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Six months later a big, smooth-faced giant in ill-fitting sea togs strolled up Sixth

Avenue. It was Billy Byrne--broke, but happy; Grand Avenue was less than a

thousand miles away!

"Gee!" he murmured; "but it's good to be home again!"

There were places in New York where Billy would find acquaintances. One in

particular he recalled--a little, third-floor gymnasium not far distant from the

Battery. Thither he turned his steps now. As he entered the stuffy room in which

two big fellows, stripped to the waist, were sparring, a stout, low-browed man

sitting in a back-tilted chair against one wall looked up inquiringly. Billy crossed

over to him, with outstretched hand.

Howdy, Professor!" he said.

Yeh got me, kid," replied Professor Cassidy, taking the proffered hand.

I was up here with Larry Hilmore and the Goose Island Kid a year or so ago--my

name's Byrne," exclaimed Billy.

"Sure," said the professor; "I gotcha now. You're de guy 'at Larry was a tellin' me

about. He said you'd be a great heavy if you'd leave de booze alone."

Billy smiled and nodded.

"You don't look much like a booze fighter now," remarked Cassidy.

"And I ain't," said the mucker. "I've been on the wagon for most a year, and I'm

never comin' down."

That's right, kid," said the professor; "but wots the good word? Wot you doin' in

little ol' Noo York?"

"Lookin' for a job," said Billy.

"Strip!" commanded Professor Cassidy. "I'm lookin' for sparrin' partners for a gink

dat's goin' to clean up de Big Smoke--if he'll ever come back an' scrap."

"You're on," said Billy, commencing to divest himself of his outer clothing.

Stripped to the waist he displayed as wondrous a set of muscles as even Professor

Cassidy had ever seen. The man waxed enthusiastic over them.

"You sure ought to have some wallop up your sleeve," he said, admiringly. He

then introduced Billy to the Harlem Hurricane, and Battling Dago Pete. "Pete's de

guy I was tellin' you about," explained Professor Cassidy. "He's got such a wallop

dat I can't keep no sparrin' partners for him. The Hurricane here's de only bloke

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The Mucker