The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-03
DUG OUT THREE DOLLARS.
A Burglar Dislodged the Coins In
Green's BarrOOm.

For several years Green's harroom, ad-
joining the lobby or the Grand Opera House.
has been a place of exasperating temptation
for covetous persons In remodeling the
saloon some time ago the proprietor had his
tile floor inlaid with one hundred silver dol
lars as a special attraction. The pieces of
money were fastened in the tiles by means
of rivets underneath and solder around the
edges. From the very first those dollars
were responsible for the downfall of many
a fellow who found IT impossible to resist
the kind invitation they seemed to extend
to every one TO please pick them up and
pocket them. All sorts of attempts were
made to displace them from their snug lit
tie nests among the tiles Everybody felt
that ii was such a shameful waste of good
money to allow those dollars to be walked
over and tramped upon and worn out.
Many people felt that they would doubtless
be doing Mr.. Green a great favor by re-
moving the coins once and for all. and saw
ing him any more worry about them. Mer
who have always borne the very best of
regulations have often been observed by
the bartender to dig away at the silver
pieces with the toes of their boots while
they pretended TO be giving their entire at
tention to their liquid refreshment.
1t is said that Green was obliged TO dis
miss several employees because they insisted
on spending most of their time trying to
figure out some successful plan for dislodg-
ing the money, and even the proprietor him.
self has been seen upon different occasions
to gaze at the floor in a longing way. In
fact, those dollars have exercised mes
meric influence over everybody who has
come In contact with them-conscience
ceases to exist in their presence. About
a week ago Green was astonished TO come
across ragged and dirty little newsboy
seated In the middle of the floor, holding a
chisel in one hand and a hammer in the
other. The little chap was laboring with
might and main to boost up one of the tam
talizing coins, perspiring profusely and
swearing good naturally during the opera
ton. The barroom- was crowded with men
at the time, but no one had appeared to no.
tice the intruder But then, even II he had
been noticed, the chances are that he
wouldn't have been molested. On the con-
trary, everybody would have offered him a
helping hand. The proprietor. however
felt IL his duty to request the young gentle
man TO withdraw, and the youngster went
away with a backward glance of deep re-
gret and fathomiess desire.
But the most ardent coin litter of them all
put In an appearance the night before last
He came in the dead of the night when all
way through the back door by the liberal
use OF a crowbar. Everything goes to show
that he wasn't an ordinary burglar. He
victim 10 the smell cast nv the ironrisonad
dollars. 1t Is true that he helped himself
TO many good cigars and excellent Ken
lucky whisky. but IL Is believed that this
was done by way OF inspiring him for the
original work ne had set out to do. There
are evidences that he had all kinds OF tools
with him from Jimmy 10 a pickax. And
there are other proofs showing that he was
terribly In earnest He got three dollars
He was either frightened away before he
could dig up any more Of them or else he
gave up the job through sheer fatsgne. At
any rate he didn't tackle the fourth one.
He has probably withdrawn TO IFS intreIch-
ments to study out a new plan OF onslaught
In the meantime the police are looking tor
him e- So