The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-01

district messenger boy. sit may be-"
thought. that all messenger boys are
not born tired, but that this is a condi-
ton affecting them only when on duty"
Pinkey, | concluded, was not on duty;
he was uniformed only rs to trousers,
and he was, us have said, most agree
ably vivacious and alert
: first saw him emerging from n base
mont coffee shop, from which, as he
passed table near the door, he ac-
quircd an extra doughnut, with great
skill and ncatness. On the sidewalk
he met Il uniformed companion.
"Iiullo, Stubby."
"Ilullo, Pinkey"
They were passing each other with
this when Pinlley produced the dough-
nut and grinned. Stubby looked at it,
then Mt the coffee shop and then he
grinncd.
Give MS piece"
Pinltcy broke the cake and was pass
ing half to Stubby. when he hesitatcd
and asked:
Got cigarctte?"
Nav"
You're liar"
Then Stubby grinned, produced n
package, gave Pinlsey cigarette, took
half the doughnut and departed slowly.
Pinllcy lighted up and started rapidly
down the street, bnt stopped suddenly
in front of Il hand organ on which was
seated n little, pinlS-noscd white poodle.
holding tiny basket in it's mouth.
PinlScy made motion of depositinr
money in the basket and the shivcrng
poodle made u motion of kissing his
hand. 1t was the poodlc's one poor lit
tie trick and it amused Pinlscy enor-
mously lie made the dog do it over
and over and over again, to the rage of
the organ grinder.
Go away, you leetle-a hoodlum-a!"
Then Pinkey was In rage. He
glarcd at the organist with his eyes con-
tractcd and chin extended, and said in
low. threatening growl:
Soy. you call me ahoodlum ag'in an
I'll take fall out of your
The Italian, who was Il big, muscu-
lar fellow. with two sound legs tucked
under him and two wooden stumps
strapped to his knees sticking out in
front of him, looked ready to spring to
his feet and dcmolish Pinl1cy.
Soy. I'm on to you, young felly. If
youse jump me de cop will see yer wooS
legs is fakes and run you off de bc at.
See?"
Pinlsey grinned after saying this and
made the poodle kiss his hand again, and
then discovered that it was ravcnouslv
Interested in the greasy doughnut
Pinkey still carried
''Oh, de purp's hungry; let's feed
him." and he took the basket and be-
gan feeding the famishcd poodle, while
the Italian nearly had fit from rage.
We'll, SO long, young felly." ex-
claimed Pinlsey, when he had fed the
poodle poddy; "I'll be along tomorrow,
an if youse have whalcd dc purp fer
eating de sinllcr. I'll put de cop on to
yer fake legs"
Pinkey replaced the basket in the
poodle's mouth, patted his head, grinncd
at the organist, shook his fist at him
and started down the street at Il sprint
ing pace hurried after him from the
show window ] had been pretending to
examine. but his pace was such that |
surely would have lost him had he not
come into violent collision with a.
youngster about his size who was SUI
Perintending the progress of me-
chanical toy across the sidewalk.
WHO you running into, kid?" cx-
claimed the toy vender, picking up his
sample toy-a yellow ostrich. driven by
green man in red Garland
placing it by the side of his stock
of goods on the edge of the
sidewalks. Pinkey really had the
wind knocked out of him by the col
lision and could not reply at once. He
was rubbing his hands in front of him.
had seen that trick before and sus-
pected what was to follow-and grin
ming. as he slowly approached the I'M
suspecting toy boy. without a word or
sign OF warning Pinkey's right flew out
and his fist landed hard and flush on
the mouth of the amazed vcndcr.
There was short but lively rally at
close quarters, in which Pinkey was
getting all the best of it belonging to
the leisure class, he had more time for
the practice OF the manly art of attaclll
when the gathered crowd was parted by
the slow and dignified entrance into the
ring OF n policeman.
stop thatl" exclaimed the officer.
The boys arms fell to their sides.
whats all this about?"
The toy vender really did not seem to
know what it was all about, and was
silent, but Piukcy explained. without a
seconds hesitation:
Why, Officer Mullin, dis kid was
blocking up dc whole sidewalk wild his
tin toys. an lady nearly fell over one
an broke her leg, an | says to him:
Let dc lady pass; does dc whole side
walk belong to yuse?' An he says he
pays do cop-dc officer. | mean-for not
running him in, an knowing You. Mr..
Mullin. SAYS he lies. an he tries TO