The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-24
THE HUGGING
MATCH
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright 1919. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Adirondacks to New York. He wa
an old man. and the bear was a biI
one. II was explained that bruin ha,
been a captive about two years ant
was to be sold TO the geological gar
dens In the big city. or the dozei
men who gathered around one asked:
rs he anything more than a bear?'
"No--Just a BEAR was answered.
"Any trlcks?'
mo tricks. but speciality"
Eating raw meats?"
mo. sir. It's hugging. / claim he
can outhug anything in this vair
world. He can break bulls back OF
hug down tree foot thick. Let him
get his paws around barrel OF kero.
sene, and one little hug does the bust.
ness. He brushes beer kegs as you
would fiy."
4 They were trying to arrange for a
hugging match with a hitching post
| when the train came along and bear
and man were taken into the baggage
car The owner was doing some more
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.
Il guess It's bear" replied the 9th.
er, but ! see nothing remarkable
about him"
you don't eh? Well. do. Mebbe
you'd like TO see him hug that trunk
of yours? What he can't silver when
he gets his paws around 1t 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 man tryin to outhug a
bear IL he wants to- When he sots out
to do 1t he takes his chance, you see,
same as steeple climbers"
III wasn't sufferin' from liver com.
plaint"-- said the baggageman as be
looked defiance
you'd tackle my Hunyado, would
your
Il sure would"
"Then I'm glad for your sake that |
you have got liver trouble. One hug |
one wild yel-and 1t would be all over
with you"
Il don't believe it." said the old man.
who had come in to look for his trunk.
You don't"
NO: I've got son back In the car
Your son? Egad. Will you match Il
your son ag'in my bearY' chuckled the
owner as he danced with delight
Il guess So"
"You do? Bring him in. Trot him
out. I'll give him all the show he
wants and bet to on the bear"
The old man slowly took In a chew
of tobacco. left the car. and when he
returned he had his son Martin with
him. Martin seemed to be about
twenty-seyen years OF age and little
taller than hitching post. He was
built on the ground. with a back like a
writing desk and arms which seemed
TO have been sawed from railroad
tie.
Martin. this ere man wants to bet
5 to that his bear can outhng you"
quietly exclaimed the father as the son
sat down on a trunk.
Yes. that's it; that's it, cackled the
owner. IN muzzle him so he can't
bite, and Ill bet 6 to he'll make you
boiler In two minutes" 7.
'Muzzle your bar" was all THAI
Martin said as he pulled out five dol
ar bill and handed 1t to the baggage
nan. The bear man put SIS with it.
yrinning like a boy In cherry tree,
ind In minute be had the bear ready.
Martin removed his coat and paper
,ollar and carelessly inquired:
is this to be squar' hug. with no
,ougin'?"
Jest so, jest so." replied the bear
nan. you hug the bear and he will
lug you. and the one who saueals first
oses his cash. Now. then. all ready"
AS Martin approached the bear rose !
- with a sinful glare in his eye. and !
he two embraced. 1t was a sort OF Z
ackhold, with no sell out on the
rowd. .
go In, HunyaGo- go in-go I'M" c
creamed the bear man. And bruin .
lid himself out as IL he meant to pull p
railroad water tank down. /
you might squeeze little bit hard v
:. my son." carelessly suggested the b
ither as he spit from the open door.
nd Martin called out his reserve mus
G.
Each had his best grip. There was In
, tumbling around to waste breath. .,
1T It was stand up, stand still hug r.
ng match. Little by little the bears h,
-es began to bulge and his mouth to ~
zen, and Martins face grew TO the n,
Tor Of red paint. IN
Hang to him. Hunyado. I've got :.
y last dollar on your headw shrieked ~
e bear man as he saw further ~,
lge to his pets eyes. a.
But ii was no use. All of n sudden =.
e bear began to yell and cough and r,
-angle. He was goner. Martin a.
ew it. but he wanted no dispute. !.
d so he gave Hunyado lift from ~
E floor. hug which rolled his eyes -. 49,
,und like pinwheel and then drop !.
him in n heap on the floor.
Well may be shotr gasped the -
lr man as be stood over the half -,
sless heap Of hair and claws. w.
Martin" said the father as he hand
him the $50. you'd better go back :
IT and watch our satchels"