The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-11-02
CHAPTER I.
THE CABMAN'S FARE.

THE CABMAN'S FARE.
It was bitterly cold: The keen De-
cember wind swept down the crowded
thoroughfare, nipping the noses and
ears of the gay pedestrians, comfort
ably mufIled in their warm wraps.
Broadway was thronged with the
usual holiday shoppers and pleasure
seekers. Cabs with their jaded steeds
driven by weatherbeaten jehus, and
private carriages behind well-groomed
horses handled by liveried coachmen,
deity made their way through the
crowds and deposited their fares at the:
entrances of the brightly-lighted thea
tiers or fashionable restaurants.
wizened bag, seated on the curbstone
at the corner, seemed to shrink into
herself with the cold as she turned the
crank of her tiny barrel-organ and
ground out a dismal and scarcely au-
dible cacophony; while all anxious
eyed newsboy, not yet in his teens, shiv-
cred on the opposite side Of the way,
as, with tremulous lips, he solicited
purchaser for his unsold stock. One
could hardly be expected to open
warm overcoat on such cold night,
for the sake of throwing cent to an
old beggar woman, or of buying news
paper from a ragged urchin. Even the
gayly decorated shop windows failed
to arrest the idle passerby; for it re-
quired perpetual motion to keep the
blood in circulation.
The giant policeman on the crossing.
representing the majesty of the law,
swayed the crowd of vehicles and pedes-
trians with the authoritative gestures
of his ponderous hands, and CALAMITY
escorted bands of timid women through
the inextricable maze.
And withal, the cable cars, with their
discordant clangOr, rumbled rapidly
to and fro, like noisy shuttles, shoot
ing the wool of the many-hued fabric
which is the life of "a great city.
Presently from one of the side streets
there came i cab, which started leisure
ly to cross Broadway. The big police
man, with his eyes fixed upon an APP
preaching car, held up a warning hand,
to which the driver seemed to pay no
attention, for the reins remained slack
and the listless horse continued to
move slowly across the avenue.
Several people turned to look with
mild curiosity at the bold cabman who
dared thus to disregard the authority
of blue cloth and brass buttons. Their
surprise turned quickly to Amusement
and disInay when their eyes rested upon
him; for his head had fallen forward
upon his chest and his limp body
swayed upon the box with every mo-
ton of the cab. He seemed unconscious
of his surroundings, like one drunk
or in stupor.
At his side sat a young man closely
muffled in his overcoat, and with a
sealskin cap pulled well down over his
ears. His face was deathly pale. Those
that his bloodless lips were firmly set
and that his eyes glittered with few
erish light He carried one hand in the
lapel of his coat. With the other he
shook the inert form of the uncon-
scious cabman, in an effort to arouse
him to : sense of the impending danger
The situation flashed upon the
gripman on the car. Instantly he
threw his weight upon the brake
wheel, at the same time loudly sound.
ing his gong. The policeman, too, un.
derstood in twinkling what was
about to happen. and rushed for the
horses head. But it was too late
The cab was fairly across the track
when the car, with slackened speed
crashed into it.
Just before the collision. the young
man in the sealskin cap sprang from
the box to the street. He landed upon
his feet; but, losing his balance, he
fell forward upon his left arm. which
still remained in the lapel of his coat
He must have hurt himself; for those
standing near him heard him groan
But the center of interest was else
where, and no one paid much atten
ton to the young man, who. arising
quickly. disappeared in the crowd.
The cab. after lettering for an in
slant on two wheels, fell over upor
its side. with q loud noise of splinter
ing wood and breaking glass. The
driver rolled of the box in heap
At the same time, the panic-stricker
passengers on the car rushed madly
for the doors. fighting like wilt
fbeasts in their haste to reach a place
of safety.
After the first frenzied moment, il
became evident that, although badly
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