The morning times., 1896-09-20

until a rousing laugh breaks from across
the Avenue. from point exactly where
stands the Cables row. Surely. it was not
the dumb horses who shouted the human
gurfaw? There 1t is again. Punctuation
TO another burst of wit. But muffled.
They are huddIcd away in the shelter OF
one OF the more ample cabs.
Famous stories they tell, packed away
in the dark, secretive boxes. Their secrets
are weighty affairs. The cabman has a
wealth of experience, OF his own unique
kind. He Is everyone's confidential man
and everyone has supreme confidence In
cabby's ability to hold his tongue, what
ever his eyes see OF his ears hear. tat
Ting cabby is no honor TO his profession;
silence Is his badge Of distinction his di-
ploma of efficiency for his craft
One, however, more srewd than the
others and more daring. has wrapped him
self in his oilskins and does not desert his
seat. The reins hang ltstless behind the
hip socket and lie dropshis head in a doze
Presently shrill whistle Gu is the silence,
and perccptible tremor sweeps across
everyone O! the more or less active nags
The doors OF the conviviai cab are breken
open and five other cabiSes are on their
boxes reins in hand, in "A moment and
punctually as If the starters pistol had
been fired. six abreast they speed across
the Avenue. man s;ards there in Ct
loshes to1 coat and with umbrella. The
alert cabby in the oilskins first graZed the
curb and won the tro pay in the custom Of
the whistler. He slams the door upon his
patron after II few whispered directions,
mounts the box again aud drives away
into the ceaseless rain, while the other
five wheel about and again line up in TIE
shadow o, the uncompleted bulldog. If
YOU wait in the rain perhaps yoI'll hear
the laughter that greets the continued
storytelling.
NIGHT OWLS.
\ fearless whccin,an braves tie eie-
nents and dashes 10y, cutting the gathered
pools with his swift front wheel. lie is a
messenger boy. An aproncd figure comes
around the corner lie hugs the building
side, ANXIOUS for the protection OF the
narrow cave His legs are short but his
stride Is long. ON his arm he has Il basket;
IN his otter hand he Tugs - nc;ai arrange
nicnt with 4 light fiickering beneath lie
cries ninnotnnousiy as il TO himself At
the second awning lie stops anu hands
something from the basket ami something
else from Inc meta! aFfIt cement WITH
the Pickering iaunp. mysterious hand
reaches ont 10 deliver the coin. The man
lips it into his pocket and goes Lis way.
He's the toniale man.
From the other direction Comes a little
old iuau with huge umbrella. lie passes
tine open drug store, but stops Mt the
next doorway and tIlc5 The iaic1: then
the rex: and the next: soI;e;iDies scra.u-
ing his eyes with his haGsis anu peCrii!E
in. II cannot lie that lie expecss shop
Seepers to he at their stores IA So late
an hear, much less IN tbs dr.nCl;ng
storm. He is the night Waterman. His
pal. the policeman, is sU0ua bout lie stands
retired in shadowy doorway, looking
out int" the rain. Hes careless of it;
It's an cid story to him
4 couple of boys. one woman. an occa
sional nan-,ne Clinaman with a bun
die OF washiug-dnl scattering OF non
descripts with and without umbrellas stalk
out of the darkness. pass YOU, and lose
themselves TO sight again at either corner.
Peepiug chccriiy "Ei into me vet Li:rt
Ike eyes In the walls Of buildings which
flank the Avenue are Still sorc lighted
shops, whose owners. h0Y@fu! OF straw rem
mics. are ioathed TO bar Il doors and coto