Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-04

| 'Geev he murmured. but it's good to
be home again.
There were places in New York where
| Billy would find acquaintance. One In
| particular he recalled--a little third-noor
gymnasium not far distant from the Bat.
| terry.
Thther he turned his steps now AS he
| entered the stuny room in which two big
| fellows, stripped to the waist, we're sparring,
stout, low-browed man sitting in a back
| tilted chair against one wall looked up
| inquiringly.
Billy crossed over to him with out
stretched hand
"Howdy professor?" he said.
"Yeh got me kid" replied Professor
Cassidy, taking the proffered hand
II was up here with Larry fillmore and
the Goose Island Kid year or so ago
my names Byrne" explained Billy
sure said the professor; 81 gotcha
now. You're de guy dat Larry was a
heavy II you'd leave de booze alone"
Billy smiled and nodded.
You don't look much like booze
fighter now" remarked Cassidy.
And | amt" said the mucter. i've
been on the wagon for most year, and
I'm never comm down"
That's right. kid" said the professor; /;
but wots de good word? wot you doin
in little OIL Moo York;"
'Lookin' for job" said Billy.
strip commanded Professor Cassidy.
I'm lookin' for sparrin' partners for
gink dat's goin to clean UP dc big smoke
II he'll ever come back an scrap"
You're on" said Billy, commencing to
dlvest himself OF his clothing
Stripped to the waist he displayed as
wondrous set of muscles as even Profess
sor Cassidy had ever seen. The man waxed
enthusiastic over him
you sure ought to have some wallop
up your sleeve" he said admiringly. He
then introduced Billy to the Harlem Hurri-
cane and Battling Dago Pete
"Pete's de guy I was telin' you about"
explained Professor Cassidy He's got such
a wallop dat I can't keep no sparrln part
ners for him. De Hurricane here's the only
bloke wit nerve to stay wit hlm-he's a
fiend for punishment, Hurricane Is he Jest
natcherly eats II.
'1f you're broke I'll give you your keep
as long as you stay wit Pete an don't get
cold feet, an I'll fix UP a mill for you
now an den SOS you kin pull down little
coin Ter yourself. Are you gamer
You know IT," said Billy.
"All to de good, den," said the professor
gaily. Now, you put on de mitts an spell
Battling Dago Pete fer a couple o. rounds"
Billy slipped his huge hands into the
tlght-htting gloves.
ITS been n year since had these on"
he said, IAN l may be a little slow an
stale at first; but after 1 get warmed up
I'll do better"
Cassidy wnked at Hurricane.
He won't never get warmed up" Hurri-
can confded. "Pete'll knock his block OF
In about two minutes" and the men set
tied back to watch the fun with ill-con-
cealed amusement written upon their faces
What happened within the next few min
utes In the stuffy little room of Professor
Cassidy's third-1oor gymnasium" marks
an epoch in the professors life. He still
talks of II, and doubtless will until the
ID ,AA lii L.. ark
round.
The two men SPARED for n moment,
gaging one another. Then Battling Dago
Pete swung vicious left that landed
square on Bllly's face.
It was a blow that might have felled
an OK: but Billy only shook his head-it
scarcely seemed to jar him. Pete had half
lowered his hands as he recovered from the
blow, so sure he was that 1t would finish
his new sparring partner; and now before
he could regain his guard, the mucker tore
into him like a whirlwind
That single blow to tho face seemed to
have brought back to Billy Byrne all that
he had ever known of the manly art of self
defense.
Battling Dago Pete landed few more
before the fight was over, but as any old
fighter will tell you. there is nothing more
discouraging than to discover that your
most effective blows do not feeze your
opponent. Only the knowledge of what
defeat at the hands of n sparrng partner
would mean to his future kept Dago Pete
plugging away at the hopeless task OF at
tempting to knock out this mountain of
bone and muscle
For few minutes Billy Byrne played
with his man. hitting him when and where
he would He fought crouching much as
Jeffries used to fight, and in his size and
strength was that which reminded Cassidy
of the fallen idol who in his heart of hearts
ho still worshiped
And then like a panther, the mucker
sprang in with vicious left hook to the
Jaw followed with lightning rapidity, by a
right uppercut to the chin that lifted Bat
tling Dago Pete foot from the foor-to
drop him, unconscious, against the bottom
OF the further wall.
1t was a clean knockout; and when Cas-
sidy and Hurricane got through ministering
to the fallen man, and indications of return
ing consciousness were apparent, the pro-
fessor turned to Billy.
Got any more hopes lying around
loose?" asked the mucker with a grin. II |
guess the big dinge is safe for while yet" |
mot II you'll keep on stayin' away from