The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

after fumblin fer spell, opened 1t. an stroded into the areny.
 Friend. I've sized ye up as man that's read, an knows the way they fit beasts, into the Roman collyseem. Well, I wish ye could a seen me. ketched just one glimpse O the audience-the monks. an Nuttree, slttin on the edge O the cage then my head-piece twisted way round an I couldn't see nothin but I knew bout where I was an where the lion'd oughter be- If he hadn't moved. walked
 for ard, slow. an kep' twistin' that
 darned Iron pot hopin I'd git the holes
 opposite my eyes, but couldn't.
 "Where Is he. Nutty?" I yells.
 I could hear his voice. answerin', but II couldn't understand him-sounded like
 hive O bees
 Louder, Nutty." says I; louder. I
 can't hear ye, an l can't see nothin. | Where Is he ?'
 (Which way do you look?' he hollers.
 'Behind you-in front-no. behind. Ach.
 Gottl now he springs, quick, upon you!
 eff him some Nnocks!' | I heered the lion roar, an l made a
 wild swing. but I famed, an he landed on me, an we begun to roll over. Sayl The tailor that worked fer Gus was sure | in me all kinds O jabs an punches, but l couldn't feeL 'em. All the time. I was | tryin' to git up, an once in while l would, but fore 1 could git braced the crtter'd down me again. The luck was agin me- fer my headpiece had got wedged hind side before. an whenever my back was to the lion. he'd claw 'em out, whilst my arms was turned the other way an I was clubbin' atmosfere with my mace. All the time 1 could hear Npttree and the monks, but whether they was backin' me CT the lion couldn't tell.
 Friend, them clothes O Gus's must "a ben his winter suit. I've ben in hot places, but I never sweat like I did then I'd a drowned, if the seams d "a ben tight, an I begun to git discouraged. I haint ashamed to say that I'd "a quit, | if I could-but l couldn't, fer we'd ben whirlin' round so much that didn't know i where the door was. Jest then my luck 1 changed. The lion jumped me-ez usual an 1 swung-ez usual-an' we went down 1 -ez usual-but this time he got one of ] his claws hooked into an eyehole. an 1 twisted the head piece round, sos the holes come. opposite my eyes. The first l thing I see was the cage. with Nuttree an the monks onto 1t. They was all sit tin In row along the front edge watch | in the fight an Nuttree had one arm round the neck of a short t-taled monk. l talkin to him. He'd forgot all about me- an was jest int'rested in the scrap. I kep' turnin' slow, an at last I see the lion. He was tired, an he was shy some teeth, but he was game, an was squat tin ready to jump. I grabbed my club, an braced myself. ''Now, Nurl ye. come on.' I says; Seat" an he jumped. Friend when he was sailin through the air he looked as big as a haystack, but l stood my ground. an swung fer him. an l jedged my distance, an maced him, fair on the conch. We went down together an my headpiece fetched loose an rolled away, an left my head stick in out. like a turtle out of his shell. I'm gone now" I says an shet my eyes. an waited fer him to eat me, as fer down as the shoulders.
 Hoch Hoch! Hurrayr I heered Nut tree yell. an openin' my eyes l sec him dancin round with the lions tall in his hands tryin to pull the critter off me. Some of the directors an guards come an helped him. an they drug the lion off an l got up an looked at him. The directors stood round in a circle, an I sized the situation up quick. I folded my arms an stepped ard an put my foot onto the lion an begun a speech, but l hadn't got farther than 'Miney Herrin," when I felt the Mon arch O the Desert move under my foot
 "Nutty" says I, tell 'em to hustle that box here an we'll git this feller into 1t fore he comes to, fer he's good for an- other round"
 You'd oughter to seen them fellers , tump-but they got the box, an we all took holt an hsted the King O Beasts into it.
 Nuttree an me went back to my room to talk it over, an I blew the hole down fer some beer, an Berta come, an Nut tree told her bout the fight. She turned white, an started fer me. an fell into a cheer an begun to cry; "Armer mann, Armermann."
 I didn't care for Nuttree. T be that Berta," says l, two ways; but there's another way I won't never be Armer mann if you'll jest say the word, an be Missis Slim Brown-Pl be the richest man that ever wore it, CT worked for him."
 An will you never never again fight init lion?' says she.
 Never. Berta," says I. "I'll swear oft now"
 An friend. I've kep my pledRs. haint never it lion senca