The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-22

| more darniek at old Satan, missing him by about rod, and then stomped on' pounding his rage into the turf with his big brogans
 ]" 'B-a-a-a-a-a-w -w-wl' suddenly roarad the bull.
 Jim turned at that sound and saw , old Satan coming for him, head down and tail up. and at the same time he had fieeting Glimpse of the two girls watch ing him from the top of the far fence He didn't stop to admire the picture in detail. He was in a hurry. He laid aside all his plans for doubling and turning and playing other tricks on the beast 1 and struck out for the nearest point or safety, like mule with a chestnut burr under his saddle.
 ]" 'B-a-a-a-a-a-a-w-w-wn remarked old Satan still coming on.
 Jim was too polite to sass back ana besides, he felt that he really hadn' the I time Instead of pausng for useless | conversation he put on more steam and began to paw up the dirt like a dog dlg- ging a hole to bury bone. As he took up all the slack and put on the extra spurt he heard a soprano and an alto giggle that made him feel like a counter felt cent with badly plugged hole in It. He was doing his best, but the faNorlte won. Just as he neared the fence the bull neared him and, with one more bel low and toss. old Satan hoisted him over the fence like sewer digger tossing out a shovel full of clay when the fore man is looking while a girl in blue and girl in red fell off q distant fence and rolled in the oats.
 1" You be danged" yelled Jim and then he limped home.
 And yet Jim didn't give up. The pie ture of that tin medal had sunk into his soul like a mouse in a custard pie and he wanted to be hero so badly that 1t gave him the stomach ache when he tried to sleep. The time grew short. He set fire to Dug Pearsons house and tried 10 rescue the family, but the fire went out before he had chance. He persuaded Fool Ike Saunders 10 stumble and fall in front of the lightning express, but the train cut Ike's foot off before Jim could get 10 him. He turned mad dog loose in Grassville for him to catch and throt- tie, but the blame brute crawled nnder Hen Wilson's wood shed and kicked itself to death. Things were looking mighty blue for that medal when, one day, a city stranger fell out of his skiff into the big bass hole on Willow Creek. and Jim happened to be on the spot. It didn't take Jim four seconds to kick off his shoes and shed his coat, and then he struck out fer the stranger. He swan right up and grabbed the stranger by the hair.
 " Let gor spluttered the stranger.
 Hold still and I'll save ye,' advised Jim.
 Thanks said the stranger, treading water. but l can swim as well or better than you
 "That don't make no difference said Jim. padding with one hand but I'm a goin to rescue you anyways ef l have to bust ye in the neck to do it.
 ss1'ba etraupar gave wrench to free himself then Jim lost his patience and hit the stranger a fine waIow under the right ear that made him see pollywiggles and go peacefully to sleep. Then Jim saved him The stranger was mighty in- dgnant when he woke up, and he told the facts of the case all over Grassvile. They despised Jim Bunker enough goodness knows. but stranger was worse any day in Grassville. and so Jim got the Uncle Bob Taylor medal, and suppose he deserved it.
 I'm thinking that about ninety-nine and nine-tenths per cent of the appli- cants for the Carnegie hero fund will be of Jim's stripe"