The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-10-30
Stories and Sketches.
AN EVEN BET.


be freg Il ID aalccpy'lookfng place, exesTasFes4
country nsrket days.
and lbs Ibe Boar's Head" is the best-and
d. Tbeg naahv only commercial "hOuse" in
ey hsd sumberwc0.
Wai6sg snow, then, gentlemen, pleased
times upl" shouts the landlord putting
believe hs bend into the billiardroom at the
e a. enn ci0sing-time olc night.
png NV 31lake IL an even bet, and I'll take
ere and you, Waggers" eXcaims Harry Doun-
rom NM tn young man of forward and lady
killing appearance.
N leave aDoncl Put down your coin, HarryI
n fen pounds d side"
aafa And Mr.. Waggcrs-a another young
p mln square built, shock-headed small
With erel, and with n boistcrous froIicsome
Co6nfl way-dFew out handful of mixed gold
aan el0. and silver coins, and counted out ten
hs. ami sorcreighs on to the green cloth
proved GO it. Waggers! Hulo Daunton
m maT you're IN for i'll Down with your ten
eaeaoi quidg" cried the little crowd of men
a4bR boxing on.
d noynr aTimes up please gontsl" this time
that from Perks, the pot boy, who seemed to
i body makean instantaneous and magic appear
tx m ance among the party.
1e aab II would have been difficulty 10
guess even mt the age Of Perks. Any
ihne between ten and forty, His voice
9Ng was Ill as boys; his height Just four
feet eleven; face wcazencd and hairless
head a5dut two sizes too large for his
small body and close-croppcd handy
amiiy legged and with long, muscular arms.
@6t- No one took the slightest notice of
a1lsn itrkss admOnition
Hand the stakes TO wilkins; he'll
M Hold themP exclaimed several
s@ Hurry Daunton produced bank note
" as from bis pocket-boolS, and dropped it
s54sn among The gold.
@t whats it all about?' asked tall
,4ttt, Ia frnTa tsI,3 I,nI.
Il H8 of Gle party, stepping forward and
gathering up the money with a quite
amman used-toit s0rt Of way.
choice A chorus of explanations followed,
viz with which Perkss shrill Times up,
Ae2 geutsw mingled to no purpose.
BA9 One at timeP expostuated Will
kins the tall man. "Now, then, Wag-
ias goPp
sN WE'LL commenced that individual
oss Harry Daunton has just bet me even
m0ney--you hold the stakes-that to-
morrow not being market-day, and
.es weather permitting-he will set off from
tho door below at midday, and proceed
Ing on the left-hand side half mile
down tho street-that is to say as far
x@ down as Dowsells pump-kiss every
woman he meets on his own sde Eh,
HarryP
That's itF' returned Mr. Daunton.
as confidently. You'll be there, Wilkins,
70 see alls sqnareP
ehis wilkins nodded and made q note in
Tie ay-leaf of his betting book.
sS uNow, gets, times upn
$3.50 Simultaneously the lights went out,
and Tho party followed, scampering and
heiss iostling
st@ Why did Mr.. Waggers rise next morn
SAd hg with the worm that precedes the
w. early bird, and make such an untimely |
visit To the Institute for Aged and
$3.50 Respectable Females" that was situated |
opposite DowselPspump?
lsa We'll, that's good 'unn calculated |
old Dame Scaremale, when he had gone. |
has He slgs whOeyer'll have drop Of GIN |
ng ioddy this cold day, with a rusk I'd help I
iS u down, let em come up to the Bears
s8 Head about twelve o'clock. He's a |
geatemanl I'm onl'
Dame scaremale was raw, bony
ste Ronan, past the prime Of life, but with |
sas nails and muscles in good condition yet, |
adfs amy very yifago for modesty. 1t is |
ina lae she had married man; but the |
ueA asloft goes, he only survived it two
sHs
aa Outside Of tho front entrance to the
ts.N saars llead.n
l" Now, them Daunt1n; it's twelvep
eisl sna wilkins, returning his watch TO his
msghtn
mla y. All right said Harry; "but you
elows-only Waggers and Wilkins to 4
ia5s seeompany, nindlH
Antirniur of assent came from the few |
rgA bna Ind gathered round tO see the start. /
aaiy Where's Perks2n shouted Waggers
s'ot half day leave SIR said the
as As.ilard, coming forward.
Aaggers drew him aside, and some
whispering took place.
a9 Al right Sir, nodded the landlord, |
saen they had finished. I'll sec they |
a w \ Y they eomosin, sir, and put il
ae8n to your account
a Vil they start, the unabashed Harry
eadng on the left hand side; Messrs. |
other.
fafry was IL luck. Looking down the |
m H stfeek there scarcely seemed q
aaen folks in sight altogether.
flHt he met young shop girl who |
a Feq ms salute with a blush and a
ss Dheh fresh-colored farmers wife, |
W. aeetafed the young man must be /
~ but, therel after ALL then an |
- Stout gentleman with his charming |
hser who shrank from him il vain,
aa Nalle aer paternal relative could do
sulag but snort and vociferate empty
aEeats after Che hence speeding rogue
49, w. surprised cook and housemaid
thelE tEontdo0F whoonly laughed
ess kea IoFaaothcr, which they didn't
9 sleA n + vas girl ofabout fourteen,
ss @ y kissed 70 make sure, spilling
Ngs thes milk she carried,
IL stayed 70 tess her shilling
sA young man with his sleek
sss ss nsHanla Who considered her
tiss.llsas white her aan pulled ex-
aass ~ \, I lew strla3 hairs, Carefully
ss S9ss py their owner moustache1,
MS ft.a fss.e " eyeglsss into his eve 10 see
fgs3 aafaing afterwards to bis af-
fssAs y ana relaarking, /" Vcwy
hen echafeed unan ! ~. -,
5 As sBsteE, who had never been
8 M e aer ilte, and rather
llsAFea 70 get her opeu
~ aA eaHa nevertheless.