The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-29
A WAGER.

During the evening Of the day on which
the battle Of Balaklave was fought, the
25th Of October, 1854, a dozen of us were
seated around a fire lighted before the tent
occupied by the first lieutenant and myself
81 wonder If I will see again in this
world poor Boscal, cut in two by a CANTON
ball this afternoon" said Captain Dumon
of the Tenth dragons.
ST hope you will not, Z" replied lieuten-
ant OF hussaEs. He would brighten the
life out Of you If one Of these nights he
came to visit you
"Hussar, do not permit you to insinu-
ate that anything supernatural or natural
may frighten me, Captain Charles Dumon
Of the Tenth dragons, - exclaimed angrily
the brave soldier.
-"Pshawl Sweetly, drRgoon, sweetly I
have seen men just as courageous as you
are and believe yourself to be going into
frances through fright, 3" replied the lieu
tenant, with the greatest calmness. II am
ready to bet you a good dinner at so francs
per capita that within two months or
somebody else will cause such fright as
will be remembered by you till your last
hour. Do you accept my wageri"
"Most certainly do, on the condition
that all of us here present now, or what
will be left of US after the taking of Ssvas-
topol, shall feast at the expense Of the los
er, cost what it may"
The battle of TnkermRn was fought on
the 9Th of November, 1854, IL days after
the battle Of Balaklava. The night follow
ing was exceedingly cold. It was about II
p. m, and every one was asleep in our
camp but the sentries and grand guards.
Alone in his tent Captain Dumon snored,
buried to the nose in a layer Of fresh
straw, discovered GOD knows where, by
his faithful but not overscrupulous order
ly. Near by him was his big saber, and
under his pillow, made of his horses sad
die, pair of pistols showed their brass
work. shining like gold. Suddenly hui
man form, wrapped in q white mantle
and wearing on the head the regulation
helmet of the dragons, under which sp-
peared face deadly pale, entered the tent.
The apparition seemed to slide rather than
walk. 1t approached the captain and
called him by his name.
The captain awoke, sat up, rubbed his
eyes with his fist and said: "Who is thereP
What do you want2'
Has the grave changed me SO much
that Charles Dumon, my bosom friend,
cannot recognize in me Prosper Boscal,
killed II days ago at BalaI va9'
is that your" ironically replied the
captain. well, thought the Russians to
be better killers. With US French, those
that we demolish never come back to visit
their former acquaintance. Meanwhile,
will greatly favor me by returning whence
you came. You must excuse me, my dear
You, being dead, have time to sleep, and
I, being alive, have not. Then goOdby,
my respects to all in sheol, please, and
take care not to get cold by playing truant
during such Siberian night
"Dumon,' - exclaimed sadly the ghost,
'fyou know how much I did love you
while on this earth. In order to see you
once more, to bid you an eternal adieu, to
give you last shake Of the hand, I have
left the spirit world. Instead of the friend
ly reception that have the right to expect
from you get only sarcasm and derision.
Take care, Dumon. One never goes I'M
punished that insults the dead. -
go to hadesl Let me sleep. If in two
minutes you have not vanished, will fin
ish that Russian job, and I will do it
properly, you can bet. Get out, and
mighty quick, too, or else win accelerate
your departure with the point of my
saber. -
81 will remain with You ten minutes
more Your menaces are foolish, your
saber is a play toy and you are powerless,
Dumon.''
Il am foolish and powerlees and my ga
Der is play toyl Do you want to get &C
guainted with itP Leave this tent imme-
diately, you night prowler. VIII you goP'
''No, not before ten minutes"
f'Then, take that" and the captain,
drawing his saber, made a thrust at the
ghost, who, stretching forth his hand,
seized the blade, which remained in it,
from the hilt, held by the cap
tain.
You see, Dumon, there is your blade, -
and the apparition threw it on the mantle
spread over the straw.
81 see nothing. Horns of the deviiP'
yelled the captain, and grabbing his pistol