The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-26
SHOT S ORIES
TON REAL LIFE
Burglar Hunt Organized on Floyd
Avenue.
WHO THE BlTER WAS BIT.
The Visitor Played in Luck and
.Made Gooan-The Car Condnc-
tors Narrow Escapc-How
He Figured 1t Out.
WHO THE BlTER WAS BIT.
Twas midnight.

Twas midnight!
One by one the bells OF ncistlbor:ng
towers haas1old the hour. Luna, in all
her sp!endor. rose and, casting over all a
ssiveTy mantle. found her star-strewn
path across the heavens Floyd Avenue
was at peace with ail the world Ever
and anon would a noble sncre break the
Stiffness and In sweet cadences arise, for
a. moment lingcr, and then die away IKE.
the sough of a summers breeze. Now
and then was heard the deep resoundins
thud of the boot jack as 1t ended its mad
flight against n neighboring fence, abruptly
terminating the feline concert Then all
again was still.
A woman's piercing scream rent the air
In rapid succession bobhed white-caapcd
heads from windows on upper floors along
the avenue -.What is it?' each WHITE
capped head asked the other and all al
the same time. Then the watchers by amt
OF fiard '-rubberfng" finally located the
scene of trouble in one particular house.
.Of curse it's a man: / heard nm!
Listen: don't you hear him walking
round ?''-"What IL he comes up here?
I'm too scared to scream!'-''Why don't
papa come with q lighty'-..May be he's
in our room alreaay."--Eelp.''-.tO VIII
they never hear us?'-"Suppose he
shocts?"-.-oh my.''-'.Hep,'' This is
what the watchers heard as they eagerly
craned their neclls to see and hear more
thereby causing more than one to nearly
lose his balance. OF course the watchers.
Knowing full well that they were in no
immediate danger. made many susses-
lions as to the proper methods to be used
in organizing and conducting burglar
hunts None. however. offered personal
aid,in TIE that was then being con-
Quoted in the house where the storm
centre seemed to be-
nj $S,n I3a
cries had awakened papa and he it was
who led TIE procession. Tightly clutchins
his trusty ''six-shooter'' in ole hand and
stout cudgel in the other. he made his
way down the steps He had been bade
an affectionate farewell just before start
ing on his perilous mission. Slowly he
made his way down the stairway and all
sight of him was lost in the inly blackness
below. Then. calling a few parting injunc-
tions. the female contingent in dainty crea,-
tons of white. sought refuge in their
rooms and began 10 barracade the doors.
The suspense was awful. Seconds seemed
like hours and minutes like eternities.
Each one had made ready to SCREAM and
go into Mysteries when the gun was fired.
Then was heard the sound of approaching
footsteps. A chill Of terror was expert
enced by all the anxious watchers in the
house Nearer and nearer they came.
WHAT was TO happen next? Cautiously one
opened tIle door and peeped Through the
crack.
.-Oll. its papa. the horrid burglar didn't
kill hirn did he! oh -
Go to bed. sternly commanded the fond
Parent. How do You expect a man to
nerve himself for the labors Of the day if
fool mouse gets in the milk bucket and
you girls raise all this fuss2
Several well-known railroad men, whose
IF irr-
fond OF that fascinating game. pool and
Shs!c aw-aE- many an idle hour
driving the many spheres around the green
tables at one of the leading hotels. Now
the rivalry that exists between several
Of these coming De oros is very great and
they never tire telling their friends what
they did to the other fellow"
The party met rs usual one evening and
each told the other how he was just in
11rorer trim to do him nice and brown
Gc course adjournment to the nool-room
was suggested and the battle-royal began.
There was in the party q visiting railroad
man, who was Just spending the night in
Richmond with the boys He was an on
locker for wliile and then tried conclu-
sions with the winner. The visitor won
without much of an effort and the sec
ond and third games he likewise took into
camp The vanquished thought il would
be good idea to take the visitor down a
peS oI Two anu seeing III Inc room q Well
known shark, save the latter the wink
and eNcusing himself left the room fol-
lowed by one-''the shark Making sure
that they We're alone the vanouished. pull
ing roll of bills from his pocket, stripped
eff m TX ann handing it to the
shark" explained:
See that fellow that's doing me in
there" Well get him in a game and do
him. Keep one X and give me the other,
catch on?"
Both Went hack. but not together The
shark finally got the visitor in little
game and the visitor Won hands down.
See here, said the shark 81 know
that We are pretty evenly matched hut I
think j can do you and just to prove it
Tn willing 10 risk ten spot on it If
agreeable to you'.
The deal was made and on the bank for
break, the shark won. He broke but
he made miscue and the balls went wide
open, The visitor tool, his turn or rather
turns. for he ran fourteen balls into the
pockets and banked the fifteenth. missing
only by a hsir. He had as he explained
'.close enough to hurt his eyes
You got me that time said the
.sfarl,," after he caught his second wind:
..let US Try another. Til make ii twenty
fe- the winner this tine. Aercedc''
The visitor calmly pocketed the two tens
that the stakeholder had handed him and
turning on, his heel motioned the boys to
come on TO the ioDDS ana get some
thing.
THE shark has finished trying to ex-
pain how it happened and the young rail-
roader says sit amt trne-
The story, however, got out.
Ir looks could kill there would have been
a vacancy in the ranks of the conductors
ON the Main street line Fortunately for
the Knight of the Bell Cord The rate
messenger took It out in looks. though she
was. as The laxative passenger explained
mad enough TO bite the head Of horse
shoe nall Evidently the car was behind
and the motorrnan was exertins an effort
10 make UP lost time The passenger IN
question boarded the car at Fifth Street
From the size of the basket she carried IN
one hard. and the number of bundles III
her arms. one would have come TO the
conclusion that a Sunday-school picnic
was on Any way the ena-of-the-seat-
hog didn't bulge an inch and the late pas
scnger MANAGED. after a great deal of
difficulty. 70 sc; by.
The conductor gave the notorman Two
bells. There was jolt: then a smash. Tho
basket. as lnck would have it, struck
the fepr right side up with care while