Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1908 — Two Rings [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Two Rings

By EPES W. SARGENT.

Copyrighted, 1908, by the Associated Literary Press.

Bert Burnside regarded the little pile of silver laid out upon the table before him. There were two dollars Mexican, an American coin of the name denomination and double the value, two Mexican halves and some copper coins. His board was paid until the end of the week at the obscure hotel to which he had removed when his funds gave ont. After the week was ended there was a tramp of more than 2,000 miles home, and this must be bis capital. Bert had come down to old Mexico to look up some mines in which his father was Interested, it was his first important commission, and he had been proud Indeed when he had perceived the clever manner In which the .mines had been salted. He hud reported the fact back home; then, still having plenty of funds, he had remained on in the quaint old country until he had met the little knot of good fellows at the Hotel Rio Grande. That they fleeced him of etfery cent he possessed In revenge for his discovery of the salting of the mines was aomething that Bert did not know. He

only knew that be bad been so foolish as to play cards with acquaintances of • week and that it bad served him Tight to be stripped of all bis possessions. Alvarez, one of the band, bad felt some pity for the victim and bad tossed him a ten dollar gold piece as tbe session broke up. Bert bad made certain of board and meals for a week at a less expensive hotel and then began to {dan to get back to the states. He knew better than to write asking his father for assistance, it would only aggravate his offense that he had sought help to extricate himself from his dilemma. Daniel Burnside was of the self made ranks, and it was his theory that It was well for youth to take the bull by the horns. Bert was too familiar with the favorite quotation to wire for money. He did write Jessie Picard, the daughter of his father’s partner, and confessed freely his foolishness. To his father he w rote only that he would not be home as soon as he anticipated, and he could see with his mental vision tbe grim smile that would play about the old man’s mouth as he read the bald statement and guessed the rest He would not care about the loss of the nloney so long as Bert showed •kill in getting out of the scrape unaided. In the long run the incident might he to his advantage. Both his father and Henry Picard were of the opinion that the young people should wait at least five years bcfdre being married. If Bert should prove his ability to take care of himself it might shorten the period of probation. With a shrug of his shoulders he dropped the coins back into his pocket and descended to the lobby of the hotel, a greasy and smoke stained apartment which had been the parlor of a private residence before the quarter fell into disrepute and the fine old mansions were turned over to commerce. A new bill on the dingy wall attracted his attention. Several men were gathered about it, discussing the announcement in animated tones. Thera had been a bullfight the previous Sunday at which a new matadore had gained especial favor, and the bill announced his retention for a second Sunday. Bert half turned away. He could not afford the dollar charged for ths grand stand or even the lesser price for that part of the stand not shielded from the sun. Then an announcement near the bottom of the bill caught his «ye. ' Beneath the announcement that four black bulls from Tayagua would be fought to the death and that Corcits Chico would receive the charge of the bull kneeling came the lines: “A fifth bull for the volunteers, with S2O on his horns, will be turned Into Hie ring. The manager refpses to be responsible for any injuries to amateurs.*' "Bather dangerous,” he suggested to one of the bystanders. The Mexican shrugged his shoulders. "Not so much as Is supposed, senor."

he denied. ‘The fifth bull be la what you call—more polite.", "Gentle?” suggested Bert The Mexican nodded. “Even so,” he agreed. “The bull he Is more a gentleman. He Is minded to be so wild. Horses? fney are cheap, bat even amateurs—it Is not to kill, but to laugh at their awkward.” Bert nodded understandingly. lie wus not uufamlliar with the “amateur nights” In the vaudeville theaters. This, no doubt, was the Mexican equivalent. This pet phrase of his father’s kept ringing In bis ears: ‘Take the bull by the horns.” And so It fell out that when Corclta Chico had received the charge of the fourth bull lightly poised upon one knee and the dead bull had been dragged from the ring the arena was turned over to a score of young Mexicans—and Bert. At the trumpet's blare the gate was opened and a fifth bull bounded Into the ring. Like his predecessor, he was a black bull from Tayagua, but he was not a fighter. Twice on other days he had been sent Into the ring, to be hissed out again because he provided such tame sport against the trained fighters, but he was lively enough for the amateurs and was less Ukfcly to inflict serious injury. Cordta’s staff lounged about the arena with their capes over their arms ready to rush In and distract the attention of the hull from a prostrate amateur, but most of the young men were nimble of foot and sprang lightly aside when the hull turned to charge, In emulation of the professional fighters. The awkward few provided the fun In their clumsy actions. But though the amateurs stretched forth their hands to grasp the berlbboned purses which hung on either horn of the bull, each containing a five dollar gold piece, they were not nimble enough to reach the prize. Bert had been a famous athlete In bis college days, and those days were not so far distant that his skill had left him. With a red cloth he attracted the attention of the bull, and as the bewildered animal rushed at him he half turned aa he leaped aside. Several times he repeated the maneuver before he could reach over and grasp the horns, but at last he succeeded in getting a grip on the wicked looking shaft, and, yvhlle the frightened animal tore madly around the arena, he held on with one hand while with the other he removed the four purses. The other amateurs closed In upon him, declaring It to be unfair for one man to take all the prizes, but the audience was with the plufck.v American, and the manager, wisely siding with his public, gained additional favor by announcing that two more purses would be put up with the American barred from the contest.

He escorted Bert from the ring, while the other amateurs waited for the bull to be sent back. The attendants had already coaxed him into the ring and there would not be long to wait. Bert, hurrying 'through the corridor at the rear of the pen, did not notice a group of people at the entrance until a hand fell upon his shoulder, and he looked up into his father’s eyes. “It was a great deed, my boy,” came In sincere praise. “Jessie told us of your straits, and Henry and I came down to look you up. I guess you didn’t need help as much as we thought you would. Wo saw the fight and how cleverly you won out. Come back to the hotel with us and we’ll tell Jessie all about It. She came along with us.” “And I guess you might as well make it up with her,” put In Henry Picard. “You know' how to take care of yourself and a wife too.” “I was taking father’s advice,” explained Bert laughingly. “He is forever telling a fellow to take the bull by the horns.” “I didn’t mean It to be taken so literally,” denied the elder Burnside, “but it was good advice even at that, since It brings you a wife. You can have the ring made out of one of those coins.”

Bert looked at the four coins he stilt held In his hand. “If the romancers are to be believed,” he said laughingly, “from the bull ring to the wedding ring Is not such an unusual happening after all.”

HE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING A GRIP ON THE WICKED LOOKING SHAFTS.