The Black Lion Inn

arp gamin who does errands and odd commissions for

ty degrees, the figured shirt whereof a dominating dye is angry red, the high collar and flash tie, with its cheap stone, all declare the Bower

lelessness of face. He has come on business bent. That mighty pugilist, the Dublin Terror, is nightly on the stage, offering two hundred dollars to any amateur a

"It's nine o'clock now, an' d' Terror goes on to do his bag-t'umpin' turn at ten. After that comes d' knockin' out, see! But say! if youse

ess of temper. His gamin conductor throws op

lf for him," vouchsafes the gamin

ennel of a kitchen. The furnishings are rough and cheap and clean. The lady of the tenement, as the f

brother Davy, aged nine. Little Davy is lame. He fell on the tenement stairs four years before and injured his hip. The hospi

is fortunate Menares was a well-looking, tall man; with hair black and stiffening in a natural pompadour. He kept a tobacco stall underneath a stair in Park Row, and was a

idle, easy creature named David Lacy, who would have been a plasterer had not his indolence defeated hi

sailed away on a China ship without notice or farewell. Some say he was "shanghaied,

, assuredly would not go to sea wher

ot here important. He sailed and he never returned; and as Mrs. Lacy perished of pneumonia the foll

likely to impress. From his Conemara mother, he received a yellow head of hair. Underneath are a pair of jet black brows, a hawkish

ike found a second situation where he might work evenings, and thereby add six further dollars to that stipend from Mark & Milford. This until the other day continu

h. Mike's primal duty is to box with those amateurs of the game who seek fistic enlightenment of his patron, and who have been carried by that scientist into regions of half-wisdom concerning the bruising art for which they moil. From eight o'clock until eleven, Mike's destiny sets him, one after the other, before a full score of these would-be boxers, some small and some big, some good and s

careless jaw, to the end that the other understand a peril and fend against it. But Mike, working lightly as a kitten,

ssor O'Punch, Mike strikes but two hard blows. One evening several of the followers of Professor O'Punch are determining their prowess on a machine intended to register the force of a blow. Following each other in

s official robes-is looking on, a smile lighting his p

s with approval, but makes no

many pounds ca

s Mike, in a surprised

I've a notion you could hit

s more of Mike than does the latter of himself. They know him as one perfect of defensive boxing; also, they recall the precise feather-like taps which Mike confers on the

there as part of the paraphernalia of the gymnasium. But to the fog-witted Mike, who comes to work for so many dollars a week and who has not once considere

light, sends in a right-hand smash that all but topples the contrivance from its base. For the moment the muscles of his back and l

eated again into curves and slopes and shimmering ripples, have no taint of the bruiser, and whose handsome fe

adow of uplifted arm, springs forward out of reach, wheels, and then as the footpad blunders towards him, Mike's left hand, clenched and hammerlike, goes straight to his face. Bone and teeth are broken with the shock of it; blood spurts, and the footpad comes senseless to the pave. His ally, one of the other two, grasps at

round; one still and quiet, the other groaning and cursing with his twisted arm. The officer sends in an

softly comments the

nd deduces Mike's two-ply origin from hi

and part Jew," obse

nish Jew from Salamanca. I think that's what they call it, altho

of thoughtful admiration. "It's the best prize-ring strain i

y understanding, he feels that a compliment is meant

y of three fell upon bad days. Mike was dismissed by the great grocers, and the six dollars weekly from that quarter came to an end. Mike's deliver

is the rent on New Year's day! Also, and more near, is Christmas, with not a penny to spare. It must perforce be a bare festiva

ion of his simple heart is love without a limit for Mollie and little Davy. He lives for them; the least of their desires is the great concern of Mike's life. Therefore, when his income shr

sage dignity of her eleven years, "because we're old enough to understand; but I

nds without question, and does her will like a slave. To Mollie goes every one of Mike's dollars; it is Mollie who disposes of them, while Mike never gives them a th

urrying holiday crowds of Pitt Street. The folk are all poor; yet each seems able to do a bit for Christmas. As they hurry by, with small bundles and parcels, and now and then a basket fro

st time an original idea. It is the thought natural enough, when one reflect

1

d of so small an effort. But it did not occur to him that he should try a tilt with the Terror. In his present stress, however, and with the woe upon him of a bad Christmas to dawn for little Dav

e pots and kettles by declining to eat his supper. Mollie fears Mike is ill. The latter, knowing by experience just as any animal might, that wit

t. Thrusting his feet, light shoes and all, into heavy snow-proof overshoes, and pulling on a bicycle cap, Mike is arrayed for the street. Mollie knows of these several preparations, the ring costume under the street clothes

