The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-10
AN AMATEUR CABBY.

ateur crook so excited the members of
his set who had lost money by it that
young Mr.. Travers said he, too, would
go out and prey upon society and in five
hours steal $40 He would do this in the
guise Of hanson cab driver. His friends
wagered that he could not make the
sum he named between the hours Of 2
and midnight Travers himself selected
these hours, as he was afraid some one
would recognize him if he drove through
the streets in the daytime. He had great
difficulty in procuring a hanson cab.
He finally found one who consented to
give up his turnout for the evening for
500 down and guarantee that it would
be returned in order. Travers borrowed
the mans shabby capecoat and sent his
man after a high hat Of his own which
was most disreputable. Then he climbed
up on the box, wrapped the blanket
around his legs and waved his whiplash
in charmingly professional manner.
His friends applauded IN dumb show
from the club window, and he saluted
them sedately as he turned into the
avenue.
lie had not the least idea what the
proper tariff Of prices was, but as he had
never found hanson cab driver who
did, he did not allow this to disturb
him. He felt rather all the more quail
fed to rob and blaclln&il his passengers.
He was crawling slowly up the street
when gentleman came down the steps
OF large private house, hailed him and
jumped into the cab before it had stop
ped Travers lifted the trap and said
"Where to, sir?' to the top of the gentle
mans high hat. The high hat turned
and twisted, and the gentleman said:
broadway theatre in hurry"
Travers had his own idea OF hurry.
He hit the horse a vigorous lash across
the head, which caused it to start for
ward so suddenly that the fare inside
was shot out over the doors, and TRAY
ers only saved himself from going over
backward by clenching the reins. They
reached the theatre in five minutes. The
doors had just been opened.
Well" said Travers. cheerfully, 81
got you here in time to avoid the rush,
anyway"
How much?" said the fare.
"Oh, anything you please for myself"
said Travers, land FIVE dollars regular
fare"
Five WHAT" gasped the stranger.
Five dollars" said Travers; what
do you expect to pay for ride behind
racehorse like that? You said to hurry,
and didn't l hurry? It'll cost me five
dollars to doctor that horse up, as it is.
l can't use him no more tonight"
well, l won't pay it," said the gen.
tleman, Indignantly; ''it's robbery, and
I'll take your number. It's downright
extOrtion."
Irdyers calmly unwrapped ms blanket,
stuck his whip in its socket and prepar-
ed TO descend. Over two dozen men
gathered around the gentleman. some Of
them telling him TO have the driver ar
rested and the other half urging Travers
''to take it out'en him.
Travers merely went forward and
rubbed his horses legs tenderly. Look
at that he said TO the most offensive
looking individual in the crowd; "look
al that swelling in that leg. All through
racing him for this man that calls him
self a gentleman. Pretty gentleman be
is, isn't he? Laming a horse and trying
10 rob poor driver of his fare. / guess
] won't be able to use that horse again
for two days, and where's my earnings
coming from while he's laid up? That's
what want to know"
The offensive individual said the swell
ing, which was not at all evident to any
one else, was the worse he ever seen"
and the crowd began 10 murmur indig-
nantly.
The gentleman pulled out roll of bills
nervously, and gave a FIVE dollar bill to
Travers, who sighed as he took it.
I'D like to punch your head for it."
said Travers gloomily, but the gentle
man did not wait, and Travers drove
slowly away until the corner shut him
out of sight, when he whipped his horse
into a gallop.
That's very good for a starter" said
the amateur whip.
At the next corner two men, very
much the worse for dining. waved at
him, and fell ard tunbled into the cab
oh" gasped Travers ecststically,
"this is where / live. III take every
cent they've got"
Where to-" he asked again.
wherever you please" shouted back
one of the occupants, land get there in
a huTry!'
Travers drove them directly to the
T1,irfiath ,,racirpt r,p'ica s+a+;cD o,1
called to the sergeant.
These men" said Travers. took NV
cab at this afternoon. and they've kept
me ever since, ana now they don't know
where they want TO 90, ana they won't
get ont or pay me my fare"
The two passengers. who had prompt
ly fallen asleep as soon as they were set
tied in the cab, staggered drowsily into
the station house, where the sergeant
assigned them 10 two cells, took Travers'
name and number and gave him $40
from the roll one Of the men carried.
which lie declared was little enough for
Eve hours service.
THAT dissipation will cost them quite
ahttie sum-" sohloQuized Travers grim
~; lit illustrates the evil effects Of
strong drink"
BE was passing too well known
gambling asa~a "a Iwentv-seyenth
street which is vell known to every
one except tine police, when young
gentleman re klew ran gleefUlly down
III Sd, y and hailed him. The youths
UaElc wes Forbes, and he came Of rich