Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-11-06

"Witl pleasure, if it pleases you, colo

| un pleasure, IL pIcasSS } Ou, SoAO'
nel.''
"Damme, sir. it does please me E! want
this cleared up. \ wound on my back
Damme, sir, never turned my back to
the enemy in my life. Now, sir, will you
bet!''
IL WILL" said the captain, speaking re-
luctanily. rs if he were forced into it; while
the colonel was evidently growing purple
from suppressed rage.
"Geod, then," said the colonel .'twenty
pounds to ten. Tie mess here are wit
ne ses. Smith. lock the door,"
A young cornet Obeyed and, heated by
wine. the colonel. in his rage and desire to
prove his new captain to be what he men,
tally called humbug, proceeded to divest
himself of all his upper garments. reveal
ing several bullet scars and swortlcuts up
OH his chest and arms; but there was not
the vestige of scratch upon his back.
"Come, look, all of your cried the
Colonel. I'm not ashamed. You'll find
no old wound upon my back
One and all inspected the old gentle
man, and declared there was no scar.
Not a trace" they exclaimed.
Now, Captain Brown said the Colo
mel. perhaps you will come and look, sir,
and satisfy yourself!'
''l'll take the word of these gentlemen,
Colonel" said Brown.
| mo. no, sir. You would not believe
me, SO don't see why you should them.''
'But | lam satisfied, indeed" said Brown.
IL have lost was mistaken
"IIumph! am glad of that" said the
colonel, snatching himself back into his
clothes. and, at last. buttoning up his coat.
I'm afraid, sir, you could not read my
cOuntenance.''
mo, sir, confess l could not; am
beaten. There are your ten pounds"
The colonel chucklcd and looked de-
lighted as he pocketetl the money; for
this. and the feeling that lie had been too
much for his new captain. put him in the
best of humors. So jolly was he that he
patted Brown affectionately on the back
when they parted.
You couldn't read me. my lad. eh? No.
no: rather too deep for you. eh--eh:'
Much too deep, colonel. was BEATEN"
said Brown.
And from that day, for whole fort
night. Browns glory as Il better was under
eclipse. At the end of that fortnight there
was change.
The reason was this:
Colonel Rollins was so delighted at hav-
ing. us he said, beaten the betting man.
that he wrole to his friend, the colonel OF
the Lanccrs regiment:
DEAR WARREN THAT was all CANNON
about Browns luck at betting. lie said
he could read peoples faces, and so won
in that way; and, hang me. if the first
night he was here he didn't bet me that |
had Il ,eopened wound On my back. bet
him. of cO,irse-twO to One-prOved to
him that l had not, and pocketed his ten
pounds. 1t will be lesson for him. He
is nice fellow, though, and we all like him
very much. Yours truly,
JOHN ROLLINS.
An answer came back in the course OF
post or two:
DEAR ROLLrNs:-Glad you like Brown.
Hang him! We don't. lie has bitten is
too often. and has just bitten us again.
ConfOund linn! The night before he left |
us. was talking about what sharp officer
you were-quite Tartar-and he laid a
wager with me, that was taken, too. by
half the officers in the mess, that he'd do
as he liked with you; in fact, that the very
first time you dined together, he'd make
you take off your shirt before the whole
ness, and that yOu would write and tell me.
on may keep Brown. We don't want
him back. Faithfully yours,
FRANK WARREN.
''Well" exclaimed the colonel, ''of all
he tricks-but hang it ;ll, how dare they
ay l was Il TARTAR