The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-06-05
A BRAVE
FOOL
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

george 1dIToll WIS duHtt inS "SA"oS
a field as free from care as the day he
was born. He was looking up at the
sky, over which white clouds were sail
ing as lazily as he walked. He was
a city chap, who had been ordered by
his physician to go to the country. even
though the January winds were blow
ing cold, and recuperate. He was
thinking as he walked what a hum
drum thing life was. to be sure, how
free from any kind Of risk or excite
ment his own individual life was and
how when he was ''bowled over" as he
expressed 1t, it would probably be by
an animalcule. so small that he could
not see it, entering his system. in
~creasing and multiplying vigorously.
the colony at last eating him up.
Strange 1t is how often fate Is doing
momen this last idea entered George
CAROLS brain "A death dealing force
was driving mt him from behind. A
shadow. accompanied by the sound of
horses hoofs. shot transversely before
him. Turning. he saw a girl on horse
back in a red coat, moving between
him and Il bull that was making for
him. the girl CHANGING backward as she
rode to observe the bull. She was
about to turn and ride back again
when the bull caught sight or her.
abandoned the straight line he was fol
lowing in the direction of the mar and
turned his attention to the girl.
Now, George in regard to all mat
ters pertaining to the country was
very stupid. He did not realize that
he was or had been in any danger. He
did not gather from what he saw that
this girl. seeing the bull going for him.
had lcaped Il fence and ridden between
him and his enemy for the purpose
Of turning the animal from him to her
self. Instead Of thus taking in the
situation and getting out Of the field
as soon as possible, he stood looking
at the bull chasing the girl.
The Enclosure was about ten acres
and George stood near the middle OF 1t.
The girl led the bull as far as possible
from him, then turned and, eluding the
animal as deXterously as a toreador.
galloped away in the opposite direc-
tion. BY that time it began to dawn
upon the city man that the horse and
the girl were being pursued by the
bull for the purpose Of goring. But
not even yet did he realize that she
had taken this danger upon herself for
the purpose of saving his life; that had
it not been for her a pair of horns
would have taken him in the back,
broken it and the earthly spark Of his
existence would have gone out forever.
What occupied George CAROLS
mind to the exclusion Of all else was
the danger that threatened the girl and
what he could do to relieve her from
her pcrilous position The only thing
he could do was to run for the fence
as fast as his legs could carry him and
climb over it. If he had done this the
girl would have made her exit as she
had made her entrance-by urging her
horse over that same fence. She was
waiting for him to get out of the field
before securing her w safety.
1t is singular how n brave man may
| be q fool. or, rather, is not a good deal
Of what we call bravery folly? George
by his stupidity was leaving both him
self and the girl in danger. She could
Cnn him Sfop1inn thnrn GAMMA az hnr
but was SO close pressed that she was
unable to make a sign TO him to fly
for his life. Nearing the opposite end
Of the field, she turned her head to
see George running toward her. She
could have jumped the fence. but
when she saw the man she was trying
to save hurrying again into danger. in
stead Of saving herself she turned
about and started again across the
field. If she went near the man the
bull might leave her and turn upon
him. SO she galloped diagonally across
the field. making an effort at n sign
for him to leave if. But he did not
understand and, turning, continued his
pursuit Of her.
Then followed events in such quick
succession-so quick that George could
scarcely separate them. He saw the
horse stumble and fall; he saw the
bulls horns go into the horses belly;
he heard a report. and the bull, too,
fell to the ground. a man dropped n
gun. dashed to the fence and. jumping
it, ran to where the girl was trying to
get up from the ground. George and
the man reached her at the same time.
The man lifted her up, and she stood
on her feet.
Are you killed." asked the man.
mo; not Eve hurt"
Then the man turned to George.
For heavens sake" he cried, how
in the world have you escaped the fool
killer all these years."
Hes not a fool at ALL" said the
girl: hes a brave man. He didn't real
ize his own danger, he was SO intent
upon mine"
When George Carroll realized what
the girl had done for him and how he
had stupidity come very near being the
cause Of her death he was paralyzed.
AS it was, he had been the cause Of
the loss Of her horse and a bull worth
500 had been shot. Fortunately