The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-02-12

it subsidized the Gallo Blanco faced
his adversary wabbling unstead-
lily, while little scarlet stream
spurted over his glossy white feath-
ers. A deep groan and storm OF
imprecations came from the Quiapo
people. The Gallo Blanco made a
last weak attempt to reach his foe,
stumbled and rolled over dead.
In the pandemonium of cheers and
curses several Quiapo men leaped into
the pit. One of them, old Alessandro,
the shoemaker, an expert on cock
fighting, seized the body of the Gallo
Blanco and examined it minutely.
Suddenly he waved his hand for 81
lence, his wrinkled face distorted
with rage.
His reg is broken" he shouted in
Tugalo. 'Isadoro has crippled him.
There was a general movement to-
ward the pit, but the old man cried
out just in time: Back! Remember
that the American soldiers are here.
We can do nothing. Let us go to
the Widow Mercado and get her to
make an accusation to the American
officials
The Quiapo portion of the crowd be-
gan to file out of the inclosure. "Come,
you pig, and son of pig" said
Alessandro to the dazed Isadoro;
| "come, or knife in the back to you,
speedily"
Isadoro followed him like one in a
trance. Now and then he muttered
through cracked lips: 'Dios! l did
not do it. My king, oh, my king"
Maria, the daughter of the baker,
spat upon him as he passed her.
"Animal!" she cried, furiously. Isa-
| doro had been tried and found guilty.
At the official trial numerous wit
nesses would be produced to swear
that they saw him cripple the bird,
and he would be sent to Bilibid prison
for several years. The people OF
Quiapo had been impoverished
through the deed, and wanted salts
faction. If they had lost fairly, the j
would have borne it philosophically,
for the Filipinos are good gamblers y
but to lose through apparent treach-
cry reused their fury to the highest
| pitch.
| Were it not for the fact that sew
eral of the older men realized that
the American authorities were un
reasonable enough to set a higher
value on a human life than that of q
game-cock, Isadoro would have beer
disposed of long before they reached
the beno stand.
sMy little ones will starve,
shrieked mother of many; "all WE
had was on the Gallo Blanco. Xii
the traitor!'' And others echoed tn:
cry of kill"
The widow was serving Private
Smith, of the Manila constabulary
with contraband liquid when tn,
procession arrived. At sight of til,
khaki uniform most of the Grove
drew back.
"Senora," said the old shoemaker
with forced calmness, 'Isadoro Grip
pied the Gallo Blanco, and he wa
killed. Come with us to the cour
. and make complaint"
Isadoro cast look of mute appea
at the widow. 1t was entirely su
perfluous. She shrugged her lea1
mahogany shoulders. 'It may b
true, or it may not" said the widow
quietly; ''but I will not make com
plaint. The Gallo Blanco was mine
Vamos, or 1 will tell the policeman
to drive you away"
4 She laid her hand gently on Isa
doro's shoulder and drew him int
the little nipa hut. With muttere
curses the crowd withdrew.
Tonight" announced the widow
1--WE will go to the padre at tn
Church of Nostra Sonora del Quiap
2 to be married"
Isadoro drew back from her wit
a curse. He looked into that unai
D tractive face with something muc
: akin to hatred. "If not" added th
! widow, with look of determination
II will tell the policeman to tax
E you."
Y Then Isadoro realized that he wa
chained to her by circumstances, an
) that, save for her, he had no frien
in all the Philippines. Also, Bilibi
prison was a place to be avoided.
II will co." he said, finally, in al
!, cents of despair.
''In the name of Nostra Sonora d,
Quiapo, gracias,' murmured th
widow.--San Francisco Argonaut.
e Not Her Name.
r 'The trouble with you," the docte
S said after examining the young ma