The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-18
View Of Barrow Upper picture Abingdon square.

down half block. turn abruptly to the
right. continue in straight course
again for short distance. only to tack
again in another direction. He tackled
in this wayward fashion for three
quarters OF an hour like IA leaky craft,
tide driven and drifting in an ugly sea.
and trying desperately to make port.
A more aimiess mode Of peregrination
I never witnessed.
/ learned the significance OF this
later. for it had n meaning.
AS We reached the corner Of Perry
and Hudson streets Circular Jack
stopped. He had to take some SNUFF
for his cold, he said. and he began to
inhale u bit that he had sprinkled on
the back of his hand.
Trucks and drays Were rafting down
Hudson street. turning of In the d.
.rection Of the steamship piers in West
street. He looked across this process
sion Of vehicles as though he discerned
something Of interest.
Threading their way across the street
were two boys. apparently 0 or 10 years
old. From the centre nf the thorough
fare one Of tiese youngsters, unde-
TERED by his Surroundings, began to
initiate Circular Jacks action in taxi
ing his snuff.
Hello. Cherry" said the latter
YAH" yelled the youngster, got
your Burnee wit you?"
Keep your mouth shut" growled the
other.
But the lad, a super bright, redheaded
product of the streets. ducking past a
cart, had already found a fresh VIC
tim.
"Hey, Ding Dong" he cried
Two men We're passing us on the
sidewalk and Cherry grabbed one of
them by the flap of his coat. Les see,'
he jeered, peering up into his face with
boyish impudence. Got any brass but
tons on your benny
Ding-D sullen looking thief,
showed his resentment at the query by
growing in an undertone. After aiming
an ineffective blow at his little ques-
toner ne continued down the street With
his companion.
Circular Jack chuckled over this in
cident until his bony shoulders shook.
"That fresh kidll find himself hoatin'
in the ferry slip some mornin," he COM
mented. "Yuh can't badger him much.
Ding Dong there, wit his side kick"
In his vernacular he explained to me
the meaning Of Cherry's testing allusion
to Ding Dong. 1t appeared that the
latter's specially was that Of IA coat
litter. These fellows, frequenting the
restaurants Of the West Side especially
the eating houses patronized by
itincrants from the ferries, river boats
and steamships Of West street, after
having seated themselves beside the un-
suspecting diners. hastily leave. walking
out with the overcOats Of their neigh
bOrs and whatever Of value they may
contain.
The gangs joke on Ding Dong was an
incident i'm his career. when he went
into Clanrey's restaurant in West Four
teenth street. He and his companions
were trying to make of with two coats
when they discovered to their horror
that they bore brass buttons. The gang
boys tried to make their getaway, but
were not agile enough. The owners OF
the coats. acting Sergeant Quinn and
Policeman LAWN Of the Charles street
police station. grabbed the busters be
fore they emerged from the doorway
Ding-DOng was friskcd. found to have q
revolver in his pocket and was tried
convicted and sent up on the charge.
"Now Ding-D Dong looks crosseyed a
anything wit brass BUTTON" addet
Circular Jack.
Cherry came tripping along again
humming an air. His prankish presence
evidently made Jack uneasy. for h,
observed Grossly: "I.OOk out for you
hoist, sonny"
"Ah." retorted the hoy vindictively
"you look out fer Dlnny Sullivan. He