notes to that
amount. He had leeced several young fellows
lately-been 'Iucky,' he called it, without re-
morse-and was toerably flush of money.
Why hesitated the challenged, Il think it
would be foolish wager; but, by gad! don't
like to be put at defiance, and so iii bet;' and
at the instant he also drew forth the like sum,
which. with Denham's two thousand, was de-
posted in the hands Of gentleman present
You are sure to lose, cried DeDham, tri-
umphantly, and scarcely able to conceal his de.
light.
Il am certain to win, the host said, very
gravely, as with expectation on tip.toe, pri-
vate 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. ..+.
'What!' cried Denham, with start of rage,
flushing, and then turning pale. 1T must be
mistake
NO. several of the guests said. Thirty
inches is the height. Come and Judge for your
SELF And Enthusiastically the height so turned
out.
The deviv exclaimed Denham, carried away
now by his ruinous failure. j am certain
that yesterday measured it to be thirty-one
inches . ~ a..
'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 what ye were up to, bedad! we had the
legs savn of an inch; and, now, think, for
once the tables are turned upon ye!' and, amidst
roar of laughter as the money was handed to-
the winner, the discomfited gambler rushed
from the room, and was soon after proftably
missed from his haunts and circle. al