The Helena independent., 1894-11-29

who gave me a sovereign instead of "A
shilling, and wouldn't take Il back when
1 told him of his mistake. There was a
bookmaker who bet me a pound TO moth
ing couldn't catch "A Doncaster special
at Kings Cross, and who paid me two
because landed him In time. though |
damaged my cab and got my number
taken on the road.
But the best fare | ever drove was "A
servant girl. OF course didn't class
her as any better than Indifferent when
j picked her up at the Great Central
terminus; and II II hadn't been for "A
block In the street ! should probably
have missed her altogether. I'd meant
10 be In time To meet the $50 express, "A
favorite train of mine-only the other
day ! got newly married couple up for
the honeymoon out OF it-but the block
made me just too late, and when /
reached the arrival platform 1t loked as
desolate as only the arrival platforms
can when one trains backed out and
the next ain't due for half an hour.
All the passengers had gone except
the one girl, and there wasn't "A cab 10
be seen. The porters. all but Sam Slee-
man, were talking to each other, and
sam was talking to the girl.
Didn't i tell you there'd be one d.
rectly, Mlss?" said he. as | came 10
Here's the very best driver In all Lon
don at your service"
She was nice. pleasant-featured lass,
and If I'd been taking a day Off into Ep-
ping Forest or down at Hampton Court
ia have been glad enough TO let her
share the pony trap; but pleasure amt
business, and ! began 10 wish I'd stop
ped OUTSIDE the station. However, as /
was there, | couldn't very well refuse
her; so she got into my hanson look
Ing as II II wouldn't take much To make
her cry.
"Seventy-four Blank street, Chelsea"
Faid Sam as he handed me up her bit
or box. 'I've told her three shillings
is the proper fare. Halves In the extra
bob. Bill"
| nodded and drove of. not meaning
70 charge the poor thing an extra shil-
ling, but knowing better than to quarrel
with porter over six pence.
Come up, horse" said |, as we clear
ed the station gates. Perhaps we'll
pick up swell ON our way back: and
anyhow we haven't had a bad Gey"
] was driving thoroughbred that
day, own brother to horse that won "A
race at Alexandra Park. and though he
was more than "A hit queer on, his off
fore leg II didn't stop him when he
warmed 10 his work. lie was as sensl-
bic as Christian, too, and n shake OF
the reins was enough To make him do his
best. But he didn't like pottering about
searching for little streets nobody ever
heard of but those who live in them.
Blank street was one OF that sort, and
by the time sc pulled up at seventy-four
he'd lost his patience and so had I.
Now Miss" said 1, speaking through
the trap and rather short, "as soon as
you can, please. My horse is fdgety,
and times money"
She gave a little scream and Jumped
out as quick as II I'd dropped fire.
cracker down on her. In her hurry she
managed 10 get her dress caught some
how. and when she tried 10 undo Il she
pinched her fingers in the door. "Ohr
she cried and thinking I'd never see
the end OF the job II | didn't lend hand,
swung myself down off my perch,
You amt accustomed to hansoms. I
think" said /, as fumbled about with
her skirt.
II never was In one before" she re-
piled. I'm very sorry 20 give you so
much trouble. oh. dear! / hope your
horse won't run away"
Not he. miss" said l. Hell stand
for an hour II I'm not on the box-but
there. all's clear now. ] think"
THANK YOU" said she, taking out her
purse. Are you sure this IL the right
NUMBER"
why. yes" said getting her box
down. Anyway. it's a. That's wnat
you want. isn't IT,"
Yes" she replied. But II looks like
an empty house.
II did: :nnd II wasn't satisfied with only
looking like one. l rang tho ben till I
broke the wire, and then J took a turn
at the knockcr, but IL was no go, The
girl stood on the pavement with her
shabby little purse I'm her hand and her
shabby little box az her feet, looking go
miserable that I hadn't the heart TO
leave her TO shift FOR herself "Cheer
up, miss" said I, "t'll try next door
A waspy-faced little woman answered
my knock. mo" says she. II don't
know nothing about ~ and II I did.
this amt n private inquiry office" And
with that she shut the door In my face
Then | tried the other side. There
they were more civil. but almost az ig-
norant There had been n lady and a
gentleman living at "a. and, for all r.
knew, they might be there yet, only, per-
hHps, out Just al present. No furniture
had been moved lately, not to their
knowledge, but then. of course there
was a sport called Shooting the moon
wasn't there?
And what with false references and
such-lilte things you never were sure OF
your ueNt-door ncighbor, even lu re-
spectable street like that, Perhaps the
people nj the pOstoffice round the corner
could tell me something. And that was
all " had 10 say
Don't give way. my dear" said I.
seeing the girl was beginning 10 cry
perhaps you've made mistake In the
address"
"Oh. no. I'm sure ] haven't" she
sobbed. Here's the lady'a card" She
showed Il 10 me- and II had Mrs. sta
plcton- Penrosc" IN the middle, and IA
Blank street. Chelsea" down la the
lcft-hnnd corner AS correct ns any card
I ever saw.
did they know you were coming by
this train2" | asked.
YES" she replied when Mrs PEN
rose engaged me she told mo exactly
how 10 come. and the time ana every
thing. She and her husband had been
atopplng In the boarding house M Ilor-
mnghnm. whore | was houscmald. and
| was to be pnrlor maid here, But. oh,
what shall do " she's lcftR'
mo need to think about that I'll
we're sure" moro to comfort her than
because I had much doubt I couldn't
500 N "To Lot" anywhere about, but
tho windows were very dirty, ana alto
gcthrr the place looked ~ deserted ns
IA last years nest. Perhaps the mas
ter's IN the city. the mlssuH II out snop-
ming. aud your follow Her1rhts tnlting
an airing. Anyhow, if youll keep an
eve on the cnb-tho horse won't stir of
his own accord, | promise YOU'LL nip
around 10 that poatofflce and ASK"
The poaiOmice was only oae of those
little places where they haven't any