STL All Sports

A hard-boiled prizefighter got himself into a jam with the authorities and was sentenced to jail for ninety days. He found himself in a cell all by himself, a situation he did not particularly care for. After a couple of days passed, he suddenly heard a rustle of sound in the corner of his cell, and discovered a frightened little mouse. He picked the mouse up in his big fist and glared at it.

"I oughta slap yer brains out," growled the roughneck. "What do ya mean comin' in here and botherin' me?" The mouse did not answer.

"At least," continued the tough guy, "if you was a tough character like me, I woulda had some respect fer ya. But look at ya, yer so scared I'm ashamed to be in the same cell with ya."

Then a thought occurred to the fighter and his face brightened with pleasure. "I know what," he said to the mouse, "I'll teach ya how to be tough like me. I'll train ya to be a rough, tough critter. How would ya like that?" And the ring badman gave the mouse something to eat from his own food and began a training program designed to make the mouse as tough as he was.

The ninety days passed quickly for the old fighter now that he had company and a job of training to do. When he was turned loose, the roughneck had the little mouse safely tucked away in his side pocket. Fighter and mouse were great pals now. And, since he had developed a considerable thirst in jail, he made for the nearest bar.

Our hero was making up for lost time when the bartender refused to serve him any more to drink. The old fighter frowned and leaned threateningly across the bar. "Whadda ya mean?" he snarled. "You put another shot of liquor on the bar or I'll pick ya up and sling ya through that wall and clean across the street!"

There was a short pause as the tough fighter took a deep breath. Before he could say another word, the little mouse poked his head out of the pug's pocket. The little fellow's eyes glared at the bartender. "And that," he screeched, "goes for your cat, too!"