Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-10-09
ct WIIIS'nhNcF Sure Cure; Circular; d
sVtluo UHNUL fenner, Fredonla ~ y

well, colonel. I've got to lower his
colors somehow"
Well, | met Gerald every day after
that and he mended so raTi1ly that
In week he began to ride nth Caf-
ferty's men and was thinking of join
ing the rangers again. The girl lived
on the American side, aud though |
got but few glimpses II her must
say she was n beauty. never saw a
man so cut up over u woman. At that
time / think he'd have fought n whole
regiment to win her, bnt wasn't at
all ready for the desperate thing he
really did. had a cottage over in the
new section, or rather shack. for
there were only two rooms and was
frying my bacon one night about IL
when Gerald came in at the open door
with a very dirty and disreputable-
looking Spaninrd.
Colonel" he laughed, "this is Ramon
Jesus Felipe del Agar, the famous bull
fighter. He's pretty drunk, but he
wants drink"
Then he put the hero on my army
cot and gave him bottle Of mescal,
which the victim gulped like famished
hound.
1--WE got to keep him here till the
fighting is over" whispered Flad, "and
II you're my friend, colonel, you'll help
me-"
Iasked him what he meant to do with
Del Agar, but the rascal said: SHOW
him good time. That's ALL"
made sure that no violence was in
tended. and as the Spaniard was laps
ing into a state Of unconscious quies-
cence asked Gerald to mess and prom
ised to take care Of his guest. To show
you what cunning strategist he was,
he never told me a word about his 1-
innate scheme, but suspected that by
preventing Del Agar from appearing
In the bull ring In the morning he
hoped to make good his suit with the
senorita. lie stayed all night with me,
but at unrise when rose he was gone,
and the sleeping stranger, surrounded
by half-empty bottles, was deep In
dreamland. At ten o'clock that morn
ing / went across the river after lock-
ing up my shack. and as soon as got
into my tier I saw Cafferty and some
OF his men, waiting for the second on
set. The first bull had been killed by
one OF the lesser swordsmen and the
whole amphitheater was alive with
gossip about the disappearance OF Ra-
mon del Agar.
What do you think, Hutchinson"
'onred Cafferty, coming over to me, "the
Spanish champion has vanished, and
that fool Flad Ia to take his place. See
that girl over there--thnt one with the
black mantilla and the red flowers
that's the cause Of II all. Flad's so
mashed on her that he'd stand up
against n whole herd OF Andalusians
for smile of hers"
Then the trumpet sounded and the
procession OF mAtadores, picadorea
and banderillerok marched in. We
saw Gerald at once. lie was arrayed
In the tight-fitting bolero, breeches,
hose and slippers Of the Spaniards,
but he wore neither queue nor head
piece. and his yellow curls looked
singulnrly out OF place among his
swarthy comrades. When the fighters
advanced to salute the governor, Flad
did very queer thing. lie stepped up
to the barrier In front of the smiling
senorita and, ignoring the evident dis
approval ~ the crowd, trailed his
sword as he bowed low before her A
moment later the bull particularly
ferocious young monster, came bound
ing into the arena. Flad had retired,
as Is the custom, to give place for the
batting by the bhnderilleros and plea
dores. hut the crowd was oddly impa-
tient for the "Gringo" star to have his
chance, and before the play was half
completed and while the hull was at
the very climax OF his fghting rage
the bugle sounded for the swords
man
l think the governor yielded TO the
popular impntience In the hope OF sat
isfying his own grudge against the
American who had ignored him, hut
at any rate, the first note had hardly
sounded when Flad, hnrehsaded and
laughing like hoy, bounded through
the gates. his scarlet mantle ON his
left arm and his Italian rapier flashing
In his right, Again he ignored the dig
nitaries and smiled nt the woman,
Then he faced the astonished bull and
Haunted the crimson ten yards from
its blazing eyes.
"Bravo, Torol" screamed the mob,
which already hated the intruder
"Rravo, mio Gerald" piped girls
voice. and then there was the quick,
stihed gasp OF fascinated interest as
the henst lowered his crest and
charged the enemy. II the Judges and
spectators expected an equal or pro
louged fight between the American
and the hull they We're disappointed.
Instead ~ missing or halt-thrusting,
as the best hull-hVhters often do, Flad
buried lis weapon to the hut, true he
tween the shoulders ~ the bull. MS
swift and certain ma II Il had been
prickIug sawdust target As the
brute sank quiyering to its knees, Flad
stood second before II, as n
ashamed. Then he plucked ont his
sword, flung 1t ON the ground and
walked out at the gate as sullen and as