The Helena independent., 1894-11-29
CLAIMANTS BEST FARE'
STORY or LONDON LIFE.



young woman In charge nearly as hard
as lawyer once croas-questioned me
when was n witness In a running down
case
walked slowly back. hoping To good
ness somebody belonging 10 the place
would have turned up while / was
away; and sure enough when | got
round the corner | could see some one
talking to the girl.
That's all right, William says tn
myself But II wasn't. the chap was
only a policeman.
'Hullo, lO,ili," says he. Trust COP
per To take the number Of cab IL he
stands within sight OF II for Ave Sec
onds whats the meaning OF this?"
That's Just what I want to know W."
| says |. "lf you're the officer on the beat
perhaps you can tell me where 10 find
somebody belonging to a."
"Ay"' says he. chuckling "I can tell
you fast enough, In Holloway prison
on remand-charge OF general swlnd-
ling. Surely, you're not another VIC
tim?"
mo fear" replied but I'm afraid
this young woman In. Mrs. Some
thing-or-other Penrose has engaged her
as parlor maid"
"Oh! she has, has she?" said he. "Tell
me, my dear, did she borrow any money
from you?"
"oh. yes. sir: she did. indeed" cried
the poor girl, now fairly breaking down.
Ten pounds the day before she left
Harmingham ! was To have extra
wages for being 80 ready to oblige
her"
"Ahw said the policeman. 'I thought
so. MY lady has been playing the same
game, or similar one, all over the
country for Soma lima. huf xu.txa ernt
her at last my girl, and we shan't let her
go Ia hurry. II you care TO have n
dig al her you can come round 10 the
station along with me and tell your
story To the Inspector The more of you
who appear against her the longer she's
likely to get, IL that's any consolation
to you. II would be to me. | know"
And To me- ] chimed in. "I'll drive
you and the officer round with pleasure,
miss, II you'd like to co.
"Oh. no, no." she moaned. She was
sitting on her box at this time. and cry
ing as IN her heart would break. Even
the copper looked sorry for her: and I
felt as II hanging would be too good for
Mrs. Penrose "I don't want revenge.
But what am to do. what am to dog"
We'll. If you'll take my advice" put
in the copper, you'll let cabby here
drive you back To the station. and take
the first train home TO your friends"
81 haven't any friends" said she. "or
any money TO pay my fare IL / had"
Don't say that. miss" said I. wink
Ing at the copper. There must be some
one down In your part of the country
who'd put you up till you've time To
turn round, and as for fare, why. they
know me so well at the Grand Central
that | could arrange II with the booking
clerk"
But she stuck out she couldn't think
of anywhere to go. She said shed no
parents: no relatives, even. that she
knew OF: and as for friends. well. n SER
want In boarding house naturally don't
make many Of the sort that's useful in
a crisis.
"What the dickens are we to do7"
whispered 10 the copper.
There's the casual ward" he whis-
pered back.
"oh! sink the casual ward" said I,
disgusted.
with all my heart" says he. "But
what else is there?"
well. amt there a refuge or home
or something somewhere handy?"
asked.
why yes" replied he. There's one
In Y square; but | don't know whether
they'll take her in; and IL they will, it's
It's more for-you know"
"Ay know" ! said with a sigh. "I
might try II, though"
Yes" says he. you might. n the
young woman has no objection. Any
how, she can't stop here all night Come,
clear on. you boys"
1t was very quiet place, was Blank
street, but little crowd had collected
by this time. While RoberT moved them
on, I told the girl about the refuge; and.
while II was easy to see she didn't like
the idea of IL. she said she'd go, and
thanked us both for the trouble we We.
taking.
Don't mention Il. miss" said I, and
Robert he slipped shilling into my
hand on the sly.
Get her decent lodging for tonight,
II they won't have her" he whispered.
II think you're chap 10 be trusted"
"The same To you. my boy; and thank
you" said I. you've got my number,
and I'm always 10 be heard OF at Ros-
GOES yard Lambeth"
"All right" says he. You'll do the
best you can for the poor thing, I'll
warrant. Good night"
As every one who reads the papers
knows, there are charities and charities
and that refuge happened to be one OF
the wrong sort ! saw a woman Just
about az waspy as the one on Blank
street. who said she was the lady super
intendent. and seemed to doubt the
truth OF every word I spoke. She told
me they only admitted cases recon-
mendcd by subscriber; and then she
actually had the impudence To advise
meme. mind you, London cabby-to
he careful, because girls were that art
ful nowadays, there was no believing In
appearance
Well. this set my back up ! always
WAS "a hasty sort OF chap, and ! made
IN my mind to try no more refugees;
though I've no doubt that II Ia only
known which 90 take her to, there were
plenty whore she'd have been made well
come and well looked after. | didn't
like the Idea Of Just getting her n lndg-
ing and leaving her to take her chances,
either II she'd no money and no frlends
il WAS such precious poor one,
"They'rc full up here. miss" says I,
going back 10 the cab. ia told her TO
AT sim tlll saw what sort of a place II
was. "They say they emit possibly
take Won In. hut " you don't mind cross
ing the wntcr. I think I know n decent
body who would put you up for a night
You're very good says she "But I
must owe you a lot of money already
and I've only n few shllliuHe-'
Never mind that miss" ! interrupt
ed MY fare can walt. and the party |
have In my mind won't oVerchnrge YOU
In fact. MS my mother"
Your mothcr" she cried.
"Yes. miss" said l. nc youll be good
enough To trust me that fnr, | think
ltH the best thing we can do"
cor course trust you. says she with
little smile, you've been ao kind to
me already, but I'm afraid III be Inn
posing on your good nature"
mot bit OF it,' said l, aud To avoid