The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-30
THE COLONIES BET
Sde Had Hard Time, but Looked Like a
Sure Winner.

even the harmless game Of checkers
seemed to be a lost art in the little dried
up Kansas town The colonel craved
excitement. He wanted 10 make 4 bet
with some one on something-he didn't
care what so long as it was a bet. No
one would be with him. He began 10 .
grow desperate.
"How long has it been since it rain I
ed?'' he asked the lame man who had .
Just taken a seat on the hotel piazza
'"Bout four months" replied the (
lame man
The colonel glanced at the blue ex-
panse OF sky. There was not a cloud in
sight.
Il will bet you so that it will rain
here in ten minutes ne said.
The lame man shook his head Il
wouldn't bet it wouldn't be showing
here in ten minutes
The colonel looked disguised. Would
you bet on anything?' he asked con-
temptuously.
81 might"
Name it. -
The lame man leaned back in his
chair and sized up the colonel carefully.
81 might bet you a ten that you
couldn't stand on the end of the porch
there for half hour said the lame
man slowly, land repeat a line from
Shakespeare to every one who spoke tc
you.
The colonel drew a ten from his peck
ct. ''Put up, he said.
The lame man fished a ten from his
vest pocket. The two bills were placed
in book the colonel had been reading
and laid on the window sill of the hotel
Now" said the lame man, ''you
are TO stand ON the end of the porch,
and, no matter what is said to you, you
are to say this, and nothing more, ]
come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him "
Enough said. -
The colonel took his position, watch
in hand, while the lame man sank back
into his chair Five minutes went by.
A sauatter from Blue Flats came up,
and, seeing the man standing with his
watch in hand, he asked:
Whats yer time, stranger"
81 come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him. said the colonel solemnly.
who's that that's dead?' asked the
squatter.
81 come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him, " repeated the man with the watch
The sduatter backed off. "Crazier AN
a mus'rat, by gumr' he muttered. He
edged around to where the lame man
was sitting why don't they take him
away?" he asked
81 dunno, - replied the lame man.
SIS he dang rous?"
81 dunno. -
The landlord came out. Seeing the
colonel with his watch out, he said, Il
reckon ye're gettin impatient fer yeI
friend ter Gomez"
81 come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him. said the colonel
The landlord looked at the colonel,
then at the lame man. Hes gone
plum crazy" declared the squatter.
'fBy Jude, can that be a facti' ex'
claimed the landlord
The lame man nodded gravely.
Better come. an have er cheer, colo
nell said the landlord in soothing
tone
Il come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him, repeated the colonel, growing rec
in the face.
The landlord looked completely beat
81 wouldnt "a had it ter happen II
my House fer $50, he said
81 be ort ter be took away. He nigh
kiIRs some one, suggested the squatter
A stranger galloped up to the hote
and dismounted- Il want to see Colone
JAooper,'' he said.
"He's hyar a-waitin fer ye, but he,
gone plum crazy" whispered the land
lord, nodding toward the colonel
"Oh, reckon not, " said the stranger
Then turning toward the colonel, b
said:
''This is Colonel Hooper, 1 believe
81 come to bury Caesar, not to pra1s
him. remarked the colonel slowly.
''By gosher-what'd ye say?" gaspe
the stranger.
II come to bury Caesar, not to p1ais
him.
seThat settles itl'' cried the newcon
er, moving back
"He's crazier an mus'rati' declal
ed the squatter. ''Why don't somebod
take him inter charge fore he gil
vi'lent?''
The colonel began to grow purple
the face. His hands worked convulslv'
III !, and looked as if he would like TO g
I sc the souatter, but he stood his GROUND
Fifteen minutes of that half hour ha
now passed A crowd began to gather.
whats the matter hyer?' sal
Bags, the groceryman, coming up.
"a man s gone crazy, said some on
The crowd grew larger and large
Women and children pressed into tt
crowd to get look at the colonel.
''Look at his eyes!' said one or Il
women, starting back and clasp1ng
ragged Young one TO her breast. 'Wh
makes 'em let him run loose?"
81 knowed er man that went era
list like he's done, said the squatte
Fan fore he could be got he chopp'
the heads off NV the hull 'arned fami
an blowed the house up with er key
powder he had fer blastin in well.
This cheerful piece of informatl'