Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-11-06
A HOLE IN HIS HIDE.

4 HOLE IN HIS HIDE.
II never knew such fellow as yon al
to win. Brown" said tellow-oificer t
Captain Brown of the I.ancers. Its OF II
use TO bet with you one might just =
well give you the money out-and-out. II
sheer luck"
Its nothing of the kind. my dear fe
low," said the captain, but Il matter {
calculation
''Ah, WE'LL said the other,- Il don't Gil
culate. DO you, colonel!''
No." said the colonel, Il only bet"
by the way, colonel, as this is my las
night. III make Il wager with yotl,' Sal
the captain.
Good" said the colonel. ..I'll take 70,
By-the-way, you'll find your new colont
a Tartar. Rollins is not such an easy
going fellow as yo' have found me. Wha
do you think of my wager?'' he continue
to the other officers of the mess.
oh" cried first one and then another
IL IL take him at that-an even pony
Brown"
'Done-i'u take.'
And l."
dome"
''And L.
-tlonc-done-donc.''
Captain Brown entered his bets in hi
book. and then the wine WAS passed ant
all talk of wagers set aside, and Il mos
convival evening was spent. by way o
farewell to one of the most popular officer
in the regiment. who had exchanged int,
the IlllSs for the sake of going on for
eign service.
A few days after and Captain Brown
had joined his regiment, where he WA
most cordially received, and us dinner
had been given at his departure from til,
Old, and hc had come with so good a serie!
of friendly recommendations 10 the new
regiment, little banquet was got VI
in his honor.
Now. the captain was modest man. ant
he never aired his successes. In fact
though he intended to line his pockets a,
the expense of his new comrades he in.
tended to do ii quietly and us opportunity
served.
He would have been glad if nothing had
been said about his betting propensities
but as the evening wore on, and the con-
versaiion grew more free. the colonel be-
gan. in Il bantering tone. to touch upon
the reputation Captain Brown had obtain
cd. and did not scruple to keep up a run
ming fire of comment.
Button up your coats. gentlemen" he
said. after Il number of pointed allusions-''
no betting with our new captain. L hear
he wins eyery wager he lays"
'riicn shall 20 10 him for tips said
one.
the colonel. I'm told he never fails to
in"
..Oh, that's impossible" said one.
Il don't believe it, said another.
Il ;r!l you lis fact said the colonel.
''he wins every bet
And so the conversation went on. every
effort being gOod-humorct!ly made to draw
the captain out; but for some time he re-
fused TO be drawn. bu. sat calmly thinking.
with his eyes half closed. till he
could keep quiet no longer; for the colo
mel dropped the indirect and assumed the
direct attack.
Il say. captain. my dear fellow. tell us
is it true? They say you win every bet you
make" said the colonel.
"Ycs. colonel" sai,! the captain, smiling,
lit is quite true"
Nonsense chorusetl a dozen men.
1T isn't nonsense" said the colonel,
for I'm told on very good authority
namely, his old colonel, dear friend of
it is true. He told me when
t was first settled that Brown was TO ex-
.hange; and now, you hear, lie attests it
limsclf."
'.Proof, proofs cried the others.
"Ah" said the colonel. ''proof. Come.
Brown. how is it you manage it? You
Won't mind telling. suppose?'
''Oh. dear, no." said Brown, smiling-sI
ont mind telling. You see, the fact is, l
IN a plysiognOmist.''
"A phvsiognomisty
"Yes ! study the countenance of the
lan bet with, and know beforehand how
latIers will be. 1t may seem unfair, but
is in my power, and 1 think l have
sht to use it,
"Well, that's curious" said the Colonel:
but do you mean to tell me that you can
,ad a mans face, and tell what he i:
linkingy'
II didn't say that" said the Captain;
but can read Il mans face enough for
re purpose OF a wager" II
"You can read mine, theny' said the !
OlOncl, cllckliny.
"Oh, yes," was the calm reply
And The officers round the table grew |.
"What can yon read there, then ~ ,
Captain Brown looked at him intcntly ,
+ II few moments, and then said: .
"Well, for one thing, can read that the /,
d wound on your lack has broken out
resi,." 8
Nonsense roarcd the colonel. IL
yer had wound on my back ;
r. said the captain, smiling. /
sut tl,ere-let it pass" +
mo, cOunfOund it, sir!" cried Colonel /,
ollins, showing by his ci,oleric visage 7
ut he was the Tartar described. Il went $
it rest. tell you never had Il wound
my back, though can show four where
aeed the enemy" q
The younger officers exchanged glances,
d the colonel saw it, and it made him
Drc angry.
you do not like the subject tolclned,"
ID Captain Brown, gravely-''a retreat, p
inel; then we will pass it over. Ibeg ii
ur pardon for touching 50 tender
lce." d
confouad it all. SIR" roared the a
lonel, Il have ne wsund on my back to S.
aak out afresh." "
The captain suliled. II
Come, them said the colonel. fighting is
I'd to keep down his anger. "ion are a 81
ting man. Eli bet you two ter-pound n
tes to one that have not @et . wound. d
I yet even the scar Of wound-even 81
a.ch--upon my tssk. WIN You het:' {