The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-02-12
The Web
She WoUe
By w. O. MCCLELLAN.

THE Quiapo district OF Manila Is
densely populated with the poor
cr class of Fiiipinos. Yet the peo-
pie of this quarter once owned the
richest prize in all the Philippines,
the Gallo Blanco, who was victor Of
as many mains as he had feathers.
In those days, the Quiapo was almost
prosperous, for the Gallo Hanco
doubled his income by means OF
bets.
Legally he was the property OF the
Widow Mercado, who kept little
fruit and beno stand, but her neigh
bors regarded the bird as district
possession, and the widow as custo-
dian, which, in itself, was an honor
to be coveted. She would have sold
that honor and all that she owned to
possess Isadoro, the dissipated young
wood-carver, who strolled in every
evening and after becoming loqua-
ciously drunk with her beno, went
forth to make love to Maria, the
bakers daughter.
Aside from the beno stand, the
Widow Mercado was blessed with no
charms. She was of the dark-conl-
plexioned type of Filipino, and sew
eral years older than Isadoro. He
might, at any time, decide to mend
his ways and marry Maria. This cost
the widow many sleepless nights, and
numerous centimos for candles to
gain the good offices of Nostra Sonora
del Quiapo.
Down at Malate they had a game
cock which had vanquished all the
champions of that suburb, and q
match was arranged for him and the
Gallo Blanco. The people of Quiapo
were jubilant because the Malate
folk, with the courage of their con-
yictions, backed their bird even
money.
Isadoro, who seconded the Gallo
Blanco in all his duels, appeared al
the beno stand early in the after
noon to bear the feathered warrior
to the battle-ground. The widow had
always smiled sweetly at Isadoro, but
this afternoon her smile was sugary
to the extreme. Almost before he
had seated himself she placed the
seductive beno bottle at his elbow
and he Immediately commenced a
long series of toasts to the Gallo
Blanco, while the widow went ta
the little yard to get the bird.
She loosened the lettering string
from the trunk of banana, and
drawing the fowl toward her, gath
cred him into her arms. She glanced
stealthily around there was {
scarcely audible snap, and the birf
pecked viciously at her face.
I'm the name of Nostra Sonora de
Quiapo," she muttered.
By the time she returned to thu
shop, Isadoro's mind was in must,
state, and he was singing "Scbre Lo.
Olas" out of. tune. The beno bottl.
was empty.
"Dios!' cried the widow, in appar
ent Indignation; "you are too drunl
to manage the Gallo Blanche to-day
Isadoro drew himself up will
maudlin dignity. 'You mistake, Sc
nora-only a few glasses to tn,
health of our king. Too drunk
Bah! No one else could manage him
1t would be unlucky. 1 am til,
kings man, /, Isadoro. Even money
The Quiapo will be rich to-nigh;
Viva ell rey!"
The wood-carver staggered dow
the Gale Roam with the bird unde
one arm. The widow watched hin
until he disappeared around cor
ner. Then she withdrew to the in
ner apartment, and, falling on he
knees, whispered: by tonight h
will be mine. In the name of Nos
ira Sonora del Quiapo."
lsadoro arrived at the Malacana,
cockpit none too soon. Several pre-
liminary fights had taken place, an
the crowd was becoming impatien
for the great event. The Malat
birds second had already adiuste
the gaff to his charges leg and stoo
holding him carefully in his arm.
One of the Quiapo men held the Cali
Blanco while Isadoro fastened tn
sharp little knife to its place .
the leg. He could have performe
the feat blindfolded, so accustome
was he to it. The thread was knot
ted securely, and everything wa
ready.
The pit was cleared of all save tn
seconds and the judge. The forme
brought their respective charge
close together, and permitted the,
to peck at each other that the bloc
would be stirred to the fighting ter
per. At word from the umpire, th
seconds dropped the birds and drc'
back. The crowd watched the croucl
ing fowls breathlessly, and wit
bulging eyes.
1t had been the custom of Gall
Blanco to spring at his adversary a
most as soon as he touched tt
ground. This was the secret of h
success, for the gaffs used in tt
philippines are three or four inch.
long and razor-edged; consequent
the cock who gets in the first bio