Cinder Path Tales

192 CINDER-PATH TALES and announced his great regret that thetwo other boxers had disappointed him. He announced that one of them had a broken arm, and read aphysician's certificate to thatefifect. The other, as far as we could learn, was suffer­ ing from a broken heart; that is, he had, after looking the redoubtable Johnson over, de­ clined to face him for any consideration. The manager, again expressing his sor­ row at the unavoidable disappointment, handed our friend, Mr. Foley, a fifty-dollar bill, making a great splurge about it, and asked if there were not some gentlemen in the house who would take the places of the delinquents. At this there was dead silence, except the noise made by Paddy and Harry whispering together, but what they saidI did not under­ stand. Again the managerrepeated the re­ quest, evidentlynot expecting its acceptance, and ended with a challenge reflecting deli­ cately upon the courage of his audience. He had hardly spoken the words when sud­ denly, to my surprise and dismay, Paddy rose slowly tohis feet, and clearing his throat said, in husky tones," Faith, thin, 'tis a pity it is not to hev the foight, andlackin' abetter I'll give hima bit av a gomeself." There had been many murmursof disap­ pointment when it looked asif there would be