HOW HE WON THE WAGER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 382, 29 July 1911, Page 3

HOW HE WON THE WAGER.

An old colonel went down to Arkansas a great deal when the railroads were building through there to Texas. He was not a sweet-tempered man, and what he thought of Arkansas he was not slow to remark. One day he was particularly abusing the State, its mosquitoes, and other pests. It was a little too strong for the natives, and one of them retorted :—"Don't see why yuh can't stand it. We live down here all right." "Do you call it livin' down here all right to set around an' slap mosquitoes all day ?" the Colonel retorted. "Don't slap mosquitc.es all clay," the native answered. "Yes, you do. I'll bet a sovereign you can't sit there where you are five minutes with your hands folded in your lap." It was a bet, and th; Colonel moved around belr'nd the native as that worthy undertook the ordeal. There were a f ew mosquitoes of one kind and another, but the Colonel placed his chance upon something that was easier calculated to make an impression. Standing where his adversary could not observe him, he took a small sun-glass from his pocket and focussed its beam upon the back of the native's neck. It was not very long before the red hair on the neck began to curl up and smoke, and after about two minutes and a half the yellow skin commenced to squirm. The native gritted his teeth and stood it for about three minutes and a half. Then he spoke, "Colonel," he said, "ah don't want to seem to hedge on this bet, but ah'll compromise right now for two dollars and a half if you'll let me brush that bald-headed hornet ofl'n the back o' my neck."