Daily camera., 1901-05-10

1t was suggested that he be tried
on some wild animals. Some sug-
gested q porcupine, but Jim kicked
and said it would be well to try
him first on some easier game. 1t
was about this time that the we2l-
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 signal would pull the string
to release the badger. He would gen.
orally drag out dead kitten or a
dead rat when he pulled the string,
and then all hands would have q
drink at the strangers expense.
Jim agreed to>tlse 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 battle with
a badger. He declared that Nose had
never fought with any wild animal.
"The eastern man, whose name
might be Jenkins, II his real name
wasn't used. had been long enough
in town to catch the local pride in
Nose and had seen Mcse make a
couple of dogs look cheaper than 30
cents. He wouldn't have it that way
and said he would bet clean s1OO
that Nose would win. That looked
like picking up money for us all and
we vent into the game with zest.
taking care first that jenkins should
have his money up. We had no diff
ficulty in putting up our money and
even Jim invested SIS against his own
pet. That sum waS fortune for
Jim, but it was such cinch that he
risked 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 and we knew from expert
ence that Nose would turn away in
disgust as soon as he saw it. Some
of us felt as il we were committing
robbery, it was so easy.
"inere was mighty quarrel, as
usual. about the referee. We couldn't
agree on anyone. 1t all wound up
by agreeing to accept Jenk 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
confidence in Nose was undiminished
and il it wasn't for the strong per-
sonal attachment betwe 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.
1--WE had got through our squab-
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 25 men
fell upon Jenkins and began 10 pound
him and shout in outlaws that could
be heard a quarter of mile. There
never was such a rollicking crew.
Men held their sides to keep from
being hurt with their laughter. No
one paid any attention to Nose 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 fght going on? Give
'em room! Give 'em room!'
"By crackey, if there wasn't Nose
having fight with an animal then
and there and none Of US had seen
it. Nose made one final jump and
shook the life out of a real live
badger. Some one had played trick
on US and had put a badger in the
barrel and we had lost our money.
decided that he was the win
ner and walked of with the stakes.
He simply said:
"I had that trick played on me
last winter over near Madison and
1 thought it was about time to get
even with the smart men of Apple
tom
eve took Jim home tipsy. He soon
began to peter out. don't suppose
he ever drew q sober breath after
that. When he passed away we did
we could for Nose, but
he pined for Jim. He couldn't under
stand it all. He had done the best
be could and he soon lost heart. He
reflected upon the cold and mysteri-
GUS way of cold and cruel word
and soon he was buried by the side
of Jim. As said, he was undoubted-
ly the most remarkable animal that
the state Of Wisconsin ever pro-
Y. Sun.
It's Wicked to Lie.
'Tm surprised. dear. that your
friend, Miss Singleton, should encour-
age wickedness."
"Why, Charles. she wouldn't. How
can you say such thing?"
because she did. She asked me how
old thought she was, and she knew
l was too much of q gentleman to tell
the truth" Philadelphia Bulletin.