The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-27

| due TO the potatoes which they eat or the
bog water which they drink, | don't know.
but 1t is quite enough for my purpose that
every IrishInan OF anything like ancient
descent has a black roof to his mouth You
will bear me out in that, colonel, / am sure II
Its lie" roared the colonel, whose eyes
we're nearly starting out OF his bead. San
Internal liel"
How A lie, colonell Do you mean 10
deny what l have statedF'
Il mean" shrieked old Pat, that the
Powers of BallycOran are one Of the Oldest
families in Ireland: that they were on in
innate terms with Brian Buro and that
whin the blissid st. Patrick came that way
twas me own ancestors that gave him the
! Cead mile failthe TO Ballycoran. and If We
can find a single black roof in the mouths
of the entire family, may the divil fly of
! with the soul OF the dirty varminn
This Is very interesting, indeed - replied
Macleod, gazing at the colonel as if that
/ dignitary were the missing link, or d new
! form OF butterfly. II had no idea that
It. Now, dare say that you have never
/ thought of examining your own mouthw
The colonele reply was OF a nature that
would have been an expensive one had he
made it in the presence of a magistrate who
piqued himself on enforcing the penalties
against swearing.
''Strange, very strange" said Macleod,
who was still quite calm. Now, l think l
will lay You two TO one in SO notes that
am right
Il will make 1t five to one in e2O notes."
continued Macleod with an air of great con-
fidence. that you yourself have black
roof to your mouth"
II will take the bet,n spluttered the colo
mel, who was now in white heat of rage
by me soul, will take the same. just to
| teach you not to het on subjects Of which
| you know nothing. 1t will be a useful les
son. Aud now, how do you propose to decide
this bets
Sir James Macleod suggested that ocular
| inspection would be quicker and more salts
factory method-ocular inspection by the
senior officers of the mess. Their words
would probably be sufficient for both
parties.
Candles were accordingly sent for at
once, and q dead silence ensued. Every
man looked at the other as il inquiring
what would be the next act in this singular
drama.
Even young Fanshawe forgot TO laugh.
The colonel breathed heavily and mis- eyes
glsred at his adversary, who still retained
his unmoved demeanor.
At last the lights came. Armed each with
a candlestick, the major. the captain and
the senior subaltern in turn examined the
gaping orlfice which the colonel revealed TO
their gaze, during which inspection young
Fanshawe threw himself headlong ON to
sofa and kicked like a person In mortal
agony, while the other two subalterns ex-
pressed their feelings in bear fight behind
the colonies unconscious head
The verdict of the judges was unanimous.
They declared that the roof of the colonels
mouth WAS red. not black.
Mot blaokf" cried Sir James Macleod, In
tones of amazement. Are you sure"
quite sure" replied the major. judi
cially.
well, gentlemen, you have surprised
me- said Macleod, CHANGING from one TO
the other, as if he could scarcely believe
bis ears. "Of course believe you-but-if
the colonel will permit it 1 should like
to look myself just to convince my own
eyes"
Look away, my boy" chuckled the col
onei. hoarsely. He was convulsed with de-
light at his complete triumph. "Ye'll have
10 pay for your peep"
little wider, colonel, and will one OF you
hold the lightl Really, colonel, you must
| excuse me, but can't see You must really
let me open your mouth a little wider"
| With these words he actually laid one sac
| religious hand on the colonel's nose and the
other on the colonel's chin, and pressed
| them gently in opposite directions. There
was not q man among all the reckless crew
| who stood around but held his breath for
the momeut in anticipation Of a terrible ex-
| plosion.
The indignity was, however, Of the very
shortest duration. for Macleod was satisfied
! with the briefest glance.
al have lost" he said, quite oheerfully,
land l owe you an ample apology, colonel.
Luckily, have the notes with me-"
He produced his pocket book, extracted
two ESQ notes from it and handed them to
the colonel.
We'll" he said with a loud roar of
laughter, you are an impudent young ras
cal. But l didn't 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
| practical joke all round, the colonel's iDdig-
| nation melted into intense enjoyment of his
| own success
The only person who was unsettled in his
mind was young Fanshawe. who could not
| understand whv Macleod should have risked
8l00 in so foolish a way.
| 81 don't think much Of that Scotch chap
| you sent US" wrote the colonel few days
later to his old schoolfelIow. Capt. 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
4lOO to $50 that had a 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, couldn't help roaring with laugh
ter TO see how confident he had been and
how sold he was. You must be dull lot In
the Blues if he always wins from you. Any
how, ] have broken the record"
Capt Fletcher wrote by return of post
TO his old schoolfellow, Col. Dominick
Power:
"Confound you! Didn't caution you
most pointedly not to bet with himl
Couldn't You have known that there must
be some deviltry on, or man would not
throw away his money in such preposter
our fashion! Before he left us Macleod laid
me 900 to 81 900 that he would pull your
nose IN the presence of the mess before he
had been a week in the regiment, and with
out being court-martialed or even placed
under arrest for 1t, and have just received
a round-robin, signed by all your mess, de-
claring that he has won the bet"
A DOGS LONG TRAMP.