Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-08-17

brown eyes lurked an expression of mud
died kindliness, which caused Mr.. Sloth
to glance suspiciously at the Rhine wine
bottle standing upon the table. The bot
tie was empty. Not so the youth, who
moving his chair a little closer to Mr.
Sloth, told long and carefully enunciat-
ed tale about man whom he had seen
fall down an elevator shaft in Longs ho-
tel, London. Mr.. Sloth recollected that
Longs hotel did not have nn elevator, but
making duo allowance for his companion s
supposed condition civilly refrained from
contradiction.
Here tho stranger suggested another
bottle of Rhine wine, but to this Mr.. Sloth
objected Talk he might with a stranger,
but drink-never! So the young man, re-
gretting that his companion would not
join him, ordered another bottle for him
self The talk then became desultory,
and upon the part of the stranger slightly
incohercnt.
At about II o'clock Mr.. Sloth and his
companion arose to depart, only to find
upon reaching the door that the boiling
heat of the day had given place to fierce
torrent of rain. The streets ran rivers,
and the rain blew in big drops through
the arcadcs of the Madison Square Garden.
A cab seemed to be the only refuge, and,
though Mr.. Sloth by no means liked the
idea of driving about with an unknown
and intoxicated youth, nevertheless to de-
sert him seemed under the circumstances
uncharitable.
Having discovered that they were going
in the samc direction, Mr.. Sloth and the
unknown entered cab and drove off
through the rain.
''Oh, yes, said the young man, as IL
continuing discussion, "in northern In
dia the elephants foot Is considered finer
and more succulcnt than the turtle fin. "
Then he suddenly began to pound furious
ly upon the front window Of the cab,
which forthwith stopped and pulled up on
the right hand curbstone. He at once
opened the left hand door and sprang into
the street. Mr.. Sloth, amazed, felt nerv-
ously for his watch, and then peered out
of the window.
The cab had stopped one door away
from q hat store, in front Of which huge
gold top he shono, dripping in the glare
of an electric light. Mr.. Sloth had NO
sooner perceived the hat than he also per
Ctltbu Ills COlt JtllllOu usSll dU AUj
jump from the ground, seize the hat, twirl
himself about and drop hat in hand, to
the ground.
This done, he rushed with his cleaning
booty to the cab hastily gave an order to
the driver, and In a moment was sitting
beside Mr.. Sloth, the gold hat at his feet.
Against this whole proceeding Mr.. Sloth,
now thoroughly aroused, protested bit
terly. The young man seemed unrcpent-
ant, and the cab ratified noisily over the
cobblestones
"Oh, here" said his companion, after
Mr.. Sloth had blown off his Indignation
for about 10 minutes, "if you don't sec
the fun of the thing / don't suppose that
/ can do anything about it. GoodbyP'
And suddenly opening tho cab door he
sprang out, slammed the door and disap-
peared. Here was most distressing situ-
ation-a pouring rainstorm, an elderly
gentleman, cab and a cleaning gold hat.
Tho possession of gold hat to person
of Mr.. Sloth's position would DO sure to
bring with it much unpleasant suggestive
ness. No one would believe the story OF
the young man, even when backed by the
evidence of tho cabman. Here truly, was
dilemma. Brooklyn bridge was closely
guarded by policemen; SO also was the
Battery.
In this case the last alternative Of a
desperate man-"there is always the riv-
er'-could not be considered. Mr.. Sloth,
in his agitation, had not looked out of the
window for some time, and upon doing SC
he discovered himself driving through q
broad street, with car tracks and an Gle.
waited railroad on either side. Why, sure
ly this closely resembled the Bowery, and
yet what could he be doing in the Boweryi
The cab was again stopped, and the driver
said the young man who had got out had
given him SO and told him to go to the
city hall. Suddenly an idea presented 1t.
self to Mr.. Sloth. Driver, he said, "gc
across the bridge, and when you reach
Brooklyn drive out Flatbush avenue till
tell you to STOP" In the wilds of Flat.
bush the hat should be hidden. They had
proceeded about two blocks when sudden.
" the cab gave a lurch to the right and
turned over on its side, and its occupant
found himself flung violently forward and
downward.
Another moment, and the gold hat, the
umbrella and Mr.. Sloth were hopelessly
snarlcd in the bottom Of the cob. A con
fused noise Of oaths and breaking glass
assailed the ears of tho unhappy gentle
man. Then the cab door above him was
Nrencehd open, and to his bewildered cycs
appeared the blue coat, the brass buttons
and the dyed mustache of o policeman
New York Sun.