The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-12-17
AN AMATEUR CABBY.

Aou'ig van biDDers success ~ An am
steur crook 80 excited the members OF
Ills re- who had lost money by II that
young Mr.. Trayers said he, too. would
80 out and prey upon society and In five
hours steal go. He wonld do this in the
g'sise OF hanson cab driver. His friends
wagHed that he could not make the
SUN he named between the hours Of :
aud midnight Travers himself selected
these hours. rs he was afraid some one
would recognize him If he drove through
the streets in the daytime. He had great
difficulty in procuring u hanson cab
He finally found one who consented to
give up his turnout for the evening for
w down and a guarantee that il would
s'e ntturned in order. Trayers borrowed
the mans shabby capecoat aud sent his
man after high hat Of his own which
was most disreputable. Then he climbed
up ON the box. wrapped the blanket
around his legs aud waved his whiplxsh
In eharmiagiy professional manner.
HIS friends applauded in dumb show
from the club window. and he salutsd
them sedately rs he turned into the
avenue.
de had not the least idea what the
proper tariff of prices was. but us he had
never found "a hanson cab driver who
did. he did not allow this To disturb
him. He felt rather all the more quail.
fiei ~ rob and blackrnaii his passengers.
He MAS crawling slowly up the street
when gentleman eame down the steps
of u large private house, hailed him aud
jumped into tile cab before il had STOP
ped. Irasers lifted the trap and said
where 10, s!r:T 10 the top OF the gentle
mans high hat. The high hat turned
aud twisted. and the gentleman said:
broadway theatre in hurry"
Trasern had his own idea Of hurry.
He hit the horse vigorous lash across
the head. which caused ii TO start for
ward ~ suddenly tina: the fare inside
WAS shot cut over the dours. and TRAY
ers only saved himself from going over
backward b. clenchins the reins. They
reached the theatre in five minutes Til.
doors hal jus; h.~.n OPENED.
Well" said Trayers, cheerfully, IL
got .ou here ia time Ia avoid the rush,
anyway.
nl* uiuChF SAID The sare.
oh. anything YOU please for myself
said Tfayers. and five dollars r~suls,
fare
Five what gas,s>l the stranger.
Five dollars. said Travers; what
do You exis~i 10 pay Tor "a ride behind
rac-hor~e like tiais You said 10 hurry,
aud didn't ! hurry; I'm cost the 1--WE
A..faesa. a.. Ha-s (. -,
can't are him no more tonight
Well. ! went ray H." said the gen
iirinan. Indignantly, Its robbery. and
tn take Year number Its downright
~xtortion.
Tra,~rs calmly unwrapp-i his blanket.
stuck has whip III Its socket and prrpAr-
ed 20 dc<cnd. over two dozen men
gathered around the gentleman. some of
,brm telling him io have the driver ar
rested aud the other half urging Travers
Ito take /, out 'cu him"
Traycrs merely went forward and
rubbed his lors-s legs tcnicriy "Look
AT that" h- ssid ,o In. most offensive
looking individual in the crowd: look
NJ that swelling IN that leg. All through
racing him for Tins man that calls him
seif a gentleman. Pretty gentleman he
IL. ism, hcs l.aming a horse and trying
10 rob j,eor driver Of his fare. guess
! won't hc able Ia Use tina; horse again
for two days, aud where's my earnings
coming from while he's laid up That's
what want 10 know"
The offensive individual said the swell
ing. which WAS not at ali evident to any
one else. Was the worse he ever seen"
and the crowd began Ia murtnur indig
nantly.
The gentleman pulled ont roll Of bills
nervously. aud gave Ave dollar bill 10
Travers. who sighed as he took it.
I'D like to punch your head for IT,"
said Travers gloomily. but the gentle
man did no, wait. and Travcrs drove
slowly away until the corner shut him
on, of sight. when he whipped his horse
into gallon.
That's very good for starter" said
the amateur whip.
Al the next corner two men, very
much the worse for dining. waved at
him. and fell and tumbled into the cab.
oh gaspcd Travers ecstatically.
this is where live. III take every
cent they've got"
Where to;-' he asked again.
Wherever Won please" shouted back
one Of the occupants. land get there In
= hurry!'
Travers drove them directly to the
Thirtieth precinct police station. and
called to the sergeant.
These men," said Travers. took my
cab at 4 this afternoon. and they've kept
me ever since. and now they don't know
where they want TO go. and they won,
yet out or pay me my fare.
The two passengers. who had prompt-
| Is fallen asleep as soon as they were set
tied in tho cab. staggered drowsily into
| the station house. where the sergeant
assigned them TO two cells, took Travers
name and number and gave him ~
from the roll one of the men carried
which he declared was little enough fol
Eve hours service.
THAT dissipation will cost them quits
. little sum-" soliloquized Travers grim
IL; ..it illustrates the evil effects Of
strong drink"
| He was passing too well knowr
| gambling house on Twenty-sevcutt
street. which Ia well known to ever
one except the police. when young
gentleman he knew ran gleefnlly down
the steps and hailed him. The yonth''
name was Forbes. and he came Of rict
but honest parents.
The boy told him to drive to Dclmon
Sco's. and Travers whipped mp his horse
"How muchy' said young Mr.. Forbes