The Washburn leader., 1908-04-10

you call-more polite"
"Gentle?" suggested Bert. The Mexi.
can nodded.
Gwen so," he agreed. 1.-THE bull he
is more gentleman. He Is not mind
ed to be so wild. Horses? They are
cheap, but even amateurs-it Is not to
kill, but to laugh at their awkward"
Bert nodded understandingly. He
was not unfamiliar with the "amateu1
nights" in the vaudeville theaters
This, no doubt, was the Mexican equiv.
alent. This pet phrase Of his fathers
kept ringing in his ears: "Take the bull
by the horns"
And so it fell out that when Corcita
Chico had received the charge Of the
fourth bull lightly poised upon one knee
and the dead bull had been dragged
from the ring the arena was turned
over to score Of young Mexicans-
and Bert.
At the trumpet's blare the gate was
opened and a fifth bull bounded into
the ring. Like his predecessor, he was
a black bull from Tayagua, but he was
not fighter. Twice on other days he
had been sent into the ring. to be
hissed out again because he provided
such tame sport against the trained
fighters, but he was lively enough for
the amateurs and was less likely to in.
fict serious injury.
Corcita's staff lounged about the
arena with their capes over their arms
ready to rush in and distract the at.
tention of the bull from a PROSTATE
amateur, but most of the young men
were nimble of foot and sprang lightly
aside when the bull turned to charge
In emulation Of the professional fight
ers. The awkward few provided the
fun in their clumsy actions.
But though the amateurs stretched
forth their hands to grasp the berib.
boned purses which hung on either
horn Of the bull. each containing a
five dollar gold piece, they were not
nimble enough to reach the prize.
Bert had been famous athlete in
his college days. and those days were
not so far distant that his skill had left
him. With a red cloth he attracted the
attention of the bull, and as the be.
wildered animal rushed at him he half
turned as he leaped aside. Several
times he repeated the maneuver before
he could reach over and grasp the
horns, but at last he succeeded in get.
ting a grip on the wicked looking
shaft, and, while the frightened ami
NAL tore madly around the arena, he
held on with one hand while with the
other he removed the four purses.
The other amateurs closed in upon
him. declaring it to be unfair for one
man to take all the prizes. but the
audience was with the plucky Amer
lean, and the manager. wisely siding
with his public. gained additional ia
vor by announcing that two more
purses would be put up with the Amer
lean barred from the contest.
He escorted Bert from the ring. while
the other amateurs waited for the bull
to be sent back. The attendants had
already coaxed him into the ring and
there would not be long to wait.
Bert. hurrying through the corridor
at the rear Of the pen. did not notice a
group of people at the entrance until a
hand fell upon his shoulder. and he
looked up INTO his fathers eyes.
ut was great deed. my boy" came
in sincere praise. "Jessie told us of
your straits, and Henry and came
down to look you up. guess you
didn't need help as much as we thought
you would. We saw the fight and how
cleverly you won out. Come back to
the hotel with us and We'll tell Jessie
all about it. She came along with us. >
And l guess you might as we'll
make it up with her" put in Henry
Picard. You know how to take care
of yourself and wife too"
II was taking fathers advice" ex-
planned Bert laughingly. ''He is for
ever telling a fellow to take the bull
by the horns"
II didn't mean it to be taken so lit
erally." denied the elder Burnside. "but
it was good advice even at that. since
it brings you wife. You can have
the ring made out Of one Of those
coins.'
Bert looked at the four coins he still
held in his hand.
"If the romancers are to be believed,' y
he said laughingly, from the bull ring
to the wedding ring is not such an un-
usual happening after ALL"