The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-13
psa friendship which was destined to

| III tH1& way he DdSSeu tuc HC4t lOdI years of his life. drinking with his | every breath the exhiliarating atmos- phere of the ring It was small won-
 der that his ambitions were limited to
 the only profession of which he knew
 the fns and outs.
 | Mike found him quick and active.
 willing to learn, and with no shadow
 of fear of punishment. From being Bay Wanted. he was finally promote ed to the post of assistant instructor. And occasionally when some fighter
 came to, train with Mike for battle. | the Kid was allowed to act as one of
 the sparring partners So hc acquired speed and Knowledge. and learned by
 experience the difference that lies be- I tween the amateur and the profess siona1. .N% | It was two days after his eighteenth
 birthday that, arriving q little late at 1 the gymnasium. he found Mike in con . versation with tall, wiry-looking young negro.
 Here, Kid" said Mike. as he sight ed him, ''come here Ye-ve read of MT. Van Courtlandt' unknown which Is to | fight Eddie Brock next month? This | Is the Iad--only it's secret, so ye l musn't teff--Joe Johnson. colored champeen of Brooklyn at the light weight limit. Yell be one of his spar rim partners"
 IUe hiO SHOOK ndnuS Wlll thC otioh- ger. Being British born. he had none of the Americans inherited dislike of the .'coon." but there was something in the Brooklyn mans face which he did not fancy. His carry life Tn the street had given hm the habit of sum ming up the men he met at a glance. Training work began that day, and with 1t feud between the Kid and the colored man. Every bout between the two was a pitched battle. Mike unobservant as ever. did not notice any particular malice on the part of his man, but merely saw what he LOOK
 to be promising vigor. At the
 end of each days training the klo
 ached as if he had been through stif
 fight in the roped ring. lncidentally'
 too, he began to train.
 And as events turned out. this was
 fortunate. This match between Eddle
 Brock and an unknown was one that
 was exciting considerable interest III
 sporting circles A good deal of money ent contest.
 About a week before the fight, the
 Kid, walking home arter his days
 work, met officer CGorman. -Four years had effected great friendship
 between them.
 An how is yer unknown" inquired O'Gorman after they mad exchangeo greetings.
 ''Oh, fine" said the Kid. Well in side the weight and strong. He loos-
 ened a tooth for me today. Mike tells
 me not to give 1t away that the coon
 the man who's to fight Brock; but
 there. what's the use? Everyoooy
 knows"
 Officer o'Gorman tapped him mys-
 teriously on the chest and lowered his
 voice.
 An I'll tell ye somethin' which
 everybody doesn't know" he growled through his mustache. The Kid looked interrogative. An that is that ere Joe Johnson won't win" said the policeman Well, I've not seen Eddie fight, said the Kid, but he'll have to be warm proposition to put 1t over John son."
 Hell not win" proceeded O'Gor- man, because he means not to win. "What?" The policeman nodded.
 Sure. We cops get nvxr 10 the game easier than most. We hear things. There's bin framing propositions made
 to him. He's bin paid to lose. an it's up to him to do 1t. He's buncoed ye Kid
 How do you know?" cried the Kid. How did you hearr
 Officer O'Gorman displayed a coy | reticence.
 Mustn't tell professional secrets" | he said But you may stand on me.
 On the wor-rud of mimber of the city police. So don't ye go putin we're | long green on the wrong man. Kid,' he concluded, paterpally. The Kid was a man of action. He was early at the gymnasium next day. | The colored representative of Brook | lyn was alone in the room, punching the bag with bare fists in meditative manner. He did not look up when the door opened. 4.- | The Kid came straight, to the point
 He was not fulsomely polite. You black beast" he said. ESQ you've been playing double" l The colored mans reply was swift and direct. He wheeled around on the Kid. and his thick lips parted in a grin of rage. The next moment he sprang in like flash with both arms
 working like fails.
 The Kid side-stepped to avoid the furious rush. and put in left hook | which brought his man up sharp. The
 black rushed again. landing heavily on | the Kids ear. It was the last blow he delivered AS he came in to follow up his advance, the Kid spied an open | ing His right shot across. and Mike Mulroon, opening the door at that mo- ment, was just in time to SC the col- ored champion collapse in heap like an empty sack.
 What the-Kid. IS ur crazy ye are?' | The Kid wrenched himself free. Let me go, Mike" he cried angrily, But what in the worru1d do ye mare | by knockin' our man about just before | his fight?"