The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-05-12


WICKED LOOKING SHAFTS.
only knew that he had been so foolish
as to play cards with acquaintances Of
a week and that it had served him
right to be stripped of all his posses
sions.
Alvarez, one of the band, had felt
some pity for the victim and had tossed
him a ten dollar gold piece as the ses-
sion broke up. Bert had made certain
of board and meals for a week at a
less expensive hotel and then began to
plan to get back to the states.
He knew better than to write asking
his father for assistance. 1t would
only aggravate his offense that he had
sought help to extricate himself from
his dilemma. Daniel Burnside was of
the self made ranks, and it was his
theory that it was well for youth to
take the bull by the horns. Bert was
too familiar with the favorite quota
ton to wire for money.
He did write Jessie Picard, the
daughter Of his fathers partner. and
confessed freely his foolishness. To
his father he wrote only that he would
not be home as soon as he anticipated,
and he could see with his mental vision
the grim smile that would play about
the old mans mouth as he read the
bald statement and guessed the rest.
He would not care about the loss of
the money so long as Bert showed
skill in getting out Of the scrape I'M
aided
In the long run the incident might
be to his advantage Both his father
and Henry Picard were of the opinion
that the young people should wait at
least five years before being married.
II Bert should prove his ability to
take care of himself it might shorten
the period of probation.
With a shrug OF his shoulders he
dropped the coins back into his peck
ct and descended to the lobby of the
hotel, a greasy and smoke stained
apartment which had been the parlor
of private residence before the quar-
ter fell into disrepute and the fine old
mansions were turned over to COM
merce
A new bill on the dingy wall attract
ed his attention Several men were
gathered about it, discussing the an
nouncement In animated tones. There
had been a bullfight the previous Sun
day at which new matadore had
gained especial favor, and the bill an
nounced his retention for a second
Sunday.
Bert half turned away. He could
not afford the dollar charged for the
grand stand or even the lesser price
for that part of the stand not shielded
from the sun. Then an announcement
near the bottom of the bill caught his
eye
Beneath the announcement that four
black bulls from Tayagua would be
fought to the death and that Corcita
Chico would receive the charge of the
bull kneeling came the lines:
"a fifth bull for the volunteers, with
SEQ on his horns, will be turned into
the ring, The manager refuses to be
responsible for any injuries to anna
tours"
"Rather dangerous, he suggested to
one of the bystanders. The Mexican
shrugged his shoulders
''Not so much as is supposed, senior, ;"
ne denied. 1.-THE fifth bull he is what
you call-more polite"
"Gentle?" suggested Bert. The Mexl-
can nodded
"Even so," he agreed. "The bull he
is more a 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 Understandings. He
was not unfamiliar with the amateur
nights" in the vaudeville theaters.
This, no doubt, was the Mexican equiv
nlent. 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 a score Of young Mexicans-
and Bert
At the trumpet's blare the gate was
opened and fifth bull bounded into
the ring. Like his predecessor, he was
black bull from Tayagua, but he was
not a fighter. Twice on other days he
had been sent into the ring, to be
Kissed 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-