Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-02-25

the clamor of the people and the pro-
longed call of the bugle.
Pedro slowly cut open the message
with his knife and with equal delib-
Grafton drew ont the yellow paper.
More than dozen anxious men
crowded around him.
Jose still remained on the bench.
but his eyes watched Pedro eagerly.
"Caramba! He is crazy" half
moaned Pedro. letting the telegram
fall. \ banderillero picked il up in
stantly. Read 1t! Read il" de-
manded the crowd
Most unfortunate accident. Send
Pedro to announce my injury TO the
people. Then put Jose in the ring.
He is quicker than the rest of you,
and | have faith in the boy
Jose sat as If dazed. To go into the
ring as matador, He could not fully
grasp the idea, but the picadores were
wild with excitement They danced
around like children. II was no small
honor for picador to be raised to the
rank of matador.
They crowded around lose and in
sisted on helping him to dress Don
Mardro's suit was too big for the lad,
but the scarlet cloak would do splend-
idly.
Pedro alone did not take part in the
general fiesta. He retired to his cor
ner and sulkod.
outside the hubbuh still continued.
but it was almost equaled by the noise
within the room. Everyone talked
at once.
Finrlly Jose regaiued his bearings.
He would write to her She was sure
to be out there i'm the box of the jefe
politico. Oh, the wonder of it! The
glorious chance!
But when paper was handed to him
his mind seemed to become a blank.
At last he succeeded in Il, lning
shCrt sentence.
- fight today for your love. JOSE"
The bull ring was packed from sol
to sombra The crowd was beginning
to get impatient. They were tired OF
the persistent band playing and
wanted the fight Grumblings and
mItterings could be heard from all
sides.
1t was nearly 4 o'clock. and still the
fight did not begin. y few people in
the top boxes left. The complaints in
cresed until they drowned the band.
Finally. big picador opened the
small gate under the orchestra and
slender figure stepped into tire ring.
1t was Pedro, and a very sullen Pedro
at that. He stood still and waved his
hand for silence.
"Scnores, Don Mardro has asked me
to inform you that owing to an un-
fortunate injury. he will not be able to
appear today" Howls from the lower
benches. And he begs that you will
accept Don Jose MarteZ instead
NO, mo-" criew the crowd from sol.
eve want our money back. open the
gates"
Jose is all right! Jose Is the boyl"
answered the people in sombra.
"An right then; let's have Jose. Give
the youngster his chance
Pedro, without answering, hurried
back to the little door.
In one of the lower boxes a slender
girl, in light blue, sat listening alb
her thoughts, as well as the remarks
Her heart was back there in the ante
room. Had not Jose just sent her that
precious pote? Her boy would fight
and fight to win!
The bare of the trumpet cut short
her thoughts, as well as the ramarks
of her companion. 1t was the signal
for the big gates to open.
Through the wide entrance came
the baderilleros in their scarlet suits,
marching two by Two, then the
mounted picadores, dressed in blue
and green, the names of their horses
tied with orange bows.
All, there he comes at last, the
slender figure in the big red cloak
Truly he looked the part. The
crowd rose up as one man.
"Viva Jose! Viva the young mata-
dorl" they cried.
Then the gates closed, after the en-
trance of the gayly decorated mule
team, which brought up the rear Of
the procession.
Three times they circled the ring.
finally drawing up before the box of
the jefe politico The matador bowed
not only to the mayor of the city, but
also to one of its fairest daughters.
Pepita's heart beat until it seemed to
hurt her.
She pulled the blue streamers from
the railing of the box and pinned them
in her belt. The crowd cheered again.
while the procession made its last
circle.
The bugle sounded the coming of
the bull. The picadores placed them
selves behind the blind fence to await
their turn. Jose accompanied them.
AS the bull came into the ring a
banderillero, standing on one side,
stuck long spiked rosette into the
animals flank. Then the excitement
began. Around and around the ring
went the banderillero, with the bull
after him.
Just as it seemed that the animal
must get him, second man took his
place, while the first slipped behind
the fence. Back and forward went
the new combatants, but at each turn
the bull carried an added rosete in his
side.
Then the bugle sounded the death
call. A boy brought the long
sword of Don Mardro. Jose took it,
sword of Don Madro. Jose took it,
with a glance at the boxes and placed
himself in position-the sword con-
cealed beneath the redcloak.
The bull rushed at him madly, but
the sword only grazed .he animals
back as it passed. The mob jeered.
Jose was stunned. He had placed
his entire weight against the hilt. and
this was the result. His eye fell upon
the blade in his hand. The sword was
notched from the point to within n
foot of the handle. Pedro! So that
was it.
Jose called for another sword. The
boy who brought the new weapon
dropped il with an air OF contempt at
the matador's feet. Selling the lad by
the collar, Jose forced him to pick up
the blade. This appeased the hos
tility of the crowd little.
Again Jose stood in position. This