Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-01-10
Artin Betting ow the Captain Won
His Wager.

/ They say you win every bet you make.
Yes Colonel. said the Captain, smiling.
sit is quite true"
Ncnseusei" chorused dozen voices.
at isn't nonsense" said the Cllonel. ''lOr |
am told on very good authority his
old Colonel. dear friend Of mine. that it is
true. lie told me when it was FIRST settled
that Brown was to exchange; and now You
hear. he attests it himself "
Proof, proofp cried tae others.
"AhT said the Colonel. proof Come,
Brown, how is it you manage it? You won't
mind telling, SUPPOSE"
"Oh, dear, no." said Brown. smiling. "I
don't mind telling. You see study the coun-
tenance OF the man bet with, and know be-
forehand how m ,tters will be. | can read n
mans face enoush for the purpose of n wager
"Yon eau read mine, then p asked the
Colonel. chuckliDg.
"Oh, yes" was the calm reply.
Aud the off ,ers around ths table grew in
terested
"Wha. c..n you read there. them"
Captain Brown looked at him iniently iOr
4 few moments, and then said
"Well, for one thing, can read that the
oil wound on your back has broken ont a.
/ fresh"
Nonsense" roirel the Colonel. Il never
/ had n wound on my back. -
The younger Off ,ers exchanged glances, and
I the Colonel saw it, aud it made him more
angry.
"You DO not like the subject touched said
/ Captain Brown, gravely. Then we will pass
it over. beg your pardon for touching SC
tender place"
"But. coniouni it all, sit" rohred the
Colonel, 81 have no wound on my back TO
break out afresb
The Captain smiled.
Come. then" said The Colonel. lighting
hard to keep down his anger, "you are a bet
ting man; III bet you two ten-poand notes TO
one that havo not got wound, nor yet even
A scar of a woand-even a scratch upon my
back Will you bet2'
with pleasure, it i, plcascs yon, C)lonel
"Dammc, cir, it does please mo | want
/ this cleared up A wound on my back -
Dammc. sir, | never turecl my back to the
enpny in my life Now, sir, will you bet ?"
al WILL" said the Captain, speaking reuc-
tantly, as # ho wero forced into 1t while the
Colonel was eviiently growing purple nom
suppressed rage.
Good, then" said the Colonol twenty
hounds 10 ten. The mess here are witnesses.
! Smith, lock the door"
A Young corne. oboye1 and, heated by
( wine, The Colonel. in his rage and desire 10
. show his new captain to bs what he mentally
called hrmbug, proceeded 70 dive,t himself
of all bis upper garments, revealing several
! bullet-scars and sword-cuts upon his chest and
arms: but there was not the vestige Of a
scratch upon his back.
"CJne, look all Of yor :" cried the C1loncl
"Im not ashamed. You'll fal no old wound
upon my back"
! One and all inspected tho old gentleman,
and declared there was not scar.
"Now, Captain Brown" said tho Colonel,
"perhaps you will come and look, sir, and sa-
| tisfy YOURSELF"
IN take the word Of these gentlemen,
( Colonel " said Brown. al have lost / was
mistaken"
"Humph I'm glad Of that" said tho Coll
onel. snatchng himself back into his clothes,
and at last.bc,toning up his coat. Elm afraid
sir you could not read my countenaucc."
No, sir, confess | could not am beaten.
There are your ten pounds.
The colonel chuckIed and looked delighted
as he pocketed the money for this, and tho
feeling that he had been too much for the new
captain. put him 10 the best Of humors. 81
/ iolly was he that he patted Brown afectiorate-
y on the back when they parted.
"You couldn't read me. my lad. eh ? NJ,
no rather too deep for you, oh cb ~
Much too deep, Cjjncl. | was beaten,
said Brown.
Aud from that day, for whole fortnight,
Browns glory as better was under eclipse.
At the end Of that fortnight there was
change.
The reason was this.
,Ionel X ,lins was 80 delighted at having,
as he said, beaten the betting man. that bo
wrote to bis friend, the colonel Of the lauccrs
regiment
"Dear IFaTTcR: That was al Cannon
about Browns lnck nj betting. lie SAID hn
could read peoplec faces, and so win in that
way and hang me il tho first night he was
here be didn't bet that had reopeued wound
on my back ! bet him, of conrsc-twO %
oue-proyed to him that had not, and pock-
e,el bis ten pounds. II will 10 bosom for
him. lie is a nice fellow though, aud we all
like him very much. Yours very truly.
JoHs BoLLfys
IN anspeT came lack 10 the course Of
post or two;
Deqr Rollins: Glal you like Brown
Hang him we don't. He has bitten Us too
often, and has just bitten us again. CJnlound
him The night before be Ioi, rs was talk
ing about what sharp officer you we're
quite a Tarter-and be LAID wager with mc.
that was taken, too, by half the officers 10 the
mess, that he'd DO as be liked with you in
fact, that tie very first time you dined to
gether bed make you take OF your shirt be-
fore the whole mess, aud that you would write
and tell me. You may keep Brown. ho
don't want him back Faithfully yours,
fgAgK WAEREN.