I can get some money. Mebby we'll

s a god's and as unsophisticated, and in spite of herself a hope begins to live and lift up its head. Possibly Mike may get money; and Christmas,

Mike," is all Mollie trusts herself to s

tre just in time to strip and make the required application for those two hundred dollars. It may appear strange, but it never once occurs to Mike that he will not last the dema

y ought to give me something. I lose a dollar by not goin

f the cheap shop windows, ablaze and garish of the season's wares. There is no wind; the air

the Terror's triumphs, Mike enters a bakery whereof the proprietor, a Germ

"I've got to spar a little to-nig

"And here, Mike," goes on John, as the soup arrives, "I'll put a big drink of sherry in it. You wi

e theatre will give him something, even if it withhold the full two hund

cries the good-natured b

rp gamin delivers Mike, together with the message to the Terror, at the

d for the ring, this person, who is old and gray and wears

Sayres at his best, but'eavier. I 'opes you'll do this Mick, but I'm afeared on it

replies Mike, smiling on the E

r a bit?" as

an!" and Mike's ton

s it, an' will quit if he runs ag'in two or three stiff 'uns. A score of years ago, I'd a-give 'im a

you?" a

fightin', I goes on to 'eel an' 'andle the amatoors as goes arter the Terror. It's all s

Men-ares, who will contend with the Dublin Terror. Should he stay four rounds, Marquis

e, and speaks to a friend at his elbow. "What a model for my Jason! I will give him five dollars an hour for three hours

shock gorilla head. His little gray eyes are lighted fiercely. His expression is as savagely bi

ill box. The floor is canvas made safe with rosin. The master of cermonies, himself a pugilist

ted opposite to befriend the Terror. There is much buzz in the audience-a rude gathering, it is-

bruisers, no one has presented himself for a meeting. This has made the Terror hungry for a battle; he feels like a bear unfed. A

ted as he looks out on the crowded, rampant house. Mike has rather the air of a spectator than a principal. The crowd does not shake him; he is not dist

he knows no fear. It serves to remind him, however, that no restraints are laid upon him in

denly calls

surprised. With the word "Time!" Mike springs into tremendous life lik

nutes his blows fall like a storm. It does not seem of things possible that man could last throu

e makes no reprisals, essays no counterhits, does not surprise. A cautious wisdom would teach him to fee

ather than enraged by the attacks of the Terror. His thrice-trained eye notes each detail of what moves as a whirlwind to folk looking on; his arm and foot provide automatically for his defense and without direc

e remembers that it is after ten o'clock, and his two treasures must be deep in sleep. Then he considers of Christ

ckly done for eye to follow. The Terror's guard is opened by a feint; and next like a flash Mike's left shoots cleanly in. There is a sharp "spank!" as the six-ounce glove finds the Terror's jaw; that person goes d

ike you started, laddy?" screams the old

nature, and points where the Terror, white

did it," M

eat breast and makes the muscles clutch and climb like serpents; he stretches himself by extendi

t much,"

the other in a rapt whisper. Then he tow

thout argument or hesitation, the loud young man of the vociferous

ng man, admiringly, "you ain

e good-natured baker, as Mike lingers over a m

nnocent face on the other; "I had to win C

our Gentleman, "became

ad followed the Jolly Doctor's narrative with relish, "I sh

, O'Punch, and shared the profits of the gymnasium instead of taking a dollar a night for his labors. His sister grew up a

a cue to the others and one quickly seized on; the Red Nosed Gentleman was urged to give the story of that paternal blow. First seeing to it that the stock of burgundy at his elbow was ample