The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-30

The door mat thief, whose protracted
stay in New York was cut short only
by extra surveillance by the police
force, has bobbed up serenely in Roam.
oke and has commenced plying his
nefarious trade. That he was not cap.
tured is due to the fact that THE TIMES
does not supply its reporters with wings.
and there is strong probability of the
thief remaining at largo unloss he is
captured by bullet or bicycle. In ap-
pearance no is large, dark and i'll
kempt and has confederate in much
smaller companion, who probably puts
up the jobs. The pair resemble poor
little Oliver Twist and Bill Sykes in
their respective builds.
AT about midnight Monday as TIMES
reporter was passing through Salem
avenue trying to dodge the chunks of
liquihed humidity which came patter-
ing upon his umbrella, his attention
was attracted by the suspicious actions
of the two thieves who were holding an
animated conversation just in front of
the Western Union telegraph office, his
first thought was that they were arang-
ing CIPHER telegram, but his mind
was quickly set at resi- by their subse-
quent actions, as without the usual
caution of thieves, Of seeing if the
coast was clear, they passed quickly
into a doorway. They were absent
about two minutes whom the larger
thief appeared carrying door mat,
followed closely by his small com pan.
ion. The reporter gave chase, but he
might just as we'll have tried to lasso
cyclone as to have caught
those robbers, and the beauty Of it was
that they seemed to know it, for they
ran leisurely, swiftly and apparently
without exortion in tho direction OF
Henry street, whore they turned the
corner and disappeared with their
booty in the darkness. What surprised
the reporter most was that the larger
thief did not stumble as he carried the
mat with his teeth.
1t is simply wonderful how much a
man can teach his dog.
NM
What Piece of Work is Man.
A graphic story of the terrible results
OF the depression in money circles was
repeated to TIMES reporter by one of
the participants in the hard luck at
tendant upon those who are at present
unemployed in tho city.
1t happened this way: Last week
three young fellows, who were boarders
at we'll known caravansary on Nor
folk avenue were laying plans and try
ing to devise means to attend hop at
Vinton. Their credit with their land
lord was dead issue, and notice to Quit
had been posted on their bedroom doors.
So their prospects for obtaining the
necessary car fare were exceedingly
slim.
One OF the party suggested walking,
and throwing open the window eX-
patiated upon the gorgeous spring
weather, when borne upon the gentle
breeze camc the sweet refrain of hand
organ playing, IA Heart Bowed Down"
1t is needless to say that this did not
add materially to their comfort. They
consigned the dark-eyed son of sunny
Italy to an carly grave located in the
tropics, and the finance committee
again went into executive session
Nearer and nearer the organ approached
and now the balmy breeze was burdened
with bacarole, when suddenly the
mainstaY of all good organ grinders
families, monkey, peered carefully in
at the window.
After removing his cap and gravely
curtsying to the occupants OF the room,
the little simian hoped upon chair,
thence to the floor and from there to
the lap of the gentleman who was chair
man OF the finance commi ttee. Little
knew the monkey the awful thought
his familiarity created in the brain of
that moody man, No sooner had the
usual haud-shake been INDUCED in than
the hard.up boarder passed his fingers
softly into the jacket pocket of the
monkey and withdrew tho musical do
nation fund which had been literally
supplied by the other occupants of the
hotel. After shaking hands with the
other me mbers of the committee tho
monkey jumped to the window sill and
moment later was seen on the side.
walk below saluting innocently tho
three boarders, as if flattered at his re-
ception.
After throwing out two pants buttons,
poker chip and lead nickel the chair
man OF the finance committee announced
their assets as 63 cents, and while the
"Wine, Women and Song" was dying in
the distance the 1nanciers were seen
blowing the bead from three schooners
of beer.
a Flag Raising.
Two big poles were hauled up to the
Catholic Orphanage yesterday They
Will be spliced and when erected will
SUCK seven feet in the ground and
eighty feet in the air. Then from the
top Will float big American flag, the
git OF several patriotic and public
spirited members OF st. Andrew's
Church. who desired to always keep be-
fore the minds OF tho fatherless and
motherless children within the orphan.
age the fact that under that flag the Oh.
portunity of the poorest to rise to fame
and fortune is ever open. Bless the
children, they are in good strong pro.
tecting hands. Three of tho Sisters of
Nazareth are six feot in height.
Rescue the Pcrlshlng.