The Washington times., 1905-04-11
In Front of the Postofice.

lowed 10 the end or the route
In Front of the Postofdce.
Directly in front of the Postoffice the
Maltese Cross man made another cross.
Just two more" shouted one lad as
he threw his golf cap into the air.
Two Your Aunt Nifty" sneeder
another young man by his side. There's
only one more If kin count. What're
you trying to do, give us a phoney
steer?"
There was much discussion In the
crowd as to whether two crosses or only
one remained to be marked. After max
ing the mystic mark the man with the
chalk Strengthened up and In the at
tempt to shake off a few of the hunters
who clutched at his garments. broke
into a little sprint. Bicyclists went on
their heads, and several other fights
followed Desire to engage IN mortal
combat was oyerridden, however, by the
wish to get rich in hurry, and the
sessions of scrap were adjourned. On
and on marched the crowd.
At Eighth street and Pennsylvania
avenue the fifth mystic symbol was
made, and then the crowd got the In
spiration that the marker was hitting
straight for the Capitol.
A policeman may be able 70 handle
crowd under ordinary circumstances,
but not a Maltese Cross hunting assem-
blage This was proven beyond perad-
venture and to the sorrow of Policeman
n,
yania avenue Seeing the large crowd
coming Gown the middle OF the street
he sailed into where he thought there
was a fight. He happened to get in the
path OF the V-shaped crowo: ana 5000 q
about as much chance of stopping the
flood of humanity as a snow ball has OF
freezing on the equator. he was car
rIe6 off his feet, his helmet was rudely
trod upon. and his dignity scattered 10
the winds While he picked himself up
and brushed the dirt from his uniform,
the crowd swept on toward the Peace
Monument. The Botanic Gardens had
been reached, and the crowd was thor-
| oughly convinced that the statue was
the goal.
At the Monument.
| When the Baltimore and Ohio station
and navy yard junction of the Capital
| Traction Company was reached the
crossmaker broke into a dead run and
stopped short near the monument, where
| ne hurriedly drew the final Maltese Cross,
| none too perfect but plain enough 10
| guide those who had trudged along for
| upwards of a mile and hall at his
heels. Then he hid the money nearby
| The scenes witnessed then were lu-
| dicrous in the extreme. With loud
| shouts the members of the crowd dis
| persed and spread to the four points
thought the money was somewhere in
the monument. Many boys and men
| climbed up to the figures on the
| statues, others removed the IDS from
manholes and climbed down into them.
and several searchers put their hands
| into sewers at the base of the Monu-
ment, but were unrewarded. Many OF
| them went into the Capitol grounds.
Willie Keefe with n regular Sunny
Jim smile was the first to walk into
The Times office this morning, and an
| nounced that he had come TO claim SIC
| OF the Maltese Cross money hidden near
the Peace Monument Willie announced
that he was born under lucky star.
Today is his birthday, and in addition
| TO getting presents from other sources
| he has one from The Times. Yesterday
| afternoon he went down town with his
aunt to get a new suit Of clothes, and
he saw the crowd following the man
! marking the way to the Maltese Cross
cs He followed down to the Botanic
| Gardens. where the last cross was made.
After cropping in all of the dark holes
and punc hing the corners. Willie saw
the edge of piece or paper protrudinS
from a hole in the wall. With much
abor and many trials of patience he
managed to unearth an envelope.
When asked what he intended to do
with the money. William announced
that he would either put IL in the bank
or buy his email brother a new suit oe
clotiies Willie Keefe is a bright young
ster Gf about fifteen years of age, re-
siding at IS Myrtle street northeast. He
is employed in the cashiers Office In
support the family.
R. w. Bowman's Find
The Maltese Cross man and the great
crowd following him passed me at Ninth
and e streets said r. w. Bowman of
243 X street northeast, as he walked
In The Times office this morning to col
lect "A $40 order II knew what 1t meant,
and / thought l would join the process
sion and try my luck. | rather en-
joyed the long walk TO the Peace Mont
ment because II was a new experience.
When the man made the last cross at
= the foot of the monument / started
out to the south The first likely place
| saw contained nothing but trash. but
the second place. the fountain in the
wall. turned out better. There in a
ledge was the envelope. l put 1t quietly
7 In my pocket and waited until this
morning to get the order cashed."
; third Maltese Cross hidden near the
Peace Monument al the foot Of the