The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-05

words Of gratitude hanging on his lips
John hunted right.and left; he found
a coin-prayed God that it was a SOW.
eteign-drew it out, heheld q half.
penny, and offered 1t to the porter.
The mans Jaw dropped.
Its only q half-penny| he said
startled out Of railway decency.
II know that" said John, piteously.
And here the porter recovered the
| dignity Of a man.
THANK you, sir" said he, and would
have returned the base gratuity. But
John, too, would none of it; and as they
struggled. who must join in but the
cabman?
"Hoots, Mr.. Baigrey," said he, "you
surely forget what day it is!'
81 tell you have no change" cried
JOHN.
WELL" said the driver, land what
then? l would rather give a man a
shillin' on q day like this than put him
of with derision like bawbee. I'm
surprised at the like Of you, Mr.. Baig-
rey"
"My name is not Baigrey" broke out
John, In mere childish temper and dis
tress.
eye told me it was yourself" said the
cabman. 0e.
II know I did; and what the devil
right had you to ask?" cried the un-
happy one.
"Oh, very WELL" said the driver. II
know my place, if you know yours-if
you know yours!" he repeated, as one
who should imply grave doubt; and
muttered inarticulate thunders, in
which the grand old name of gentle
man was taken seemingly in vain.
Oh, to have been able to discharge
this monster, whom John now per-
ceived with tardy clear-sightedness, to
have begun hetimes the festivities of
Christmas! But far from any such ray
OF consolation visiting the lost, he
stood bare of help and helpers, his
portmanteau sequestered in one place,
his money deserted in another and
guarded by corpse; himself, so sedu-
lous OF privacy, the cynosure of all
mems eyes about the station; and, as if
these were not enough mischances, he
was now fallen in ill-blood with the
beast to whom his poverty had linked
him! In ill-blood, as he reflected dis
mally, with the Witness who perhaps
might hang or save him! There was
no time to be lost; he burst not linger
any longer in that public spot; and
whether he had recourse to dignity or
to Cancellation, the remedy must be ap-
piled at once. Some happily surviving
element of manhood moved him to the
former. {
Let us have no more Of this" said
he, his foot once more upon the step.
Go back to where We came tom."
He had avoided the name Of any des-
tination. for there was now quite lit
tie band of railway folk about the cab.
and he still kept an eye upon the court
OF justice, and labored to avoid concen-
trio evidence. But here again the fatal
jarvey outmanoeuvered him.
Back to the Lodge?" cried he.ssin
shrill tones Of protest. z
Drive on at oncew roared John. and
slammed the door behind him, so that
the crazy chariot rocked and jingled
Forth trundled the cab into the
Christmas streets, the fare within
plunged in the blackness Of a despair
that neighbored on unconsciousness
the driver on the box digesting his re.
buke and his customers duplicity. ]
would not be thought to put the pair
in competition; Johns case was out OF
all parallel. But the cabman, too, is
worth the sympathy of the judicious
for he was fellow OF genuine kindli-
ness and high sense of personal dig
nifty incensed by drink. and his ad-
vances had been cruelty and publicly
rebuffed. AS he drove, therefore, he
counted his wrongs, and thirsted for
sympathy and drink. Now, it CHANGED
he had friend, a publican, in Queens.
ferry street, from whom, in view Of the
sacredness of the occasion, he thought
he might extract dram. