Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-13

as much as possible. Soon he grew tired
of this amusement, so we resumed the
talk we had been engaged in on the sub
Ject of the Alpine Club. Jack was think,
ing of joining it, and, in reply to his
questions, l gave a glowing description
of all its glories. The harsh voice of the
American broke upon our ears, with the
remark: L calc'late the Alpine Club is a
tarnation humbug.' Jack looked delight
ed, and, giving a sly glance at me, pro
ceeded to draw out our friend once more.
polite tone, that you will give your
reasons for hat opinion, as I had thought
of becoming a member, but, of course,
would O do so if convinced that the
whole concern was a humbug."
"Wall, stranger, you could not do a
knowinger thing than stay as you air.
| guess they've named the thing wrong.
1t should be the Drag Company, Limit
ed" Some 'tarnal duffer that calls him
self an A. G. goes up a mountain that all
the folk near have known for years, and
then writes to all the European papers to
say that he has made a first ascent. |
reckon they've raised the prices of every
darned thing in Switzerland close on 80
per cen Then they're such cheeky
cusses to meet; and the greater the dutfer
the checker he is. Don't do it, stranger
don't do it.
"While this was going on, 1 sat by
silent, but rapidly losing my temper. At
last could stand it no longer, and burst
out with: This is mere vague abuse, sir.
| will bet you any sum of money you
choose to name that | will select a better
mountaineer from the members of the
Gu than any man you can name. Is
that a fair offer? The Alpine Club against
the world
"The Yankee looked me over from head
to foot, and then drawled out: Wall,
stranger, | guess I'll take your bet, if
you'll let the mountaineering be between
you and me. [ lay you $4,000 that be-
fore this time three years I'll lave cut
you out in tall climbing
81 had spoken hastily, and was perfect
ly taken aback at being closed with so
quickly. However, | was in for it now,
and could not go back from my word.
AS coolly as l could, | said: Just as you
like. Let the bet be between you and
me. The sum you name will be as good
as any other, but of course must be lodged
by both parties before the matter is finally
arranged
"'l calc'late you're right, stranger. 1t
won't be long before you hear from me
about it. What do you say your name
is ~
"'Forbes-Henry Forbes
mime is Zachariah Johnston, of New
York City. Wall, | guess we're to meet
here on this day three years, and which
ever has first done the tallest and hardest
mountain is to have the stakes. Shake
hands on 1t, stranger-shake hands on
it,
Here I was obliged reluctantly to
stretch u my hand to be grasped by the
bony fingers Of the other. After this, he
tossed the end of his cheroot into the fire
place and sauntered out of the room,
whistling Yankee Doodle"
"The whole affair had not taken more
than five minutes, so that Jack had not
had time to interfere. His face, at the
moment when the American left the room,
was a study for an artist. Astonishment,
amusement, and a sort of tragic horror
were all struggling for expression. When
the door was fairly shut, he burst into an
immOderate fit of laughter which lasted
for some time. Well, if | did not think
it was all a joke at last he found breath
to say, 4 should say it was as nasty a
scrape as ever you ~gotyourself into. Max
ing a bet of 60, 900 with an utter stranger.
A bet that, if there were anything in it,
would compel you to go roaming about
the world for three years, and spend
fabulous sums of money on nothing at all.
l1l just go after him and explain that, of
course, nothing was meant by the thing,
or else he will let that long tongue of his
wag to such an extent that we shall never
hear the last OF it.
LAS he got up to leave the room the
manager of the hotel came in with a very
nlIvrtnd nvnraSctnn ~ oorrtannroo a.
cuSe me, sir, but are you Mr.. Forbes?'
"'1es, Forbes is my name
"'Well, sir, the American gentleman
who has just left the house-very strange
gentleman he appears to me came to me
a few moments ago and asked me to give
you this slip Of paper. But the strange
part OF the matter is, gentlemen, that he
handed me a note Of hand for G. 1900,
payable this day three years, for which I
gave him a receipt. He said it was some
bet he had made with you,M Mr.. Forbes,
and that YOU would understand about
it.
81 felt as if | were IN a sort of a serio-
comic dream; but mechanically took the
slip of paper of which the manager had
spoken-there were only a very few words
on it-'This day three years, MAY 10,
1886, at five in the afternoon, in the smok-
ing-room, Langholm Hotel, ~
"'Where is the gentleman now" |
cried, starting from my chair.
"1mmediately after speaking to me,
he left the hotel, and, calling a Hanson,
drove Off
al sank back, seeing that I had been
outwitted, and feeling very much inclined
to use strong language.
Jack came over to me, and laying his
hand on my shoulder, said, He's a sharp
hand at a bargain; but cheer up, old fell
low, We'll take the wind out of his sails
before we've done with him. Let me
see, now-I've just sold out of the
S~eventy-irst, and don't well know what
to do with myself. SO Pm your man for
any mountainous excrescence from this to
Timbuctoo.'
Thanks, my dear fellow cried I,
grasping his hand; but it won't do. |
could not think Of letting go on this wild
goose chase with me. Why, heaven only
knows how long | shall be away from
England; for do my utmost to win the
bet | certainly shall"
"Don't talk any rubbish of that kind;
about thanks. Why, l could not think of
a more amusing employment than seeing
a little of the world, and at the same time
cutting out our friend, the Yankee. No,
since | was partly the means of getting
you into the scrape by talking at all to
that man, | certainly mean to see you
ro11 ont Of II