Little Falls herald., 1913-06-27
he l,'I G
MA H
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1918. by Associated Lit.
5 erary Press. st&S5SS

III Copyright, 1913, 0y Associated Llts III
erary Press.
The man with the bear was waiting
at a small station for q train from the
Adirondaeks to New York. He was
an old man, and the bear was q big
one. 1t was explained that bruin had
been captive about two years and
was to be sold to the geological gar.
dens in the big city. OF the dozen
men who gathered around one asked:
rs he.anYthing more than a bear p
"No-ju a bear,' was answered.
"Any tricks?"
"No tricks, but speciality #S.
Eating raw meats?'
| mo, sir. It's hugging claim he
can outhug anything in this vain
world. He can break bulls back or
hug down q tree foot thick. Let him
get his paws around barrel Of kero-
sene, and one little hug does the busi-
ness. He crushes beer kegs as you
would a Ay.''
They were trying to arrange for a
| hugging match with hitching post
when the train came along and bear
and man were taken into the baggage
car. The owner was doing some more
| Dragging when an old man came into
the car to see, about his trunk.
"Mebbe you think I'm totin' an old
| hyena around the country" said the
bear man to him.
II guess it's BEAR" replied the 9th
| e1, but see nothing remarka Bile
about him."
"You don't eh? Well. l do. Mebbe
you'd like to see him hug that trunk
Of yours? What he can't silver when
| he gets his paws around it has got to
| have roots forty feet underground"
"But should think the law would
step in"
1T can't. There hain't no law on the
books ag'in a man tryin' to outhug a
bear II he wants to. When he sots out
to do it he takes his chance. you see
same as steeple climbers
If l wasn't sufferin' from liver com
plaint"- said the baggageman as be
looked defiance.
"You'd tackle my Hunyado. would
your
II sure would"
'Then Ina glad for your sake that
you have got liver trouble. One hug
one wild yell-and it would be all over
with you.'' r.. 4
II don't believe it," said the old man,
| who had come in to look for his trunk.
you don't?''
mo; I've got a son back in the car
Your son? Egad: Will you match
your son ag'in my bear?" chuckled the
owner as he danced with delight.
II guess s0.' =
''You do? Bring him in. Trot him
out I'll give him all the show be
wants and bets to on the bear.'
The old man slowly took in chew
Of tobacco, left the car, and when he
returned he had his son Martin with
him. Martin seemed to be about
twenty-seven years Of age and little
taller than hitching post He was
built on the ground. with back like a
writing desk and arms which seemed
to have been sawed from railroad
tie.
Martin, this ere man wants to bet
s to / that his bear can outing you. !"
quietly exclaimed. the father as the son
sat down on trunk.
"Yes. that's it,. that's it, cackled the
owner "l'll muzz!e him so he can't
bite, and III bet to he'll make you
holler in two minutes"
| "Muzzle your bar" was all that
Martin said as he pulled out a FIVE dol
lar bill and handed it to the bagga e.
man. The bear man put $25 with it,
grinning like boy in a cherry e,
and in a minute he had the bear re. y.
Martin removed his coat and p yer
collar and carelessly inquired:
"1s this to be squar' hug. with no
gougin'?"
"Jest so. jest so: replied the bear
man. "You hug the bear and he will
hug you, and the one who squeals first
loses his cash. Now. then, all ready. :
AS Martin approached the bear rose
up with sinful glare in his eye, and
the two embraced. 1t was a sort OF
backhold. with no sell out on the
crowd.
"Go in. Hunyado- go in-go i'm
screamed the bear man. And bruiD
laid himself out as if be meant to pull
a railroad water tank down.
"You might squeeze little bit hard
er, my son." carelessly suggested the
father as he spit from the open door.
and Martin called out his reserve mus
Gle. II
Each had his best grip. There was
no tumbling around to waste breath.
but it was stand up, stand still hug
ging match. Little by little the bears
eyes began to bulge and his mouth to
open, and Martins face grew to the
color of red paint.
Hang to him. Hnnyado: I've got
my last dollarS0n yo1r head! shrieked
the bear man as he saw q further
bulge to his pets eyes. .5sss.
! But it was no use. All Of sudden
i the hear began to veil and cough and