Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-02-09

one at riddles.' replied the old cabman
with some degree of embarrassment. ''but
suppose that when they set on some
body to make inquiries as to my private
they had heard as how I now
and again took glass more than was good
for me. But that's all over now. I've
give my word as a man, and I'll keep it,
Sir. Ipromlsed that would never touch
beer or spirits again unless it was by the
DOCTORS orders, and the lady herself PIN
ned this piece of blue riband where you
now see it. Then was took round to the
stables. and there was the new cab and
the two horses, just as I've told you, with
the harness all omplste-everything. even
to new whip-all ready to take away
there and then. And if you don't call that
a lucky windfall should like to meet with
the one that comes up to your way measu-
rement.''
The rain not abating. he had an5tfSr
cup of coffee, and the conversation nat
urally turned on property left in cabs, on
cabs in general and on instances which,
during his cab-d:iving career of seven
and-twenty years, had come under his
OVID observation. was glad to find that
he was of opinion that the comparatively
recent arrangement which secures to a
cabman certain percentage on the value
of all goods left in his vehicle and volun-
tarily deposited by him at the police office
worked we'll and was comm ,nly the means
of restoring property to the proper owner,
where otherwise it would have been ap-
propriated by the finder. He thought it
not only encouraged the men to act hon.
estly. but, what in his way of thinking
the amazing meanness that possessed some
people. By way of illustrating the last
mentioned view, he mentioned a few ca
ses within his OWE experience, one of them
being the finding of diamond bracelet IN
his cab after he had set down a customer
he had conveyed from the Adelphi Thea
tire to st. Johns Wood. He did not dis
cover it until he reached the cabyard. and
made haste first thing next morning to
the house, losing days work in conse-
quence, and receiving for his honesty the
handsome remuneration of half crown.
On another occasion he found handso ne
silvermounted umbrella, with the owner g
name and address engraved on the handle,
and it coming on to pour With rain as he
was carrying It home he took the liberty
Of using the article for his own shelter on
the way, and when he arrived at the resi-
dence of the person it belonged to he was
sOundly abused for presuming to take such
an nwarrantable liberty, and his remon-
STRANGE was cut short by the door being
slammed in his face. But the most un-
lucky find that ever fell to my share,'
continued the old cabman. Twas the first
one ever came on. hadn't been driv
ing more than nine months, and I'd been
married about half that time. q, We were
giviDg in two rooms, and things we're q
long way from rosy with us. Hardly a
month previous I'D been pulled up and
wrongfully fined 40 shillings for running
into brOugham. as well as recolect,
for it was in the dead winter time, and
had to pawn my overcoat to help raise the
money. Well, one day was driving
empty. through one of the squares IL
Clerkenwell and was hailed from one hous.
es to take up a fare. There was plate
on the door, so and so, Diamond Cutter
and Dealer in Precious Stcnes,' and the RI
der was an old gentleman, with a couple
of trunks. and he wanted to be taken to
London Bridge station and 90 some
where by rail. A servant brought down
the trunks and little mahogany box
about the size of a cash-box, which she
placed atop of them in the passage. Will
you have 'em inside or out, STRIP you
may put the portmanteau outside says
he, but I'll take possession of this, thank
you, aud at the same time he gave me
look as much as to say, You WOULDN'T
wonder at my taking care of II
if you knew what it contained Nor,
than shat, just as was driving Off, lady
his wife suppose she was came to tn.
door, and calls ort quite anxious, You've
got the small bog al right, my dear? Foi
goodness sake don trust it out of YOU
handsI 1T is not likely said he l men
ton these little things so that you maj
understs nd the sort of idea they gave NJ,
of what must be the value of that small
box. was, as have already told you
precious hard up at the time, and l could
not help thinking to myself if it was min'
it would just set me up for life. Well,
drove blm to the London bridge and W,
we're only in bare time TO catch train b.
wanted to travel by. 1t Was in the even
ing and quite dark, and there had been
block on the bridge, and he was out o
temper and in mighty hurry when h'
reached the station for fear of being late
A porter took the luggage off the roof
and my fare jumped out in hurry with ;
rug over his arm and paper parcel in hi
hand and paid me my fare. and it wasn'
till I'd lost sight of him in the station
that found he had left the little w0Oder
case behind him. OF course didn It wan
any telling as to what / ought to hav'
done, but it was such tremendous temp
tation couldn't resist it. drove stralgh
home with it and showed it to my missus
It was strange sort of box. with one O
them patent lncks on it. and with a lot O
little holes. not bigger than pin holes, ir
the top of it It was pretty heavy, but
we couldn't make anything as to what was
inside of it when we shook it, which W.
accounted for by lts being likely that the
precious stones-the diamonds are, OF
whatever they we're, were wrapt up in soft
wool. We know that there was wool iI