Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-11-07
covINGToN's CAVE.
A NUMBER DISCOVERED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY BY
THE POLICE.
Juvenile Dime Novel Readers I'm
itate the Mythical Doings Of
Heroes Of Trashy 1itera-
ture.

A light blue smoke curling up as
thongh from the bowels Of the earth
in vacant lot at Robbins aud Scott,
sts,, in covington, attracted the at
tention of Policeman Billy McGraw
day or two ago.
Billy's hair stood on end, and his
face became pallid with fear, as pic
lures of earthquakes, volcanoes and
eruptions fitted before his mind.
lie then braced himself and closely
scrutinizcd the bottom of suspi-
ciOus looking black bottle. With his
nerves quieted the dandy copper
walked hesitatingly toward the
smoke. Drawing close, a muflled
conversation reached Billy's car, Lis
tening closer he heard voice in sub
dued tones saying: Yes you make
it a jack pot, and we'll divy the swag
that way" "Oh," said Billy, to him
self. I've got into gang Of robbers,
and this is cave, sure enough.
There's the entrance, covered up with
that brushwood there" Throwing
il aside, he pecred down into the hole
and saw something that made his
heart beat GO jumps to the second.
Five happy, well-dresscd youngsters,
each with an old clay pipe in his
mouth, sat around a rudcly construct
cd table. Several cards lay on the
board, and in each pair of hands five
cards were held. Gazing into a dark
corner the astonished blue coat dis
covered an old style cannon stove in
which roaring fire was burning.
The stove door was open, and tile
light from the fire made the scene a
wicrd one. Potatoes were strewn
about the floor, and a number were
roasting in the fire. On the walls
were pasted old pictures cut from the
Police Gazette and News. On shelf
dug in The side Of the cave was a
stack of half-dime novels. The cave
was about q feet deep and s feet
square. 1t had been dug down into
the ground, and the hole covered
with boards. After sizing everything
up carefully, the officer yelled, '"Sce
here you fellows, what are you doing
down therc?" In moment every
card disappeared, the stove door was
Shut and everything was darkness.
"Stand ready, boys" commanded a
boyish voice, in a Kissing tone.
We'll, answer my question !" COM
manded the policeman.
"Who are you and what do you
want ?" again spoke the one who
seemed to be in command.
"Im an officer, and / want you fel-
lows to come out of this place."
A hurried consultation was held in
whispers. A hustle was heard and
the commander answered in pit
eous tone:
"Oh, Mr.. Policeman, don't arrest
us, We aren't doing anything. We
are only playing"
playing what?"
"Playing scouts and Indians and
heroes, like our books says"
"Ah, dime novel heroes, eh well
come out" Out came five young
stripplings, no one over IL years o.
ago, with dirty faces and fearful eyes
and stood in a row in front of tht
officer.
| Good-natured Billy read them {
lecture on dime novels, and then ex.
torting promise from the boys tha
they would never build another cav,
he let them go. There are two oI
three other caves in the suburbs
The amount Of labor for the little fel
lows to build one of these places j
enormous.
Jake, the city dog burier, is KEEP
busy destroying these places, and tn
officers have been notified TO arres
all such youths who are caught in th
future making caves. The little fel
lows will steal potatoes, eggs am
even chickens, which they half coo
and eat with relish, and pronounc
the victuals "bully."