The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-05-07
~~vL WLuERa
81. /

. position ON the frontier of Yunnan,
end the day when we were recalled
Vas made one Of general rejoicing.
Captain Vincent who was in COM
Rsnd, decided to give . grand recep-
tson to the troops that were coming
b relieve N. 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, q memorable one. We
Wore 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 I went out for q walk In the out
skirts OF the woods. with the lieuten-
ant who was to relieve me. His nane
was Caral He was small, thin. nerv-
Gus, but full Of fire and energy.
Il suppose you are not sorry to
leave this desertf" he said.
did not try to conceal my Joy at
the prospect Of soon seeing France
again and Of meeting all my old
friends.
AND your captainT
If possible, he feels even more
happy than I. He Ii going to be mar.
ried when he gets home. It is quite .
romance. I 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 his fiancee has no fortunef"
Il do not think SO. but he has near
" 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 a goug summoned us
back to camp for the dinner. which
proved a very jolly affair. for many
were the bottles Of good French cham
payne that were 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 q 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 .
corner Of the broad veranda, where ]
watched the game.
At nrst Caral lost all the time. De.
ing used to play he had made the
stakes rather high. and out Of polite
ness Captain Vincent had consented
without objection. Al for mo, I 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 frano
he had in his pockets.
Caral felt rather embarrassed at his
constant luck. His position was IN
deed rather difficult. II he stopped the
play he saved the captain from furth-
or losses. but he also prevented him
from winning back what he had lost
already, and this was quite q consid-
cradle amount
At last Captain Vincent, who was
on the verge of collapse. suggested
that they quit or double the stakes.
The challenge was accepted, and
again the captain lost; but still he
played on doggedly. 1t was evident
that the game could not last long in
this way. In half an hour Vincent had
lost every franc he owned in the
world.
heartily cursed this devil of .
lieut. snant, who. in few hours, had
ruined my captains whole future hap
piness.
Vincent tried to laugh.
II am dead broke now," he said, but
stake two years salary against the
pile"
hoped and prayed that Caral would
refuse. and watched his face eagerly.
Every trace of passion had left it. Car.
al looked at vincent's pale features.
then to me, hesitated a moment and
then said, greatly to my surprise: "An
right-even or uneven!"
Everybody knows this game. which
even children play. One of the play
ers holds in his hand q number of
chips and the other is to guess
whether this number is even or un-
even. If his guess Is correct he wins.
Caral picked up number of gold
coins from the pile In front OF him
and held them toward the captain,
closing his hand.