Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-28
The Tiger Wins
Continued from page 4

all of which, by toreador etiquette, were
tossed back across the barrier to their owners.
Then the teams entered and quickly dragged
the dead from the arena, the ugly, dangerously
slippery red patches were fresh sanded, and the
second bull was admitted.
A ND thus, with more or less like incident,
: three more bulls were fought and killed.
The fifth and last, however, proved dis
grace to his race Bluff a lot he did; but fight
he would not. The noise and crowd unnerved
him, until at last, frenzied with fear and seek
ing escape, he made mighty leap to mount the
barrier directly in front of the box of the Presi-
dent. And mount it he did, and down it crashed
beneath his weight, leaving the bull for a mo-
ment half down and tangled in the wreckage,
struggling to regain his feet.
Directly in front of the bull, not six feet be
yond the sharp points of his deadly horns, sat
Sofia Indeed, none about her had risen; all
sat as if frozen in their places. And just well
they might have been for escape into OF
through the dense mass of spectators about
them was utterly impossible.
Whatever horror must come they must
await, helpless.
PUT at the bulls very start for the barrier
= Ell Tfgye had realized Sofas peril and had
instantly sprung empty handed in pursuit; for
it was early in this the last fight and he did not
have his sword
LcdpluS LHc WISCkdSC, Ii 4 tSTC iduuCu III
rectly in front of the bull, happily at the instant
it regained its feet, where with his right hand
Selling the bull by the nose, thrusting thumb
and two fore fingers well within its nostrils, and
with his left grabbing the bulls right horn,
with mighty heave he uplifted the bulls muz-
zle and bore down upon its horn until he threw
it crashing fall upon its side which left it
momentarily helpless.
But, himself slipping in the loose wreckage,
down also Ell Tig1e fell. the bulls sharp right
horn impaling his left thigh and pinning him to
the ground
Before the bull could rise the men of the
troupe had it safely bound and FL Ifgre re-
leased.
Ell TigYe, however, did not know it. With
the shock and pain of his wound he had tainted.
A ND when at length he regained conscious
= ness, it was to find his head pillowed in
Sofas lap, her soft fingers caressing his brow,
her fearful eyes looking into his, and to hear
her whisper
"Mdn7O mol"
lust at this moment the Duque de Oviedo
approached, come no one knew whence. White
with jealous rage, but steady and cool, he
quietly remarked, MADAM ought to kill you
both; but murder my rank precludes Lucia
sangre, while in yourself, as son of notary and
hired toreador and purveyor of spectacles, I'M
worthy of my sword, nevertheless blood once
noble is in your veins. And as noble it suits
me now to count you. AS soon as you are re-
covered of your wound, shall send you my
seconds"
Most happy, Duke" answered Mauro.
/" Mine shall be ready to meet them"
ONE evening a week later while the Duque
- de Oviedo and two Mexican army officers
were drinking at the bar of the Cafe Concordia,
General Delmonte, Cuban long resident in
New York and distinguished veteran of three
wars, entered with two American friends
Delmonte was describing to his friends Ell
Tigre's last fight, lauding his prowess extolling
his noble presence and high character.
Infatuated by the ardent praise of his enemy,
the Duke grossly insulted General Delmonte-
and was promptly slapped in the face.
They fought at daylight the next morning,
beneath an arch of the ancient aqueduct, just
outside the city.
Encountering in Delmonte one of the best
swordsmen of his time, early in the combat the
Duke received mortal thrust.
And as he lay there gasping out his life, he
phrase that, at the moment, greatly
puzzled his seconds
Cana Ell Tigre" (The Tiger WinsD
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