Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-12-22
rStIN nothing to laugh at"

"StI1l nothing to laugh at"
mo? All the property he had with
him was bodyservan., Guinea ne
gro named Dip. So what does he do?
He says to the proprietor of the gam
bling house: I 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 i
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 forefngers on number
twenty, right here The darby did so,
and they turned the wheel, everybody
laughing. Well, sir, il twenty didn't
win, the world is puffball! Won, and
the owner of the place turned pale |!
He knew that he'd have to pay or close
up his house. So he says: All right,
get at his value, and I'll pay the bet
'Valuev cries the General. I didn't
bet his value. but him. want thirty
five Guinea negroes. Size them up to
him.
"What a farce!" commented brace.
"Was 1t? Well, I reckon not. They
had to go out and buy thirty-five
Guinea negroes. 1t took quite while.
but the General waited. And when
they had all been sized up, the General
went up the River, with his thirty-five
Guinea negroes trailing after him."
Now BRACE could see the picture OF
1t, and he laughed. This was the man
he was going to visit!
The Bumblebee was Jointly owned
and operated by Major Pewitt and a
young fellow named William Hawkins.
1t was fine steamer, but while it was
cunningly masked as a public carrier,
Shottle was quick to discover that 1t
was in truth nomad gambler, profuse
in entertainment that taxed not the
giver. But the entertainment sought
by this pelican, as the gamesters
termed Shottle, was not Of wine from
France, the fish-egg from Russia or
venison from Americas native woods,
but spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.
And while the Bee still lay at the
wharf, breathing low and blubberOusly
through her nostrils, Shottle had put
I'm operation 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
BRACE and then moment later him
! self slipped away.
"We are on our way to visit Shot
ties uncle, General Bethpage," ex-
planned BRACE.
"What, my old friend and fellow
soldier, Bethpage! Never nobler
man drew sword In defense of what
, he conceived to be right II you like q
genial atmosphere and a company that
never tires, you will remain with him
as long as possible and still too short
q time. earnestly hope that you may
| find inducement to settle among u.s."
| POSSIBLY I may. I like the River. I
! like the study Of character. In charac-
ter there Is all history, all philosophy.
all"
"Just So" the Major agreed. "And
we have some remarkable characters
here, sir, and some Of the most beau
tiful women in the world to some peo-
pie 1t may appear little singular, but
interesting character among men al
ways develops In an atmosphere pro-
ducing beauty among women"
Sand naturally, Major, you are ac-
quainted with both characters and
beauty. And by the way, did you ever
meet an old fellow-let me see, what
is his name? Oh. I think they call him
Stepho something. Oh, yes 1870 La
Vitte?"
The Major cleared his throat and
gently laid his hand on Braces
shoulder.
"My young friend, they have told
you about the most implacable and
desperate Of men, sir. know the
mans and while nature did not intend
and I beg your pardon for what
might seem want Of modesty-that
I should fear any human being, yet 1
confess to an occasional uneasiness in
the presence of old Stepho la Vitte.
I have never had any words with him
/ that is, strained words; but IL I
should, I'd await no move on his part
ga,