Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-10-04
LonooN.s DOC THIEVES.
Headausrt~rs at which These oeatr,
Nightly Congr~gate.

Headaasrt-r, At which These oea,ry
Nightly Congr~gate.
Once in my lie I consorted with pro-
tessional dog thieves, says writer
wish IL to be distinctly understood that
l never stole a dog, although / am free
to confess that I have been tempted.
and have told the story OF how ON one
occasion n dog stole me. But TO re-
turn 10 my thieves In the northern
part of London. which you will reach
by passing through Fctter and Leather
lanes, continuing past the quaint Italian
nuarter with its cathedral, the interior
Of which Is beautiful, although the
building IN but crude externally. you
viii end yourself in close proximity TO
the rendezvous OF the London dog
thieves Near by is place called
bookings in-thc-iIole. IL Is well named,
being situated I'm decided hollow In
one OF the worst quarters OF the great
city. Those In search OF n fine. creepy
feeling should visit IL after nightfall. as
did. then found myself In the bar
of small. old-style public house OF
very doubtful character. or perhaps
shall express myself better il say that
its character was not at all doubted.
was eyed curiously by the loungers as
l took some rcfrcshmcnt at the bar.
then quietly gave the countcrsign in
accordance with the instructions with
which l had armed myself The pow
ful and heavy-neckcd publican changed
his dcmeanor at once. and uShcrcd me
through n side door and mp crcalSy.
tortuous and dark staircase. At this
period tho creepy feeling was az its
best--or worst 4 door opened and we
entered n long room. the ceiling OF
which was very low. Yellow gas Jets
fiickcrcd here and there
curious sight met my gaze. The
room was full OF men. three fourths of
whom held dogs 81 every degree. The
men were mostly OF an uncouth descrip-
ton, clothed in great part in corduroy,
surmountcd with the conventional caps
that arc worn by the London coster-
mongcr. They resemble In general APP
pcarance the touts and wclchcrs OF the
English race tracks Most OF them
smoked short pipes The dogs yelped
and whincd amid the general hum OF
conversation that came through the
amber haze. NV appearance excited
no comment. and for this reason. IL is
quite IA common thing for "swells with
sporting blood In them" TO drop In upon
these gentry and pick up good dog at
nominal price. The morality OF the
proceeding Is very questionable, but
the fact remains Gin, the favorite
drink with the low class OF London,
was brought In n jug and served In
small wine glasses accepted the hos
pitality OF my friends, the thieves, ms
saw at once that e was expected.
Then / convcrBed with various mem.
bers Of the party concerning the points
OF the CANNES In their possession.
They took my presence there as INIT
ter OF course and talked with perfect
candor Had been able 20 forget the
company ] was In, ] might truthfully
record that / spent a pleasant halt
hour at liockings-in-t the Hole
These men are not all thicveA Some
Of them are dog brokers. who sell dogs
for others or pick up bargain 10 sell
again. None of them openly admit
that they are professional thieves. al
though. Of course. II l. understood per-
fectly They find lost dogs or else
they arc commissioned 10 sell "a dog
that belongs 20 friend Not small
part Of their income Is obtained through
receiving rewards offered for lost dogs
which they have been fortunate enough
10 lind During my visit 10 them
their demeanor was perfect They
might have been an assemblagc of
farmers at cattle show. - Donahoc'a