Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-07
The Wager.
A CONTEST IN WHICH SCIENCE HAD NO
SHOW.
BY Charles Dwigh, Willard.

BY Charles Dwight Willard.
There were five of us in the party
six, counting Long Tom, the guide.
After two days hard climbing, which
the burros endured with exemplary
fortitude, we arrived at the little val
ley high up in the mountains, through
which threaded the trout-stream.
"Jest you oil go over into the cabin
there and make yourself comfble,
while tend to gettin' this stuff un-
packed" said Long Tom; there amt
no one there. My pardner, he's down
below"
"The cabin appears to he two
cabins" said the colonel. as we ap-
preached it.
"That is for economy in ridge-poles, y
said the doctor; sleeping apartments
on one side and kitchen on the other
In the space between. you keep your
fishing tackle and worms"
We entered the right-hand section of
the twin cabin, which proved to be
the kitchen side. There was not much
furniture-a table of hewn logs, chair
of bent saplings. and rough bench.
However, we did not notice such fur
niture as there was, for each member
of the party, as he stepped over the
high threshold, had his attention in
stantly attracted by the stove. and n
brief roundelay of calculations went
the group.
''Well, that staggers me-" said the
stock-broker.
Him." said the professor, in mys-
FERROUS tone, and rubbed his chin.
The stove was plain, small cook
Ing range, rather old and rusty. The
strange thing about 1t was its position.
Its abbreviated legs stood upon large
cedar posts, which were planted in the
floor and were over four. feet in height.
This brought the stove away up in
mid-air, SO that the top was about on
a level with the face of the colonel, and
he was six-footer.
We formed In a circle about the
stove stared at it as solemnly as
group of priests around sucrificial
tripod. We felt of the posts-they
were firm and solid. showing that the
mysterious arrangement was n perma-
nent, not temporary one. Then we all
bent our necks and opened our mouths
to look up Mt the hole in the roof
through which the stove-pipe vanished.
Suddenly the stockbrolker burst out
into laugh.
"Oh, understand 1t now" snid he.
Understand what?" asked the col
onel, sharply.
"Why Long Tom has his stove
hoisted up SO high from the floor"
$50 do L." said the doctor; "but 1
suspect that my explanation is not the
same that any one else would offer"
"Well, l will bet that 1 am right"
said the stock-broker, "and put up the
money"
II am in this" said the Judge; 81
have clear idea about that stove and
will back it."
II want to take hand" said the
colonel.
The stock-broker drew small vel
low coin out of his pocket and dropped
1t on the table.
"He has the stove up there" he said,
"to get better draught. In this
rarefied mountain air there is only
small amount of oxygen to the cubic
inch, and combustion is more difficult
to secure than in the lower latltudes.
1 have heard that if you get high
enough up you can't cook an egg-thnt
is, mean, water won't boil-or some
thing like that" he continued, thrown
into sudden confusion by the discovery
that the professors eye was fixed upon
him with a sarcastic gaze.
as that supposed to be science?" de-
manded the professor.
"Well," said the stock-broker, dog
gedly, never mind the reasons. Ex-
perience is probably good enough for
Long Tom. He finds that he gets a
better draught for his stove by having
1t up in mid-air, SO he has 1t there"
1.-THE right explanation" began the
professor. "is the simplest. My idea
is that"
Excuse me-" interrupted the stock
broker, tapping the table; ARE you in
this?'
The professor made deposit, and
proceeded:
"Have you noticed that our host is
very tall man? Like most men of his
height, lie hates to bend over. If the
stove were near the floor, he would
have to stoop down low when he
whirled 1ap-jack or speared rashcr
Of bacon. Now he can stand up and
do 1t with ease. Your draught theory
is no good; the longer the pipe, if it is
straight, the better the fire will burn"
Professor" remarked the colonel,
l regret to have to tell you that your
money is gone. Long Tom told me, on
the way up, that his partner did all the
cooking, and he is man of rather
short stature" The colonel then paid
his compliments to the jackpot, and
continues: Now. my idea is that the
stove heats the room better there than
on the floor. 1t is only cooking stove,
to be sure, but when the winter is cold
II makes this room comfortable. Being
up in the middle of the space it heats
it all equally well, which it could not
do if 1t were down below"
The doctor greeted this theory with
a loud laugh. Colonel" he said, you
are wild-'way off the mark. Hot mir
rises, Of course, and the only way to
disseminate It is to have your stove