300 RECREATION 



knocked from his grasp and a heavy said the sheriff; ''I've got two hundred 

 paw fell upon his shoulder. His arm on the bull and stand to win a hundred 

 dropped useless, and it was a week be- from the new judge that's just been 

 fore he was able to raise it again. sawed off on us by the Washington 

 The next issue of the Rodeo an- politicians ; but the sky pilots butts into 

 nounced that on the Sunday following the game and says 'turn down the box/ 

 there would be a thrilling combat be- and I guess that goes, because it's the 

 tween a bear and a wild range bull in law. I regret to say, gentlemen, that 

 Trimble's stock corral on the outskirts I'm obliged to do my duty, but I don't 

 of the town. The probable result of the see no objection to Trimble going into 

 fight became the chief topic of discus- the ring and playing with the bull him- 

 sion, and betting was active. American self if he wants to." 

 gamblers made their bets according to Rather than refund the gate money, 

 the odds, but it was noted that the older Trimble agreed to play Toreador, and 

 Mexicans, after a visit to the corral, the crowd cheerfully accepted him as a 

 quietly backed the bull regardless of substitute for Juanita. 

 odds. "I ain't so downcast over this play of 

 Juanita, all unaware of the arrange- the parsons' as I ought to be," said Bill 

 ment made by Trimble for her punish- Earhart to Beauregard Lee. "I'm free 

 ment, sulked and dozed in her corner. to allow that I entertains a higher re- 

 Sunday morning came, and the crowd gard for Juanita than for Joe Trimble, 

 gathered at the corral, which Trimble and I'd sure regret seeing the old girl 

 had converted roughly into an arena or stacked up against that chunk of dyna- 

 bull-ring at some expense for timber mite in the pen. Joe's popularity is 

 and labor. Seats sold at four bits and getting a little fly-blown since he played 

 standing room at two bits, and most of the hog with the paisano on the bear 

 the Americans and all the Mexicans in deal. I'll go you two to one that El 

 town bought tickets. Toro don't miss Trimble." 



In the corral was the bull, an active, "Have to take it on account of the 



muscular young animal with sharp odds," said Lee, "but I won't repine 



horns. He stood alert and watchful none if I lose." 



and evidently spoiling for a fight. Oc- Trimble shed all his outer clothing- 



casionally someone threw down a gunny and dropped into the ring with a barley 



sack. The bull charged instantly, sack in each hand. The bull was in full 



tossed the sack and then trampled it career when the man's feet touched the 



into the dirt. He was an athlete and ground, and Trimble had barely time 



a fighter. The betting went to two to to leap aside and throw a sack in the 



one against Juanita. bull's face. El Toro had learned all 



Shortly before the hour fixed for the about barley sacks earlier in the day. 



combat, Trimble left the gate and went He tossed the cloth aside, wheeled and 



toward his shop to get Juanita. Pre- charged again. The second sack blind- 



sently he was seen coming back with the ed him for an instant only, and then he 



sheriff, but without the bear, and look- was after the man hot-foot, 

 ing very uncomfortable. The two men There was nothing for Trimble now 



climbed up to the benches. Trimble, but running and dodging. He knew 



flushed, angry and nervous,, remained the game and was an active man, but he 



silent while the sheriff explained that, had a lean, wiry and eager antagonist, 



owing to the fuss kicked up by the com- Once he dodged, turned and seized the 



bined clergy of the town, and the immi- bull's tail, but failed to throw him and 



nence of a county election, he felt lost his hold, and then he sprinted for 



obliged reluctantly to enforce the law the barrier, a flimsy screen of scantling 



and forbid the fight. and boards masking an exit from the 



"I'd like to see the scrap myself," ring. 



