Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-11-16

eral Bethpage Is my unclel Wen go
there" -f
But" BRACE said obviously, "he's
not my uncle, and I'm afraid 1t would
be intruding somewhat on his hospi-
tally to-"
Nothing Of the Sort" averred Lib
erty. "Any friend Of mine would be
doubly welcome. You can't know
much about the General. Tanning,
now, but he used to be the most re-
markable character, in a quiet way,
along the river. And when 1 tell you
about him, Virgil, you'll laugh. Before
the war he al professor at Newsome,
q little college up in the scrub-oak
country. He entered the army as a
colonel and came out as q brigadier."
"T~don't see anything to laugh at IN
that"
mo, but wait. He had considerable
money, and at times used to come
down to New Orleans to enjoy him.
self. On one occasion he lost all his
money at roulette"
"Stlll nothing to laugh at"
"No2 All the property he had with
him was a bodyservant, q Guinea ne
gro named Dip. So what does he do2
He says to the proprietor of the gam
bling house: 4 wish to play this ne.
gro, sir All right I'll take off the
limit and let you play him. How much
is he WORTH says the gambler. 4
don't want to play his value In money,
but him, / tell YOU says the General.
Say the word, and I'll bet him On one
Of these numbers He had been los
ing every bet, and the proprietor knew
that 1t would be safe. So he says:
All right, go ahead
"The General wasn't sober, so he
calls the darby and says: Dip, stand
here with your fore9ngers on number
twsnty, right here The darby did so,
ana they turned the wheel, everybody
laughing. Wells Dir, II twenty didn't
win, the world IL a pufrballi Wonr and
the owner Of the place turned palei
he knew that he'd have to pay or close
up5his house. So he says: All right,
get at his value, and III pay the bet
Valuer cries the General. 4 didn't
bet his value, but him. /, want thirty
Ave Guinea negroes. Size them up to
him. *
"sWhat a farce |" commented Drace.
"Was It? Well, / reckon not. They
had to 60 out and buy thirty-fve
Guinea negroes. 1t took quite a while,
but the General waited. And when
they had all been sized up, the General
went up the River, with his ~thirty-fve
Guinea negroes trailing after him"
Now BRACE could see the picture Of
1t, and he laughed. This was the man
he was going to visitl
The Bumblebee was Jointly owned
and operated by Major Pewitt and q
young fellow named William Hawkins.
IT was q fine steamer, but while 1t was
cunningly masked as a public carrier,
Shottle' was quick to discover that Il
VAS in truth a nomad gambler, profuse
In entertainment that taxed not the
giver. But the entertainment sought
by this pelican, as the gafnesters
termed Shottle, was not Of wine from
France. the fish-egg from Russia or
venison from Americas native woods,
hut spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.
And while the Bee still lay at the
wharf, breathing low and blubberously
through her nostrils, Shottle had put
in operation q quickly contrived
touch" presenting himself to Major
Pewitt before he had taken the time
TO introduce his friend to that we'll
known character.
Now, however, Major Pewitt strolled
up; and Shottle, keen to get to the
gaming table, introduced Pewitt to
Drace and then a moment later him
self slipped away.
"We are on our way to visit Shot
tle's uncle, General Bethpage," ex-
planned Drace.
"What, my old friend and fellow
soldier, Bethpagel Never q nobler
man drew sword in defense Of what
he conceived to be right. II you like a
genial atmosphere and q company that
never tires. you viii remain with him
as long as possible and still too short
a time. I earnestly hope that you may
ind inducement to settle among u.s."
Possibly I may. I like the River. I
like the study Of character. In charae-
ter there is all history. all philosophy,
ALL"
"Just So" the Major agreed. "And
we have some remaykable characters
here, sir. and some Of the most beau
tiful RENE In the werld ; to some PEG.
PIE 1t may appear a little singular, but
interesting character among men al.
ways develops In an atmosphere pro.
ducing beauty among women"
"And naturally, Major. you are 40
Qualnted with both characters and
beauty. And by the way. did you ever
meet an old fellow--let me nee, what
II his namei oh. I think they call him
(Continusd