The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-16
THAN THE FIST.
KATPIN AND LEANING WJN a
BATTLE Nv THE car.
Little semi-Cripple Trtumphs Over Cham
DIOn Imported From the Hook anti
Retains the Favor OT Liz without Any
Help From Her -RSmaDce From school.

~ AgA " ~ INV " 80.
East Side. Even If his buck was cruelty
distorted, his face pinchcd and aallow and
his limbs thin and bony. he had no kicks
coming. lie could boast of being the
brightest boy Ia the first reader class in
st. James's school; 1t was he who was
selected 20 recite The Barefoot Boy" at
the closing exercises last term, and he had
captured every prize the good brothers
put up for the smnrtest scholar. And
furthermore, was no not Lizzie Deloney's
sweetheart2
Strange "a IL seemed 10 the kid in the
GAP Lizzie. the goil with the flashing brown
eyes, was realty and truly fond Of Hnmpty.
X Nobody denied It, not even Liz herself.
She and Humpty used to make mud pies
together long before he broke his back,
INC although he had undergone a cruel
change during the weary months he spent
Ia the Children's Hospital LIS heart rs'
manned true blue-sh he was StIii Huniptys
girl
The knowing ones said II was because
Z Humpty was the brightest boy IN the school
that Liz was "all broke up" OH him. He
knew 30 much more than all the other lads
nut together. He had read n great many
books in the hospital and he had wonderful
knowledge to import. Sittingon the door
oLtIDB q NlG ~ ~ N"N ~Nff $3.50
glow of evening, Humpty would tell stories
Of Oliver Twist, Robinson Crusoe, Arabian
Nights and fairy doings. And he told them
80 well and with such feeling that the girls
would sit around him and listen breath
loosely until darkness enveloped the Gap
and IL was time for bed
But since-the Kid Ca4Hc into the lime
light things were different A natural born
leader. the kid was head of the Hook gang
before he was 10 years old, two years ago,
and he wasn't in the many hours before
he made his presence felt and had every
lad looking up to him a. "the main guy.
There was something about him that made
the boys do Just az he said. Wasn't il Md
who licked Bug MCGEE, the leader OF the
Oliver streeters. who lowered over him!
Who swan across tho East River to Brook
lyn, or, at least, was said TO have done so?
Who ~divedsfrom the top of the pile driver
at thef foot Of Cherry street, stumping every
dock rat along the river 'front.' hid.
The lads Of the Gap knew Of him long
heforeh be moved up from the Hook. and not
few OF them knew to their sorrow Of his
ability as a fighter. Kid was afraid of no
one, and he had yet to ZEE the lad, even
fifteen pounds over his weight, who could
a him cry quits.
The second day after the kerrigins move
into the Hamilton street tenemcn house
lid put it all over Jigs Kelly. who for a
long time was the bully Of the Gap. lie
handed 1t out in proper style 10 Mariana
the GIMME, who always enjoyed the reputa-
ton Of being able to fight some. Fatty
Brady cried 'NuY' thirty seconds after
Kid sailed into him. Kid was all alone in
his glory.
~ - Ii LAa-1 all ,L-,.N haV, -,
but they couldn't get to know him well
because Kid wasn't a lady's man. Their
brothers related thrilling exploits, and it
made them more eager to have him on
their calling lists.
But Kid uroved that he was human. for
a few days ago his eyes rested on the pretty
face Of Lizzie Delaney and a strange feet
ing came over him. II was something he
couldn't explain, but he knew that he was
smitten beyond any doubt. II was the
hrst attack he ever experienced.
SYouse pup il handin' me a lime wen
yuh spiel dat gag about Liz bein' busted
up over HumPty,.' reInark%t Nd when
one OF the buds timidiy told him Of the
romance. "She's de buckle fer yer uncle
Kid, an Hunptyll have ter shpaway from
hisself. Oats me"
-No guy AIM, got no shoT yid Liz ex-
'Dey's been hooked teryedder fer a long
vile"
Ain agcin' tor Tease me, dis Humpty
business, an yuh kin place n sofe bet on
dat" retorted the aid ITS all kbosh fer
Humpty if hc butts in
Then and there the Kid took a VOW that
Liz Delaney would be his girl. Every
morning he plastered hi> faring red hair
until IL shore like a golden platter. and
until his mOthsr caught him and w~allOped
him coed and hard he was for wearing his
Sunday suit cycry day. He resOrted TO
all the will a. Of ID" lover :, win the ideal
Of his heart.
But the day tie Kid entered the first
reader class IN ~. 5a.ics's he met his Water
loo. Poor little Hlmrty knew that the
great one was making a strong play for
Liz-she had been talking TOO much about
Kid these hat few davs--and something
told Humpty that he was IN danger of los.
ing his lot". 90 course, there was no
chance Of mixing y Up With Kid, because
Humptv knew that ~. world he like r sheep
aoing 10 -iargl az 'Hiu he would mako ,
him look SICK Nv ~,a~- I
Now, XVI r"NC" wa . good scholar.
He had gov GA the nr1k TOO often, and
besides. he 1ptol ."hool and books a. in
tenselv - Iidmlt. invad hem. 50 the
first dav iprthr now -o'ooi vas = bitter
one. The good ir.,inr a-lcd him 10 name
the capital ,rl %r"l".d .kii couldn't answer. !
~Cort, ia,r"'rf " nnp' who -at in
"CorE ,aln ~ alto" y,mo hesitation !
That va '3' .tr.i 'f,gf, Md got =
zero d ~ SSS %.yF.n '9"" c ~9%" " mo,i;a %. ,
WI AHNNHa NNhA IA-
asked the good ~, frcr ralI. !
Kid wo~ .rllmgoi again. Maybe l'pmptv |.
would know tn. : no ano N" css. u Ei-ttl
glance at tina iTilc hUrhh..k
Napoleon. WHISPERED NuUuty.
Napoleon aHrL ki fgain the
great had fBlien
A spelling lessen va- announced and
when the Ed wd~ called upon to spell }
guess Humpty told lingo Stagino 10 Tell
Kid 1t was spelled got- Mud thus did the
great one e. down again
And each time that Kid Nuukpd. Humptv.
who was called on ncNt, had the right !
answer. II wSs sweet TeyrnIn. In every
study Humpty Ugdc Kid look sick. indeed.
That aftern0an Sid had TO stay behind
and the good Brother Paul handed him a
few. Kid had come from tho public school, /
where corporal punishment IL abolished, |
and straightdvny he wau'Ni To fight the
good brother. Then he VS. taught to
respect the man of the ChW,h, and he re-
strained himself ~ bcJ he could, The
good brother pointed 10 Humpty as the
model scholar and this furt her intensified
Kids hatred for the little hunchback.
Kid was n sorry and crestfallen lad when
no amprOpd from the sphO Olhonaa thot