Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-07-25

the undoing of US all Nose would
never trife with an opponent an in
slant after the opponent was dead
He never would touch any animal
he had killed. He would walk away
as if to say: There, / have licked
him; now give him burial We came
to love Nose more for this quality.
Nose had licked everything we
could find in or near Appleton and
It was suggested that he be tried
on some wild animals. Some sug-
gested a porcupine, but Jim kicked
and said it would be well to try
him first on some easier game. II
was about this time that the we'll
known badger trick was being tried
with lots OF fun in the west. You
know about that, of course. A man
from the east would be invited to
see a dog lick a badger which was
kept in a barrel A crowd would
meet with much secrecy in a secluded
spot.
Vast sums would be wagered as
| to the ability of the fighting dog to
lick the badger that was in the bar
rel. Finally there would be an aw-
full dispute as to the fairness of the
referee selected. Then the stranger
upon whom the trick was being
worked would be selected as referee
and at a signal would pull the string
to release the badger. He would gen
orally drag out a dead kitten or a
dead rat when he pulled the string.
and then all hands would have a
drink at the strangers expense.
"Jim agreed to use Nose one night
in playing the badger game on
young fellow from the east who had
come to town and was always talk
ing about the big things he had seen
in the way of fighting. We knew that
Nose would not tackle anything dead
and so to the young fellows surprise
even Jim said he would bet that
Nose would be licked IN a battle with
badger He declared that Nose had
never fought with any wild animal
"The eastern man, whose name
might be Jenkins, if his real name
wasn't used, had been long enough |
in town TO catch the local pride in
Nose and had seen Nose make a
coaple of dogs look cheaper than 30 |
cents. He wouldn't have it that way |
and said he would bet a clean 500 |
that Nose would win. That looked |
like picking up money for us all and |
we went into the game with zest,
taking care first that Jenkins should |
have his money up. We had no diff
iculty in putting up our money and
even Jim invested SIS against his own
pet. That sum was a fortune for |
Jim, but il was such a cinch that he |
riaked every cent he had or could |
borrow.
"Well, the fight came on. We met
in an old barn one Sunday morning.
1t was hard TO keep a straight face.
We knew we had the dead kitten in
the barrel aud we knew from expert
ence that Nose would turn away in
disgust as soon as he saw il. Some
of us felt as if we were committing
robbery, il was so easy.
"lnere was a mighty quarrel, as
usual, about the referee. We couldn't |
agree on anyone. II all wound MP
by agreeing to accept Jenkins. He
objected. He said he didn't know the
rules of the game. We said never
to mind that; any old rules would
do. We had confidence that he would
give us a fair deal even if he was
an interested party and had bet on
Nose. We told him openly that we
were sorry for him, but he said his
in Nose was undiminished
and if il wasn't for the strong per
sonal attachment between Nose and
Jim he would be willing to buy Nose.
He wouldn't think of Separating
them, however, and So would just bet
on Nose first last and all the time.
we had got through our SQUAD
bling and were ready for business.
Jim held Nose in front Of the barrel
and a deathlike stiffness ruled. The
timekeeper was to give the word
when jenkins was to pull the string.
"'Pull.' cried the timekeeper.
jenkins pulled; Jim pushed Nose
toward the barrel. the head came out
and then with one accord the % men
fell upon jenkins and began TO pound
him and shout in outlaws that could
be heard quarter of a mile. There
never was such a rollicl,ing crew
Men held their sides TO keep from
being hurt with their laughter. No
one paid any attention to Mose or
the barrel. Jenkins shouts finally
were heard above the laughter.
Let me up he cried How can
I referee this fight with all of you
crazy men on top of me? Don't you
see there's 2 fight going on? Give
EN- room! Give 'em room!'
"By crackey, if there wasn't Nose
having a fight with an animal then
and there and none Of MS had seen
it. Nose made one final lump and
shook the life out of a real live
badger. Some one had played a trick
on US and had put a badger in the
barrel and we had lost our money. /