Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-04-12
BETTING ON A CERTAINTY.
An Episode in British Army Life in In
dia--An Unpopular Colonel.
lHarper's Magazine for April


[Harper's Magazine for April.
In the British army in India betting
among the officers often runs to an extreme
of vice that is sometimes fearful to contem-
plate. Perhaps it is no worse than in club
life in London, where the most amusing as
well as tragical stories are told of the curious
bets that are made. Betting on certainty
is held to be unfair, unless the avowal is dis
tincty made, so that no due advantage is
taken.
An officer in the army had imported for
his private apartments a new and beautiful
mahogony table A day or two after it had
arrived and been duly installed in his quar-
ters, brother officer, great swell and very
unpopular, dropped in familiarly, and great
ly admired the beautiful table. The owner
was shaving himself at the glass with his
back to his visitor-Col. Brown-but con-
tinued the conversation until the Colonel
withdrew the latter remarking that he
hoped soon to have his legs under that ele-
giant mahogany.
The owner OF the table, whom we must
call Major Jones, made up little dinner
party in the course of few days, and Col.
Brown was one of the number. 1t was nat
ural that the new table should be the sub
!ject of remark, and Brown, who affected to
be a connoisseur in all matters, said the ta-
BILE was perfect, with one exception.
Jones. And pray what is that Colonel ?
Brown. It is just little too high.
Jones. Do you think so? How high
would you suppose it to be?
Brown. presume it is the usual heig gbt,
just thir y-six inches, and it ought to be
less than that by at least half an inch.
Jones' That is the exact height, thirty
five and half inches, not thirtysix, as you
suppose.
Brown Pardon me. | am certain it is
three feet high. I will make you bet
on it.
Jones. You will lose if you do, for give
you notice that I know its exact height to
half an inch, and if | bet l shall bet on q
dead certainty.
Brown. I am just as sure as you are; l
am betting on a certainty also my eye never
deceives me- l will lay you e1OO or Fl 900
pounds that the table is 36 inches high no
more, no less.
The Major sought to dissuade his guest
from his purpose to make bet, assuring him
that he knew the height of the table, and
did not want to bet on a certainty, but when
the excitement grew furious, the wager was
uudlly ldiu dO all CuOA uOuo ouuA IiN'O
heard it stated as high as O,0OO-91O,OOO.
That seems preposterous. when such trifle
was the subject, but the gambling spirit
does not stick at tri1es. When the betting
was finally arranged, Col. Brown exclaimed,
exultingly, II told you knew the table was
exactly thirty-six inches high. / did know
it. because when called, just after it arrived,
I took its measure on my cane as | sat by it,
and after / went out / measured it, and
found it to be, as / have said. precisely
thirty-six inches high"
YES" said Major Jones, Il was sitting with
back my to you, but was shaving before
the looking glass, and 1 saw you taking the
measure of the table with your cane. Sus-
pecting that you were preparing for bet as
to it's height, after you left had half an
inch taken off, and it is now precisely thirty
five and half inches high.
The applause that followed this result was
and completed the discontinue
of the unpopular Colonel, It was evident
that he had been laying plan to cheat, and
would have pocketed the money if he had
won. He was sent to Coventry. He sold his
commission and returned to England, being
unable to stand up against the contempt Of
the officers, who thoroughly despised his
character.