Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-09-01
Taking In a Knowing One.
THE BITTER SSr

4
to bet and play at every opportunity. anC
VINO Arrays won and won in such man
ner as to raise strange suspicious, anC
something worse than suspicious, in the
breast of a certain Major Byrne, whose
regiment was then stationed in the above
city.
1t so happened that the latter one day
entered the house of an official parsonage
One who, in manner figured high in
the society OF Calcutta-whose hospital
itv was equal to his wealth, and whose
urbanity and fine nature were on par
with both. On being shown into SPLEEN
did drawing-room, where some furniture
just received from Europe lay unpacked
he fobnd Mr.. Travers Denham, arrived
there before him, in conversation with
the host, who was warmly pressing him
80 dine with him next day. CarelesSly
ssluting Denham, Byrne advanced to Il g
chimney piece. at the side of which 8
small concave mirror, of an elegant but
still old-fashioned shape, was fixed among
a group Of small paintings.
When Denham was gone, Major Bryne
turned to the host and said If Mr..
Denham offers to make a bet with YOU
about that dining table" pointing TO q
new one, take him at his word"
"A bet! The table my dear fellow"
began the other.
whist, and listen 80 me. " said the Ma
lor; and he communicated to his friend
what, by the extravagant fit of laughter
il produced must have been highly anus
ing.
The morrow came. The guests as
sembled, and with them were Major
Byrne and Mr.. Denham. Among the ar
ticles of furniture remarked, was the new
dining table, and as BFyne had expected,
Denham was on the gui Uire.
The table would certainly be a splen-
did one were it not little too high. OBJ
served the latter, with knowing glance
at its proportions.
Too high! Nonsense" returned its
owner, laughing. Its only the unsual
heieht-say thirty inches"
"My eye is rarely deceived" said Den
ham, confidently, and | am certain that
it is more than that-nay, that it is one
and-thirty inches high
'Well [ think this time your eve does
deceive you,' retorted their host j;
''and---"
sand am soconfdcnt Of the contrary"
continued Denham, that should not
mind making a wager it is full the meas
urement | state"
Their host looked at Byrne, who wink
ed drolly in return, unperccived by the
clever gamester, and then he quietly re-
piled
"A wager! My dear fellow you would
be sure to lose, take my word for it,"
Lose, Oh !" and Denham smiled.
"Well, if YOU like, I'll bet you cool thou
sand--aye two--that it is you who are
in the wrong
''Two thousand !" and their host shook
his head and looked very gravcly at Den
ham, and again at the table.
Yes. two thousand, f" said Dcnham get
ting warm with eagerness and taking out
his pocket book, from which ne counted
out notes to that amount. He had fleec-
ed several young fellows lately--been
lucky" he called it without remorse--
and 'yas toleralIy flush of money.
Why" hesitated the challedged, Il
think it would be foolish wager; but
by CAD | do.l't like to be put defiance.
and SO III bet )" and at the instant he
also drew forth the like sum which, with
Denham's two Thousand, was deposited
in the hands of gentleman present.
you are sure to lose" cried Denham,
trlumphantly, and scarcely able toconceal
his delight.
am certain to win" the host said
very gravely, as with expectation n tip
toe. a private in the engineers. no was
at hand, and called in, proceeded to meas
ure the eight of the table.
Thirty inchesp' pronounced the latter
after pause.
"What ~ cried Denham with a start of
rage, flushing, and then turning pale at
must be mistake"
No several Of the guests said. ''Thir-
~ inches is the height. Come andjudge
for yourself" And Enthusiastically the
height so turned out.
The devil y exclaimed Denham, car
ried away now by his ruinous failure.
Pm certain that yesterday | measured
it to be thirty-one inches"
"Yes, faith" sad Byrne: stepping for
ward, its meself that saw We, me boy
the same onyOur hip as We stood
beside it, and thinking what We were up
to. Ledad. we had the iegs Sdpn off na
inch, and now | think for once the Ia
bles are turned upon yes and amidst a
roar Of laughter as the money was hand
ed to the winner. the discounted gam
bier rushed from the room and was soon
after profitably missed from his haunts
and circle.
The Racine Adcocate contains an ex-
pose Of the order of "Know Nothngs."
From it we gather that knowledge Of
the multiplication table from twice one
are tlrO, to twelve times twelve are one
hundred and fourty-four, is a necessary
qualification for admission. The writer,
I,ou-avap etotoy +hot +bo ,,,,,, Iov o,v,Y-.