Detroit evening times., 1945-03-29
BRIGHTER
SIDE
BY Damol
Runyon


~ bet practically all my life.
will continue 10 bet until
I die.
In fact, you might say will
be betting after death, as a wise
guy recently laid me $1,000 10
$40 that | will not return from
that bourne that is popularity
supposed TO permanently detain
all travellers.
Most persons will no doubt
say that | have a bad bet I
think I have a good one. In any
event, could ! resist the price?
II all started at sidewalk
session at Broadway and Fif-
tleth when the name of a de-
parted brother came up and
someone recalled that he had
promised TO return after death
and visit his old friends.
$50 will L." / remarked. So
Ciahly.
"You will:" said the wise
guy. emphasizing the you as
much as to say that no matter
who might return ] am least
likely 10 enjoy that privilege.
"Yes ] will" | said stiffly.
II would like To lay YOU ten
thousand Ia nickel that you
don't" said the wise guy.
4 r THESE words, every one
"A present turned around and
scrutinized all pcrSons nearby
lest some Of them be bulls
Along Broadway these days )
citizen daSt not even think OK
betting. II is rumored that
Mayor LaGuardia has plain
clothes men on duty who are
mind readers.
You have n wager" ! said
10 the wise guy after noting
that the coast was clear
Ho quickly rcconSidered
"No." he said. "that would he
too far out of line. might
not be able 10 pay off IL YOU
won. Let me do a little figur-
ing on this proposition"
So ne outs with a pencil and
an old envelope and did some
calculating Then he went INTO
the corner drug store and made
a telephone call. possibly 10 his
lawyer 70 SEQ what he thought
of tho bet. When he came back
he said
The best ! can offer YOU IL
thousand dollars to ten"
Bet" | CALCULATED. the la
comic broadway binder of a
speculative deal
I'VE story that I have since
Il tried 10 scalp tho bet. which
is 10 say that have endeaVored
10 bet enough the other way
50 that ! am bound 20 win no
matter what happens. Is strictly
a canard In fact. n amt so.
/ think | VIII win my bet as Il
stands without any manipulate
ing being necessary and who arc
YOU and YOU and YOU and YOU
10 doubt IL?
feel that 7 would be p sucker
not 70 return 10 "A world that
has treated mo well. all things
considered, that has given me
much pleasure and many thrills
including the most pleasant of
all. which is the winning OF
good bet / have heard big
gambler say that next 10 VIM
nIng bet hlS greatest thriI
IS losing one, bui I cannot g..
along with that philosophy. 7
nate losing II makes me angry
with The whole world.
II IS IN memory Of nv pleas-
urcS and my thrills only that
VIII return and il will not
be IN GriSly mood or manner
or 70 the aCcompanlrent ~
weird rappingS in darkened
rooms for morbidty is not the
atmosphere | have pursued in
this world. II viii be all a-rrln
hut YOU are not 10 tell this IN
the wise guy because I am
SAVING up a big laugh against
him
II is my wish that whanI
dlveSt myself Of this mortal
coil that my ashes be scattered
to the gentle breezes over Bis.
cayne Bay down in Dade
County Fla, that nv spirit
may mingle with the throng
here through the years 10 come
and also that / may keep hen
10 the scandal in my set
T'iE wise guy spends his win
terS there and I am giggling
right now in anticipation of his
expression when ] tap him on
the shoulder one dav and say.
How about my Ger, mis-
terc"
| think the wise guy is already
perturbed, because he called me
up The other day and asked
DO YOU consider me an old
friend Of yoursc"
NO" / said, "nor a new
friend, either"
That's fine, he said and
hung up.
His question puzzled me until
reflected back 10 the original
discussion and the promise Of
the departed brother 10 return
and visit "old friends"