Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-30
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A WAGER


ship are given 10 betting. 1 have
known man who when ashore would
consider himself disgraced at risking
money on a national election lay wa
ger at sea on the color of the eyes of
the pilot who would take the vessel
into port.
We were in the middle of the Allan
tic ocean, and those of us who fire.
quented the smoking cabin had become
we'll acquainted. There was more
inveterate set of gamblers aboard than
usual. We not only bet on the daily
run of the ship, the weather and all
that, but would cOnjure up all sorts of
disputes on which to stake our money.
There was one man who always
smoked with us who could not be in
duced to gamble, clean shaved,
smooth looking young fellow in specta-
cles. Somebody said that he was
Princeton divinity student. but that
was not substantiated. Seeing that he
was not of the betting kind, we all let
him alone, except a fellow named
Ashurst, coarse, i'll favored man
whom none of us liked and whose alb
sence we would have preferred.
MIR. Tillotson,'' lie would say to the
man who declined TO bet, IN bet you
SO TO a cent that we don't see another
vessel this side of Sandy Hook" or iii
bet you twenty to five that there isn't
cloud in the sky tomorrow at eight
bells noon"
Il never bet" said Mr.. Tillotson.
81 only want to make it interesting
for the party"
well, then, for once. for the sake
of the party, I'll 90 you. I'll bet you
$500 even tlTat before we sight Fire
island I'll pull the captains nose"
Every man present took his cigar out
of his mouth and looked Mt the speak
er. The captain was the most digni-
fed and forbidding man commanding
any of the great liners, a tyrant to his
men and irascible with his passengers.
Il can do that myself" said Ashurst,
If l am willing to abide the conse-
quences."
II will stipulate," reJoined Tillotson,
that il the captain makes the slightest
objection lose the bet"
There's your chance, Ashurst."
Take him
Hes giving you his money"
These We're few OF the remarks
fired at Ashurst by those present. As
hurst puffed nervously. blowing
cloud of smoke. showing 10y his express
sion both n desire to possess himself
OF Tillotson's money and caution lest
he should be outwitted. The latter
prevailed.
"Oh. there's some guy In that It's
not legitimate subject for bet"
See him crawfish." remarked one
OF the smokers. II knew he'd back out
II any one faced him
why, Ashurst." said another. hes
sure To be pitched overheard, and
you'll take in the 5000
Thus Uadgered on the one hand and
encouraged on the other, Ashurst be-
gan TO give way.
"Will you all see that there's no
catch in the matter" he asked the
party; that he really pulls the cap
tain's nose?'
I'VE will"' shouted every man.
where and when will you do it!''
asked Ashurst.
When and where like"
who's to witness it:''
ANY or every man here, including
yourself. I'll notify you in time to be
present"
"And if the captain knocks you
DOWN.
IF he objects in any way whatever,
the money is yours
Ashurst was an avaricious man, and
the chance of winning the money was
drawing him far more than the chatting
OF the party was driving him. He sat,
putting vigorously, trying to think OF
some way by which Tillotson could
win, but as no way appeared to him
he finally determined to take the risk.
The money was put up in the hands
OF n passenger, n man named Gerkin,
who had never been in the smoking
cabin and was supposed to be entirely
unprecedented. The terms of the bet
We're explained to him, and he was
pledged to secrecy. Every man gave
his word to refrain from any collision
with the captain. In short, every care
was taken that the wager should be
fair for both parties. The stakes were
not to be turned over to either without
the unanimous vote of every smoker
present when the bet was made, an
even number, Gerkin to cast the de-
Gliding vote.
The day passed without any molesta-
ton of the captain. The weather was
stormy, and he rarely left the bridge.
go up there, TillOtson, and do the
job where all can see it," said
smoker.
mo need of that" replied Tillotson.
Hell come down when the weather
clears. If / should try il on now, he'd
murder me-
The next morning was serene. and
after breakfast we were notified by
Gerkin to assemble in the smoking
room and wait for the ceremony We
did so, and about 10 o'clock Gerkin
came to us and desired us TO follow
him. He led the way to the barber
shop. There. reclining on chair his