Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-08
Tb e Web
 Soc esWox1e
By w. O. McGEEFTAN.


 THE Quiapo district of Manila is \ densely populated with the poor CT class of Filipinos. Yet the peo- 1 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 Blanco doubled his income by means of | bets.
 Legally he was the property of the l Widow Mercado, who kept a 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.
 1 Aside from the beno stand, the l Widow Mercado was blessed with no charms. She was of the dark-com- \ plexioned type of Filipino, and sev- 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 ccntimos for candles to l gain the good offices of Nostra Sonora del Quiapo.
 Down at Malate they had game cock which had vanquished all tho champions of that suburb, and a 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- | victions, backed their bird even money.
 Isadoro, who seconded the Gallo Blanco in all his duels, appeared at 1 the beno stand early in the after noon to bear the feathered warrior to the battle-ground. The widow had always smiledk sweetly at Isadoro, but this afternoon3he 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 to the little yard to get the bird. She loosened the tethering string from the trunk of 8 banana, and, | cred him into her arms. She glanced | stealthily around; there was a scarcely audible snap, and the bird l pecked viciously at her. face.
 t'fn the name of Nostra Sonora del | Quiapo," she muttered.
 By the time she returned to the shop, Isadoro's mind was in musty state, and he was singing "Sobre Los | Clas'' out of tune. The beno bottle was empty.
 "Dios!" cried the widow, in appar- ent indignation; "you are too drunk to manage the Gallo Blanche today" Isadoro drew himself up with maudlin dignity. "You mistake, se' nora-only a few glasses to the health of our king. Too drunk? ? Bah! No one else could manage him l It would be unlucky. I am the kings man, I, Isadoro. Even money, The Quiapo will be rich tonight, Viva el rey!"
 The wood-carver staggered down the Calle Roan with the bird under one arm. The widow watched him until he disappeared around cor ner. Then she withdrew to the in- ner apartment, and, falling on her knees, whispered: By tonight he will be mine. In the name of Nos- tra Sonora del Quiapo."
 Isadoro arrived at the Malacanan cockpit none too soon. Several pre- liminary fights had taken place, and the crowd was becoming impatient for the great event. The Malate birds second had already adjusted the gatf to his charges leg and stood holding him carefully in his arms, One of the Quiapo men held the Gallo Blanco while 1sadoro fastened tho sharp little knife to it's place on the leg. He could have performed the feat blmdfolded, so accustomed was he to it. The thread was knot: ted securely, and everything was ready.
 The pit was cleared of all save the seconds and the judge. The former brought their respective charges close together, and permitted them to peck at each otker that the blood would be stirred to the fighting tenn per. At word from thesumpire, the seconds dropped the birds and drew haesS. The crowd watchedbthe crouch ing fowls breathlessly. and with bulging eyes. " . It had been the custom of Gallo Blanco to spring at his adversary al- most as soon as he touched the ground. This was tie secret of his snccesss. for the gaffs auaed in sthe