BOX, COX, AND OTHER OXES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 885, 9 September 1879, Page 2

BOX, COX, AND OTHER OXES.

Box and Cox are sporting men — Arcadians both, says a clever writer m the Witness. Box owed Cox £350 for*a wager. Cox went away to Oamaru, and Box m the course of a few amenities that passed between himself and another arcadian named Ox, was twitted by that gentleman with the somewhat personal suggestion that " he had better shut up and pay his debts." Mr. Box replied with some asperity and many adjectives that he "didn't owe nobody nothing."- --" Not three-fifty to Cox ?' insinuated Mr. Ox. This was a home thrust, but Mr. Box had played poker and with many expletives offered to bet £50 he didn't owe Cox a cent. Mr. Ox. had also played poker and declined to be bluffed, so the money was staked m the hands of another jewel of the ring named Fox. Cox was to be asked by wire if Box stood m his debt, and his telegram m reply was to decide the bet. The telegram was worded and duly sent by Mr. Fox. At the station door he was accosted by Box, and the result was another telegram that ran after this wise : " The bet is for a pony : you, Box, and me divides if you say no." Now Mr. Cox was a bosom friend of Mr, Fox, and being always ready to turn an honest penny, promptly replied as desired. Mr. Box flourished the telegram m the face of Mr. Ox and then abstractedly put it m his pocket where already lay the hundred pounds that Mr. Fox as stakeholder had paid over to the winner. The next day Mr. Cox returned to Dunedin, and meeting Mr. Box warmly congratulated him on the success of the last little event, winding up his felicitations with a gentle hint at

a general, settlement. Mr. Box, however, r displayed an obtuseness that to Mr. Cox W«is very distressing—" The three-fifty and the third of the pony, you know/ said he. " What three-fifty, and ttv^third of what pony?" exclaimed Mr. Box m fierce astonishment. " Why -—you know !" grasped Cox. "Know — no I don't know nothing ; and I'd only like to know if you expect me to pay bets twice over," and he unfolded Mr. Cox's own telegram thft " nothing was due to him from Box ?" 'Mn Cox, who knew what a conspiracy to defraud meant, was mute— and now Ox curses Cox and Box ; Fox and Cox unite m ; vituperating Cox ; while Box smiles sweetly on Ox, Cox, and Fox, and is exactly £400 the richer by the whole transaction.