The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-03
CAPT. vINCENT'S BET
BY PAUL. ViLLlERS:

For more than year we had held
a position on the frontier Of Yunnan,
and the day when we were recalled
was made one of general rejoicing.
Captain Vincent, who was in com.
mand, decided to give grand recep'
ton to the troops that were coming
to relieve Us. All the resources Of the
country were drawn upon to make the
coming supper. the only meal that we
were to partake of together with our
successors, a memorable one. We
were to leave the camp the next morn
ing at sunrise.
A fare OF trumpets announced the
arrival of the little detachment. An
hour after we were all like old friends.
After quarters were found for the
men went out for a walk in the out
skirts Of the woods, with the lieuten.
ant who was to relieve me. His name
was Caral. He was small, thin, nerv'
Gus, but full of fire and energy.
Il suppose you are not sorry to
leave this desert?" he said.
l did not try to conceal my Joy at
the prospect of soon seeing France
again and Of meeting all my old
friends.
"And your captain?"
IF possible, he feels even more
happy than l. He Is going to be mar
ried when he gets home. 1t is quite .
romance. l think he has been en-
gagged for seven years, and during that
time he has seen his fiancee only when
he has been on furlough, but he would
not marry until he has his three gold
braids. his cross and has put aside
enough money to set up home in
good STYLE"
"Then bis fiancee has no fortune?"
''"I do not think so, but he has near
ily all the. time been stationed on
frontier posts where he could save
practically all his salary and he has
every chance of quick promotion"
~, The beating Of gong summoned US
back to camp for the dinner, which
proved very jolly affair, for many
were the bottles of good French cham.
payne that We're emptied.
When we left the table Caral was
very nervous and said that the excite
ment and the heat had robbed him of
every desire to sleep.
Suppose we have a quiet game Of
cards." he suggested.
The new captain declined, saying he
was going to try, and sleep.
Captain Vincent, however accepted,
and he and Lieutenant Caral sat in q
corner Of the broad veranda, where !
watched the game
At first Caral lost all the time. Be-
Ing used to play he had made the
stakes rather high, and out of polite.
ness Captain Vincent had consented
without objection. As for me, was
glad to see my captain adding to the
little amount he had saved up for his
marriage.
Then luck turned. Vincent lost not
only all his winnings but every franc
he had In his pockets.
Caral felt rather embarrassed at his
constant luck. His position was in.
deed rather difficult If he stopped the
play he saved the captain from furth.
er losses, but lheI also prevented him
from winning back what 4he had lost
alrea dy. and, this was quite q consid.
cradle amoupto no ohsm yujo
At last Captaipu Vincent, who was
on the verge Of collapse, suggested
that they qiuft! Or double 1theS Stakes.
The challengebU1sl atcepFed1 and
again the captain lost; but still he
played .odl dotsedlyi 1T ausEavdent
that the sameaepmM not lastflous in
lhlE way,I Ashalf an hour, Vincent had
III! III every fang he' owned .in the
=" I heartily cursed .MIT civil of a
lieatenant, who, in a-few-hours, had |
ruined my eaptaiu's whole fntnrsI hap.
plRfssuX j. / q D IL q 10 awGl-yd
tried 70 laugh, fir ebiYoJj
II am dead broke now" he said, :"but |
stake two years Salary AGAINST the |
pile" 10 yGb taTh OBJ 19tfG bnG no |
1hoped and prayed that caral would
refuse, andhwatched his face eagerly.
Every trace Of passion had left it, Cat, |
al looked at Fineent's pale features,
then TO me-, hesitated q moment and |
then said, greatly, to my surprise; ,"All |
right even or uneven!" ~ ''"'7 'n'
Everybody knows this game, which
even children play. One bf' the piay. I
ers holds III HIS band "a Admber of
chips and theo Vther is to guess
whether this number is even (pr1pu.
even, gHIoh his guess isvfqsssct .heI wins.
Cafal picked I'D a number of goid
coins from the pile In front of him
and ll ~
closi1 eS. esnaGasszsszEElssiIII1I z
Even or uneven?" he said again.
rn 1t dTHa;s,ffsfeiinn M7t1