The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-27
THE GIRL IN THE CAB.

ElN London, not many hundred yards
IL from the rows of tail houses and trim
IL squares which contain all that is most
respectable in Bayswater very awe
inspiring that responsibility Isle some
very gloomy, very dirty, and very much
neglected sums, which, if they do not con-
tain as large a proportion of the criminal
classes as do some of the courts and alleys
of the East End, contain a good many
members of that class whose means of liv-
ing are too precarious to ltave their integ-
rity absolutely above Susplcl.n.
Charlie harrington felt this as he picked
his way through the puddles, and wished
lie had waited half an hour for his train at
Latimer road instead of making short cut.
; He had been playing the banjo at a penny
reading-so called because nobody read and
admission was free-ursanized by the ener-
getic incumbent of st. Cuthberts.
Short cuts, as every one knows, are often
the longest ways, and Charlie very soon
found himself in a blind alley between two
dark rows of suualid cottages. with blank
wall and heap of rubbish at the enn, which
last he could feel and smell only. He now
began 10 wish lie had taken his vile to the
penny-reading, in which case they would
have gone home together in hanson,
whereas now he was trying to return on the
cheap, as dutiful young husband should.
There were some very suSplclous-ooklng
should he ask them the way? Better not,
perhaps. a banjo is not an effective weapon,
and he was all alone and he had his gold
watch and chain on. given him by his friends
at the bank when he married. If only he
could get a cab now! And then, as If III
answer to his wish, there came hanson
trottiug into the blind alley till the horse
nearly struck the wall with his head, and the
driver pulled it back on its launches and
SwOre.
~ Il int oh
Charlie by the light of the cab lamps and
called out in a frightened voice:
a. Can you tell me where L am, sir?
think. the driver is taking me the wrong
way"
The driver was turning his horse rapidly
where do you want TO go?" said Charlie
Harrington, going to the horses head and
standing there.
$40 Chester square"
Where from?"
"Nicarage Gate"
Charlie Harrington whistled to himself.
He stood where the driver could get
full view OF his stalwart frame by the
light of the cab lamps. He was six feet
two in his stockings and ex-captain of
football club and he said to the driver:
Look here, my friend, this is not the
way TO Chester square and you know it,"
The man grunted that he had lost his bear
tigs.
men YOU Ddu D6IleE UOU Them agal ID,
said Harrington, dryly, 'or you Will have
cup of tea with me. viii you allow me to
come with you?" he continued, raising his
hat to the girl in the cab, and as she said
nothing he got in and sat beside her.
She trembed and chung to his arm, which
he rather liked.
Where was he taking me too" she said
due west instead OF SOUTH" he replied.
SHOULD | have been robbed and muir
dereG if you bad not Gomez"
81 don't know. l always thought yarns
about wicked cabmen and their victims were
all nonsense till now. Certainly it looked
rather queer"
i've heard they sometimes stab you
through the little trap" she said, clinging
still more closely to him in her agitation
and fright, and apparently going to faint.
u never knew them to do any worse
than look down." he answered, thinking of
his engaged days. Curious" he continued
Every curious. You say you came from
Vicarage Gate, and | could have sworn l
saw this gray horse and cab with yellow
Pye been singing at"
She did not answer. Was she really going
to faint? How awkward-he had better
put his arm around her wais. to steady her.
4 jolt made her Iurch very near him. and he
felt the little gloved hand fall upon his
He pressed it slightly for few moments;
then he thought of Mrs. Harrington sitting
up waiting to give him his whisky and SODA,
and lie repented and dropped it. Still he
rather enjoyed the drive; more, perhaps,
than his good little wife would have done if
she had seen him. The driver evidently
was on his best behavior, and was taking
them straight to Chester square.
- shall write down the mans number
and inform the police of this he said.
presently; "what is it?" The little plate
was rather blurred and hard to read inside
the cab Pll call policeman now, think,
and take you on IN fresh cab"
Please don't" she said, quickly, though
tile country for the day, but l have really
been to see friend whom I-whO-you
know one has ones private pals. A good
fellow like you will understand"
The slang rather Jared on Charlie Far
ripgton, and the voice was not quite re-
fined one.
You mean that you would rather have
no fuss NADER"
That's it," she answered; 81 thought
you'd understand. The cabby may have
meant TO murder me, but to give him into
custody and to have to give evidence Of
where | took him from would be worse"
Charlie looked inQuisitively at her. She
had ceased clinging to his arm and was
lying well back in the cab. Suddenly she
peered out of the window, lifting the little
blind at the side to see the house better.
Here is the square," she said; "he has
come along well; do you mind getting out?
We must not drive up to the house TO-
gether."
Thank you, so much" she said, pressing
bis fingers rather hard. He reciprocated
slightly, though he was young married
man and very good husband, too. "You
have saved my life, perhaps"
docs the driver know your number?"
yes; l told him when I got in.''
And off she drove.
.'She must live right to the other end of
the square," said Charlie to himself as he
walked In the same direction, and saw the
hanson steadily pursuing its way. "By
Jove! they are passing the church! The
villain can't be playing more tricks; he
must know l should have his number.
Phewl l must 60 home before / do any
thing. / wish I'd not got out"
And home he went to his little house, and
his wife Was very glad to see him back SO
early. But before he could tell her any
thing about his drive-and he meant to tell
her something-she cried out:
why, where is your watch?"
Sure enough, it was gone; presentation
watch, chain and all his money and his pearl
studs, nipped clean off at the setting, as if
with pair Of shears.
Then he managed to tell his story-more
Of 1t, perhaps, than he originally intended,
tor there was some reprOach In his wife's
Hlaf tE,-