Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-29


Candles were accordingly sent for at
once and dead silence ensued. Every
man looked at the other as if inquiring
what would be the next act in this singular
drama. Even young Fanshawe forgot to
laugh. The colonel breathed heavily and
his eyes glared at his adversary, who still
retained his unmoved demeanor
AT last the lights came Armed each
with candlestick, the major, the captains
and the senior subaltern in turn examined
the gaping orifce which the colonel re-
vealed to their gaze, during which inspec-
tion young Fanshawe threw himself head
long onto sofa and kicked like person
in mortal agony, while two other subal-
terms expressed their feelings in bear
fight behind the colonel's unconscious
head.
The verdict Of the judges was unani-
nous. They declared that the roof of the
colonel's mouth was red. not black.
Decidedly red,' said the senior captain,
with curious chuckle that seemed fraught
with world of meaning. Not trace of
black"
"Not black!" cried Sir James Macleod,
in tones of amazement Are you sure!"
Quite sure" returned the major judi
cially.
"'Pon honorr' remarked the others in
chorus.
"Well, gentlemen, you have surprised
me-" said Macleod, glancing from one to
the other as if he could scarcely believe his
ears. ''Of course l believe you-but-if
the colonel will permit it-I should like to
look myself just to convince my own eyes. {"
Look away, me boy" chuckled the
colonel hoarsely. He was convulsed with
delight at his complete triumph. Yell
have to pay for your peep"
well, then, please open your mouth a
little wider, colonel, and will one of you
hold the lights Really, colonel, you must
excuse me, but I can't see You must
really let me open your mouth a little
wider"
With these words he actually laid one
sacrilegious hand ON the colonel's nose and
the other on the colonel's chin and pressed
them gently in opposite directions There
was not man among all the reckless
crew who stood around but held his
breath for the moment in anticipation of a
terrible explosion.
The colonel did not rise and annihilate
the audacious Scotchman. He bore this
insult like lamb.
The indignity was, however, of the very
shortest duration. for Macleod was salts
fed with the briefest glance.
II have lost" he said quite cheerfully,
"and I owe you an ample apology, colonel,
Luckily have the notes about me-"
He produced his pocketbook, extracted
two fifty pound notes from it and handed
them to the colonel
Tba Lott ~.
tentous gravity. He was clearly puzzled
and uncertain as to the right course of
action. He puckered up his face in the
his nose refiectively.
The humorous side of the question, how
ever, presented itself very forcibly to him,
and he broke into broad grin.
"Well," he said, with loud roar of
laughter, "you are damned impudent
young rascal. But did not think that a
Scotchman and his money were so easily
parted"
And amid sympathetic roars from the
entire mess, who thought the whole thing
a capital joke all round, the colonels in
dignation melted into intense enjoyment
of his own success. The only person who
was unsettled in his mind was young Fan
Shave, who could not understand why
Macleod should have risked hundred
pounds in so foolish way.
81 don't think much of that Scotch chap
you sent us" wrote the colonel a few days
later to his old schoolfellow, Captain
Fletcher, of the Blues. ''Too much brag;
too little bottom. He'll never set the
Thames on fire. Only few nights ago he
actually bet me hundred pounds to twen-
ty that had black roof to my mouth
cheeky young devil! Well, took the bet
Just to give him lesson. You ought to
have seen his face when he lost. Really, l
couldn't help roaring with laughter to see
how confident he had been and how sold
he was. You must be a dull lot in the
Blues if he always wins from you. Any
how, have broken the record"
Captain Fletcher wrote by return of post
to his old school fellow, Colonel Dominiok
Power:
"Confound you! Didn't l caution you
most pointedly not to bet with him?
Couldn't you have known that there must
be some deviltry on, or a man would not
throw away his money in such prepos-
ferrous fashion? Before he left us Macleod
laid me one hundred pounds to thousand
that he would pull your nose in the pres
ence of the mess before he had been week
in the regiment, and without being court
martialed, or even placed under arrest for
it, and l have just received round robin,
signed by all your mess, declaring that he
has won the bet."-London Truth.