Life — June 25, 1925 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Rover and Over Boys . § y oO Pa Pa Pa Pa Oa ata By Corey Ford Volume VII: How a Bullfight Had No Connection with a Lost Cily “ LL out for Oak Run!” called A the white-haired engineer, as the three Rover Boys caught up their suitcases and dismounted from the railway coach. come back here, I want to k you something!" shouted a brown- haired, curly-eyed youth of nineteen, waving his arms excitedly as the train started on its way down the track, “What is it? ed the aged en- gineer, reversing his engine and back- ing again to the station. “How far would you have been now if I hadn't called you?” queried Tom Rover, while a loud laugh went up from the passengers and the engincer vowed it indeed “a good one.” Then the three lads piled into the carryall and sped to Valley Brook Farm. “Hip, hip, hurray!" cheered the Val- ley Brook farmhands lustily, as the Rover Boys caught up their alls and trotted out onto the hayfield. ou are in the nick of time to win the harvest!” “TM pitch for Valley Brook Farm!" announced Dick Rover, seizing a pitch- fork and walking home. “Let me send you a low, swift bal offered Sam. “This is the last straw,” groaned fun-loving Tom, adding in a whisper: “Leave the cracks to me, Sam.” “Are you ready?” sang out a farm- hand named Cal Coolidge, as he wound up and delivered a rapid speech on na- tional economy, resting his foot on a sap-bucket while the rotogravure-section cameras commenced to click feverishly; when suddenly a shrick was heard across the meadow, and who should burst into view but Dora Stanhope and Nellie and Grace Laning, followed closely by an infuriated bull. “Bellow!” shouted the bull lustily. “Help!” screamed fainting in Dick's arms. bull will charge us!” “He can't charge us,” retorted Tom merrily, “We haven't got Dora, “The an account.” And even the bull had to snicker a little at that one. “Can you save us?” inquired Nellie, when she could control her laughter. “It may be a toss-up,” replied Tom, carefully selecting a red silk petticoat and stepping in front of the infuriated animal, which halted in amazement. Cuarter Two ano a Harr Shower Tom circled the angry bull, which snorted and pawed the sand impatiently as the trumpets blared the “Toreador Song” from “Carmen” and a long line of matadors filed down into the arena, Twice they paraded about the vast amphitheatre, while Tom marched gaily at their head, pausing only to shove a stray hay-rick out of his path as he advanced over the carpet of flowers strewn at his feet toward the box where the President of Mexico stood ing a proclamation in his honor. “Bravo for Tom Rover!” shouted the President, a Mr. Hylan; and the eager citizens took up the ery, tossing their sombreros in the air and shouting lustily: “Huzza! Huzza!" while Tom flung the red silk cloth over his shoul- ders and bowed to the right and left. rea (A CUYAD, WAUAHS, THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO, A MR. HYLAN, READ A PROCLAMATION IN HIS HONOR. In the meantime several attendants rap- idly spread fresh sand over the arena, some of which accidentally got into the bull’s eye and made him sorer than ever; and as the parade started around the amphitheatre a third time, the bull mut- tered “Snort!” and would have walked “WHAT CARD HAVE YOU cot?” away in disgust, had not Tom remem- bered him in the nick of time. With his eyes only on Nellie, who waved him encouragement from a seat close to the ring, Tom stepped toward the bull, while the stands fell silent at his bravery and strong men muttered prayers under their breath and women hid their eyes. With a sudden move- ment Tom flung the red cloth over the bull’s eyes, tied it behind his neck, slapped him playfully on one cheek, and stepped aside lightly as the embarrassed animal stumbled forward with a foolish expression. “Take the bull by the horns,” shouted the eager spectators, as Tom lifted the animal off its feet with a giant wrench, upset it in mid-air, and sent it sprawling on its side in the blood-stained arena. Then, amid the frenzied shrieks of half-hysterical wom- en, he drew a sword from his sash and with one fell swoop severed the prostrate bull in twain; when, to every one’s as- tonishment, the two halves were seen to leap to their fect and comicbooks.com