The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-05-25
NUMBER As
Betting ON a Certainty.

In the British army in India betting
among the officers often runs To an eX.
tremc Of vice that l. sometimes fearful
to contemplate. Perhaps it is no worse
than IN club life in London. where the
most amusing rs well as tragical stories
are told of the curious bets that are
made. Betting on certainty is held to
BIZ unfair, unless the ayOwal is distinctly
made, so that no undue advantages is
taken.
An officer in the army had imported
for his private apartment a new and
beautiful mahogany table. A day or
two after it had arrived and had been
duly installed in its quarters, a brother
officer. II great swell and very unpOpu-
lar, dropped in Familiarity, and greatly
admired the beautiful table. The owner
was shaving himself ut the glass with
his back to the visitor-Colonel Brown
but continued the conversation until
the colonel withdrew, the latter remark
ing that he hoped soon to have his legs
under that elegant mahogany.
The owner of the table, whom we
must call Major Jones, made up little
dinner party in the course of few days,
and Colonel Brown was one OF the num-
Der. IL was natural that the new table
should be the subject of remark, and
Brown, who affected to BIZ a cOnnOisseur
in all matters, said the table was per-
feet, with one exception.
Jones-"And pray what, is that. col
Onel?''
Brownie is just little too high"
Jones-''DO you think so? How high
would you suppose it to be?"
BrOwn-'l presume it is the usual
height. just thirty-six inches, and it
ought To be less than that by ut least
half an inch"
Jones That is the exact height.
thirty-iive and half inches. not thirty
six, as you suppose.
BrOwn-.-'.PardOn me. am certain it
is three feet high. | will make you
bet on it,
Jones You will lose il You do, for
give you notice that l know its exact
height to half an inch. and if bet
shall bet on dead certainty"
BrOwn-''l am just Us sure rs Won are;
! All betting on u certainty also; my eye
never decciyes me. will lay YOU
hundred or = thousand pound. that this
table is thirty-six inches high: no more.
no less
The major sought to disSuade his
guest from his purpose To make n bet,
assuring him that he knew the height of
the table, and did not want to bel on a
certainty. but. when the excitement
grew furious. The wager was finally laid
At IN enormous sum have heard il
stated rs high a. $50. OOO-l0,O00
pounds. That seems preposterous,
when such Il tritle does not stick at
tribes. When the betting was finally
arranged, Colonel Brown exclaimed. ex-
uItingly, Il told you knew the table
was exactly thirty.siS inches high;
did know il. because when ! called, just
after il arrived. took its measure on
my cane rs sat by it. and after went
ont measured and found il To be-, As
have said. precisely thirly-sis inches
high
Yes, said Major Jones. IL was sit
ting with my back To yOn, but / was
shaving before the looking-glass, and
saw YOU taking the measure of the table
with Your cane. Suspecting that YOU
were preparing for bet rs IL lis height,
after YOU left had half Nh inch taken
otf. and it is now precisely thirty-iive
and II half inches higi..
The applause that followed this result
was tremendous, and completed the dis
cOmtiture OF the unpopular colonel. II
was evident that he had been LAYING u
plan to cheat. and would have pocketed
the money If he won. He was sent to
Coventry. lie sold his commission and
returned to England. being unable To
stand mp against The contempt Of the
officers. who thoroughly despised his
character. Hupers Maga2ine.