The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-18
A Singular Bet
BY ALLAN C. I.AMOND
Copyright 1910 by American Press
Association.

We were hut six line officers al
Two company post in the western WI
derness. We had played poker tnI ",
had won one arothers money severa
times over but Il was the same none,
passing and repassng between rs
and the fund hadn't increased undel
the operation. Neither had il de-
creased. There was nothing 10 buy
neither wines. liquors nor cigars. W,
had brought a supply with us.
After every man OF the skill com
mandant didn't play poker had beer
Cleaned out half dozen times. pro
ceeded ION tab" and cleaned out ever,
other man half dozen times. Carter
captain Of my company. remarked:
Il offer $40 to any man OF this
crowd who will give me a new sensa-
ton"
MAKE II hundred" said Billy Ken
dali. second lieutenant OF L company,
sand I'll try"
"i'll make It hundred If you sue.
coed, you to pay me a hundred II you
don't"
That's fair; I'll 20 you once
Who's to decide who winsy asked
Carter.
"Ill make more definite proposi.
ton" replied Kendall. 'I'll bet you
that on or about tomorrow morning I
pull old Toms nose"
Old Tom was the major. thlrty.elght
years old, bald, dignihed. even polnp.
GUS, martinez. and his proper name
was Thomas Ordway.
Great Scott! You'll be court mar
tailed and shot"
''Do you take meY'
81 certainly do. but the money viii
do you no good except to pay for your
funeral"
IN risk that; put up the funds
Seabury, captain OF f company. was
made stakeholder and he. with the
two first lleutenants, were appointed
umpires. The rest Of the day was
spent In wondering how Kendall was
going to get out Of losing bis bet. for
as to pulling the majors nose one
might as well pull the nose OF the Sec
Rotary Of war. the highest official an
officer considers. except the president
who IS only supposed to figure in par
dons. But since no one could guess
what Billy was up to. we finally drift
ed into vignt ct w ard were obliged
TO be content with this for the rest Of
the day and evening.
That night the surgeon was called
mp to treat Nose, the majors colorcd
striker. He found Nose throwing up
bis supper Of pork and hard tack. The
next morning Nose remained in bed.
The surgeon could not see that any
thing was the matter with him. but
Nose persuaded him to report TO the
major that his striker was unable for
the present 10 perform bis duties
Just before guard mounting Kendall
sent an orderly 70 Captain seahury to
say that as soon as the old guard had
marched OF some one Of the umplrcs
were to be at Old Toms quarters
ready to observe the pulling Of his
nose.
The major was In a bad humor that
morning in consequence Of the alb
sence OF his body servant and being
required to get ready his own bath
ana perform other mental duties that
were usually attended 10 by Nose
When the umpires heard the tramp Of
the guard that had been twenty-four
hours on duty going TO their quarters
al three Of them moved, at different
times. so as not to attract attention.
to headquarters. Near the door they
rallied on the center and conferred
1t was agreed that seabury should
make an excuse TO 30 in. stay as long
as he could, then come out. to be re-
placed by one OF the others Seabury
entered, asked the major some trivial
question on a matter Of duty and came
out. reporting that the major had his
coat of and his collar unbuttoned,
while Kendall was stropping razor
In a few minutes went IN aud came
out to report that the major was in
the chair in which Nose usually
shaved him. Kendall was lathering
the commandant's face Here comes
Lieutenant Sykes. who had entered In
his turn, laughing and Shaping his
leg.
"what is itg" asked the others.
crowding around him.
But Sykes was SO full Of laughter
that he couldn't go on Finally, when
he recovered somewhat. be said:
"When went In old Tom said apol.
ocetically. That internal striker OF
mine had to get sick last night. and
the surgeon reports that he cant
shave me this morning. Mr. Kendall
has kindly come to the rescue, and |
am under an eternal obligation to him.
what is 1t you wantg
"Kendali,r Sykes went on. "as soon
is the major had finished speaking,