The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-13
THE DEBUT OF A LIGHTWEIGHT
By P. G. wodehouse.

Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. BoWles)
 The boy turned out of Pell Street in the aimless way common to those who are conspicuous of having many hours before them and no obvious means of passing them.
 As the boy turned the corner he blundered into a man who was walk ing swiftly along the street, muffled in a huge overcoat.
 Now then, ye young devil," said deep voice not unkindly. The man recovered his balance and was about to walk on, when he caught sight of the boy more distinctly and paused in astonishment His costume was certainly not in keeping with the season. Winter and summer he wore nothing but a red shirt and a p-ir of very old brooches, though he some times, as at the present moment. added ment
 We're cold?" boomed the man from
 still older pair of shoes to his equip- | the depths of his great coat. yep" he said.
 ''Why don't ye go home?" Haven't got home. replied +-- boy. shortly.
 The man regarded him with a com passionate stare. -. Here" he said
 He unbuttoned his coat. produced a coin from his pocket and passed on at a swinging walk.
 The boy examined the coin. It was i a half-dollar. He stood looking at 1t, almost daZed. He had never handled special In the bulk before. | AS he stood there his eye was caught | by something small and black on the ground. It was q pocketbook; and as he picked it up he saw that it was stuffed with greenbacks. As long as there had been anybody to do it, the | aY,l | remnants of what he had been taught
 remained with him. He must find the big man in the overcoat and return the | pock etbook. As a preliminary step, he | would consult policeman. Meanwhile, | being passing rich with half-a-dollar in his pocket. he would fill himself as full as one might for 15 cents, and put by Officer O'Gorman took charge of the the remainder for tomorrow. pocketbook next morning. and com mended the boys sagacity in intrust- ing it to an able and intelligent off, cer.
 "Oi'll take it up to the station" he said, "and when we've found who 1t
 belongs to, ye climb fin sharp. sonny and get the reward. Why" He broke of with an exclamation of surprise. Mike Mulroon" he said. "Bedad, now if that's not remarkable! Ye run round to his gymnasium. son nv, an give him the long green an tell him ye're the boy he's been advertisin for. Ye know Mikes gymnaaum?" The boy nodded. Mike Mulroon toughest of middle weight boxers in his day, which was now past, had set up a gymnasium on retiring from ac- tive work. and now devoted his time to teaching the noble art and training fighters for their battles. Every boy In the Bowery knew Mike by reputation, and secretly longed 10 follow in his footsteps.
 Mulroon's gymnasium was in Six teenth street. The boy charged in like a thunderbolt to find the stalwart Mi chael engaged in sparring with gild- ed youth who looked as if he had been in the habbit of sitting up late.
 The round came to an end, and Mike, looked around.
 Well" he said, 'an, what can I do for your Please, MT. Mulroon." said the boy, rapidly in the manner of one speaking a piece, you dropped this last night
 when you gave me nalr- dollar and picked it up, and MT. OGorman says 1 it's got your name in it so it must be
 yours, so I've brought 1t and there 1 ain't any missing. And MT OGorman
 says you want a boy here. and will I do?'
 Mike Mulroon took the pocketbook
 in silence The exhibition of honesty
 in one who was young enough to know
 worse had quite overpowered him.
 I'm much obliged to you, he said
 at length.
 And can l he the hoy wanted?"
 What can you do?'
 Anything"
 Well. you can't want more than
 that. Mulroon. eh?" said the gilded one
 and he's honest. bal Jove. Here, kid
 help me out of these pally pudding cases. and I'll give you dollar"
 Thus did the boy enter upon his du- ities at Mike Mulroon's gymnasium.
 At first these were nSt extensive. nor
 was his pay; but both were greatly tc
 his taste He speedily fell Into the
 ways of the gymnasium. and after a
 few weeks Mike began 70 feel that he Icould not get on without him. By the combination of an agile brain and a Istrlct attention to business the boy made himself indispensable, and be- ltween Mike and himself there sprans