Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-03-31
TOO SMART,
BY HARRY c. ERNEST.
copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso-
ciatiOn.l

Captain Andrew baldwin of the
cavalry, tired and hungry-he had
been engaged in a duty involving
much effort and eXposure-entered the
mess room, unlocked his saber. stood
it in a corner, took Il seat at the table
and called for Il servant to bring him
some refreshment. The captain was
caterer of the mess, and a very eff
cient caterer. When a luncheon had
been set before him he asked Of the
servant who placed it there:
Julius, did you order the Supplies%'
Yes, sar."
"Any n been to my quarters to see
me today?'
major Leadbeater. He was here to
see you this mawnin', sar."
did he say why he called?"
mo, sar; he didn't say nothin' bout
what he wanted to see you TO-, sar.
but it must "a been somepin very par
ticular, TO- he waited some time TO-
you, sar."
"Waited, did he?"
Eyes, sar; he waited in the room out
thar"
"How long did he waltz"
"Must "a been bout half an hour,
sar."
"Half an hour! What did he do with
himself all that time"
"Well sar, l dunno what he did
with hisself all de time, but once
when 1 was goin' past de winder out
side I looked in here in de mess room,
and I sor him measurin' de legs Of de
mess table,"
WHAT"
The captain was about to put a
piece Of meat into his mouth, but he
stopped his fork a few inches from his
chin and stared at the darky.
"He was measurin' de legs OBJ de
table. sar."
"What with?"
"a yaller tapeline."
The captain laid down his knife
and fork. leaned back in his chair, put
his hands in his pockets, puckered up
his lips and gave a low whistle.
There vas no change in his position
for full ten minutes. when without re-
gard to his unfinished luncheon he
arose from the table, took up his
sword, hat and coat and left the NESS
room. Going over to the officers club.
he found several men playing billiards
and then and there entered into secret
conference with them. The results Of
that conference will appear later.
A few days after this Captain Bald
win strolled over to the quarters of
the infantry, where he met Major
Leadbeater.
Hello, major!!" he said. Heard
you were over to my quarters the 9th
er day. Sorry I wasn't there. Any
thing special?"
with nothing to do and thought l
might as well drop in"
"Well, try again. By the bye, can't
you dine at our mess some evening
this week?"
II don't mind"
At the dinner the officers comprising
the mess We're present to a man. Dur
ing the coffee and the smoking, when
all were feeling comfortable after a
good meal and plenty of wine. Major
~Leadbeater. who was a great hand at
making odd wagers. asked one of the
officers how high he thought the clock
was from the floor. The officer named
a height. whereupon L%eadbeater Of
fered to bet him a small sum that it
was a certain other figure. The bet
was taken. and Leadbeater lost. Sew
eral other similar bets were made Icy
those present, when Leadbeater pro-
posed a pool as to the height of the
table at which they were sitting.
There was no difficulty in getting
the officers into the pool. Indeed. ev-
cry man took the chance allotted him.
Then Leadbeater made a number OF
side bets. He had come to the dinner
after having cashed his pay accounts
in advance and had plenty Of money.
The figure he named was three feet
two and one-eighth inches. The other
figures named ranged from three feet
and t~hree-Quarter inches to three feet
n and a quarter inches.
When the bets were all made the
colonel and the chaplain came in to-
gether-Just to smoke a cigar with the
youngsters-and the colonel. knowing
of the pool. asked to be permitted to
take q chance. But the chances were
all taken. so he asked if any one
would make a side bet with him.
L~eadbeater remarked that be would
were it not that all his ready cash
was staked. The colonel offered to ac-
cept his l. O. q. in lieu Of a stake.
and Leadbeater took him for $50. The
chaplain, too. remarked that he had
never made a bet before in his life.
but he wouldn't mind taking some
thing on his guess. But no one would
make any side bets with him.
When the funds had all been put in
the Shareholders hands the quarter
master was called on to measure the
height Of the table. Procuring a tape
line. he proceeded with the work
amid suppressed excitement and many