The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-09
ART IN BETTING.

ubmcIJ, MS O'u IuioHeis - ocoi iicHb -
Of mine that it is true. He told me
when it was first settled that Brown
was to exchange, and now. you hear,
he sttests it himself
Proof, proof cried the others.
'Ah,' said the Colonel Proof Come
Brown, how is it you manage it: You
won't mind telling. l suppose?
oh. dear. no. said Brown. smiling
Il don't mind telling. You see study
| the countenance Of the man / bet with
and know before hand how matters will
be. can read q mans faco enough
for the purpose Of wager.
You can read mine. then = said the
Colonel. cnuckling.
oh, yes was the calm reply.
And the officers round the table grew
interested.
what can you read there, then 2
Captain Brown looked at him intently
for few moments, and then said:
We'll, for enc thing. l can read that
the old wound on your back has broken
out afresh.'
'Nonsenser roared the Colonel Il
never had . wound on my back
The young officers exchanged glances
and the Colonel saw it. and it made
him the more angry.
You do not like tho subject touched.
said Captain Brown, gravely, then
we will pass it over. beg your par.
don for touching 80 tender place.
But confouhd it all. sir! roared the
Colonel. Il have no wound on my back
to break out afresh.'
The Captain smiled.
Come. then said the Colonel. fight
ing hard TO keep down his anger. you
are o betting man: I'll bet you two
en-pound notes to one that have not
got wound. nor yet even the scar Of q
wound-even a scratch upon my back.
Will you bet p
with pleasure. if it p!eases you.
Colonel.
'Damme. sir, it does please me!
want this cleared up. A wound on my
back! Dsmme. sir, never turned my
back to the enemy in my life. Now,
will you bet?
Il WILL said the Captain. speaking
reluctantly. as If he we're forced in'o it,,
while the Colonel was evidently grow
ing purple from suppressed rage.
Good, then. said the Colonel,
twenty pounds to ten. The mess here
are witnesses. Smith. lock the door.
A young Cornet obeyed; and. heated
by wine. the Colonel. in his rage and
desire to prove bis new Captain to he
what he mentally called a humbug.
proceeded to divcst himself Of all his
upper garments. revealing several bull
let scars and sword cuts on his chest
and arms; but there was not the ves-
tige Of . scratch upon bis back.
Come. look. oil of you! cried the
Colonel; i am not ashamed You'll
find no old wound upon my back.
One and all inspected the old gentle
man and declared there was not scar.
Now. Captain Brown. perhaps you
will come aud look, sir, and satisfy
yourself said the Colonel
I'll take.t word Of these gentlemen
Colonel, said Brown. 4 have lost. l
was mistaken
'Humphs Tm glad of that said the
Colonel. snatching himself back into
his clothes. and at last buttoning up his
coat. I am afraid. sir, that you could
not read my countenance.'
No, sir. confess could not; | am
beaten. There are your ten pounds
The Colonel chucklcd and looked de-
lighted as he pockcted the money; for
this, aud the feeling that he had been
too much for his new Captain. put him
in the best of bumors. So jolly was lie
that he patted Brown atfectionstely on
the back when they parted.
You couldn't read me, my lad. eh !?
No. no rather too deep tor you. eh-
eb -
Much too deep. Colonel. was
beaten" said Brown
And from that day. for whole fort
night. Browns glory as q better was
under eclipse. At the end of that
fortnight there was a change.
The reason was this
Colonel Rollins was so delighted at
havirg. as he said. beaten the betting
man, that he wrote to his friend. the
Colonel Of the Lancers regiment
DEAR WARRKN;-Thatw was oil gam
mon about Browns luck at betting.
He said he could read peoples faces.
and 50 won in that way, and. hang me.
if the first night be was here he didn't
bet that had re-opened wound IN
my back. bet him. OF course-two
to one-proved to hin that had not.
aud pocketed his ten pounds. 1t will
be q lesson for him. He is . nice fell
low though. and We all like him very
much. Yours. very truly.
JonN ROLLINS.
An answer came back in the course Of
post or two:
DEAR ROLLINS: - GlSd you like
Brown. Hang him We don't. He
has bitten US too often. aud has just
bitten us again. Confound him ! The
night before he left US l was talking
about wh.t a sharp officer you wore
ouite n Tar.ar-and he laid wager
with mo 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 of your shirt before the
whole mess. and that you would write
and tell me. You may keep Brown.
We don't want him back.
Faithfully yours.
EpANE WARREN