Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-21
A NEW SWINDLE. 4.

recently had occasion to travel from
liverpool to London by the London and
Northwestern railway. just missed the
4:10, having made up my mind to dine ON
the train, and had to wait for the $50. I
was not in the very sweetest of moods, as
1 had an appointment in London at 8
o'clock and had to wire and postpone it,
added to the fact that had a very indiffer-
ent meal at the hotel close by.
When 1 took my seat in the $780, the
only other occupant was a sedate, clerical
looking individual, but at Edge Hill a
third person entered the compartment,
+ evidently an American, or, to speak cor
rectly, a citizen of the United States. He
was of loqueCious disposition and rather
disturbed me by his repeated remarks, Ill
timatcly addressed to me, as the sedate
individual steadily and firmly repealed his
endeavOrs to draw him into conversation.
tried to choke him off, but he would not
be denied, SO l closed my paper and an
swered his numerous questions.
Eventually we entered upon various dis
cussions, embracing a variety Of topics,
which at length resolved itself into dis
QUESTION upon the social differences be-
tween the American and English people,
especially from 1artrimonial point of
view. laughingIy] = uoted the Brigham
Young difficulty. He took the matter up
warmly and quoted Henry VIII and his
"seven" wives.
Excuse me, sir / said. He was bad
enough, but he only INDUCED in six wives,
and then only one at a time, and that
With the utmost difficulty"
"Seven?"
"No, only six"
you'll excuse me, sir. was at the
head of my school at Hartford in history,
and we Americans take a little more in
terest in European history than you Brit
ishcrs do in American history, and I'm
positive that Henry VIII had seven
wives!'
Il assure you, sir, replied, 'he had
only six, and if you like l will name
them. Catherine of Aragon Anne Boil
Gym
Il don't care red cent? You can
name them if you like, but I'll back my
memory any day. 1 say Henry VIII had
seven wives Look here, you Britishers
are supposed to be sporting fellows, and
I'll bet you what you like l am right"
Il beg your pardon, sir, don't want to
take your money. Iassure you | am right
Any schoolboy will tell you the same"
II don't caro- a. dump for any schoolboy,
or for you either, for the matter Of that. l
tell you l am right"
This remark rather nettlGd me, and
mado up my mind l would give the gen.
teman a lesson.
Very good, sir" 1 remarked. You
are right"
"Will you bet?" he asked IN lay you
what you like. I'll put IVY whole pile on
my memory, and this gentleman here, "
pointing to the sodate passenger in the
corner, shall hold the stakes"
Il beg your pardon" he jnterEosed,
"you really must excuse me- 1t is against
my principle to take part in any gam
bling transaction
This amt gambling transaction.
merely back my memory against this gen
tleman's Shall we say for fiver?'
nodded assent, for the fellow annoyed
me, and was determined to pay him out
Here" he continued, you take this
&5 note, if he will give you another, and
whichever of us is right will collar the
two"
Il beg your pardon, " remarked the Sc,
date gentleman, Il would rather nut!"
well, sir, l said to tho American, "if
you insist, be it so. l trust, sir" l said,
turning to the gentleman in the corner
"you will favor us by holding the stakcs?'
Very well, " he replied, with an amused
smile. If you wish it, I will do so. -.
Fright you are, " said the American
and handed him over So note. l took
one from my case and handed him also.
"Now, sir, who is to dCcdC?" l asked.
"Well, gentlemen" said the statehood
er, Il think | can settle the matter, as
curiously enough, 1 happen to have an
English history in my valise. | am
schoolmaster, and it happens to he my
particular branch of education-in fact,
myself could settle the point at once"
mo, no, " cried the American Il must
see it in print"
Very good, very good" answered the
schoolmaster as he opened his valise and
took from it well thumbed English his
tory, and turning to the page recording
the events of Henry Wits reign h1 gave
the decision in my favor. The Americans
face dropped, ana l smiled.
Now, sir, perhaps you will not be so
positive in the future" l remarked, and
allow other peoples memories to be as ac-
cuTate as your own.
BY this time the train stopped at Rug
by, and my two companions prepared to
leave.
well, gentlemen, as l have won, will
you come and have bottle with me?" 1
asked.
NO. thank you, don't drink, " replied
the sedate one,
Il am not thirsty, " CURLY answered the
American, and they both disappeared in
the crowd
did not care to have one myself, so set
tied down in my seat with self satisfied
smile The train was soon in motion
again, and as we moved Off l went to
place the two Ks notes in my case. Some
thing about them attracted my attention,
and upon closely examining them l found
l had been done. They had taken my
good e5 note and given me two bad ones.
London Tit-Bits.
Racing Railway Trains.
Tho bridge junction" is point above
East st. Louis where the Wabash, Big