Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-09-18
,er last NIGHT. He has been made Colo

| the mortgage on his house ~
eyes. He has almost enough. The
mortgage is eleven hundred and fifty dol
lars, and he has a thousand OF it III
bank
seDon't say anything to him that L have
been here, and say nothing about Colonel
| Powers"
"But-Peter-"
Trust me, Susan. think / see way
to give him a lesson. Hold s3spar peace
aud await the result"
On the following day Peter Cartwright
met John Ogden in the store, and Informed
him of the arrival Of Colonel Powers.
FAnd he wants to see you,old fellow
VIII you go up with me this evening ?"
"Certainly will, ? replied John, gladly.
| Chow is he ?"
Comfortable, considering. He has had
hard time of it, though. You knew he
had lost an arm ~
II heard of his being wounded at Anti
etam. And 50 the arm had to come Off :"
''Y es.7
(which
"Excuse me, John. I have an appoint
ment to keep at the bank. | will call for
you this evening""
"All right I'll be ready
In the evening Peter called, and the two
went together to the hotel. They found
Colonel Powers in his private room, seated
in an easy chair, looking somewhat pale
and worn.
Crank, my dear fellow, how are. YOU"
cried John. advancing.
e'John, old boy, am glad to see you.-
You'll excuse my not rising. | am pretty
well, but not 50 strong as I have BEEN
s'Keep your seat, Frank. I am glad to
see you back alive. And L am sure you'll
pick up in time.''
The empty coat sleeve, dangling over the
arm of the chair. was eloquent, and Johns
eyes moistened as he fixed his gaze upon
it.
And yet the conversation flowed pleas
antly after time. The Colonel had much
to tell and his hearers were willing to
listen.
John rose to de part first. He had told
his wife that he should not be out late
Cartwright would remain while longer
On the day following this visit, Peter
and John met in the street close by the
bank where the latter had come to deposit
for his employers. Peter had evidently
been waiting and watching.
care you going to lunch, John ~
eyes. Will you come with me 20
~ will if you'll lunea with n1e.'
The lunch-room was near at hand, and
while they ate they talked of Frank Pow
ers and his adventures, and also OF his
mishaps.
Gle ought to be thankful, though" re-
marked Peter, 'sthat it was his left arm
that was taken instead of his right"
John Ogden looked up curiously.
''Eh. Peter? ''
81 say Frank ought to be thankful that
they took his left arm instead of his
right
s'You mean that for a joke ?"
elbow %
sWhy, Frank lost his right arm to be
sure"
ssYou are mistaken, John. His right
arm is safe and sound. 1t is the left arm
that is gone"
ssPeter, are you in earnest? Do you
mean it p
t'Do you mean to say that Frank Pow
ers has lost his left arm, and that his right
arm is intact ?'7
II do say exactly So"
John pressed the ends Of his fingers upon
his brow, and called up to mind the pic
ture as he had seen it on the previous
evening. He remembered just where the
empty sleep had dangled. and he remem-
bered that the opposite arm had been
whole.
''Peter," he finally said, slowly and en-
phatically, Crank Powers has lost his
right arm ~
''You are mistaken, John"
+ "Do you think so? ~
81 know you are mistaken"
''I'd like to bet you something on it,"
said John, with a decisive gesture.
'Ill bet you anything you like, my dear
fellow, so that you make it an object" -
''I1l betty anything you like" John
answered.
you amt sure enough to bet a theu-
sand dollars 20
"A thousand ?'
Il thought it would shake your conf
dence in YOURSELF nodded Peter, with a
smile.
John Ogden started to his feet, and
brought his hands down with slap upon
the table.
''Dme you bet a thousand dollars,
Peter ?"
Eyes"
''You'll lose it,
II am able"
cpl go it. The bet is made. Will you
hold here while go and get the money ?''
John hurried away to the bank and drew
out his thousand dolnrs, and with it re-
turned to the lunch room flushed and ex-
cited. A mutual friend was called, to
whom the case was stated.
II bet a thousand dollars, said John,
chat Colonel Frank Powers has lost his
right arm, and that his left arm is whole y
"And L." said Peter, ''bet the same
amount that Col. Frank Powers has lost
his left arm, and that his right arm is
whole"
The money was deposited in the hands of
the mutual friend, with instructions that
he should pay it to the winner And then
they agreed that the three should go at
once to the hotel and settle the matter.
Twelve months before this time John
Ogden would not have bet so large sum
under any circumstances but the habit
had indeed grown upon him.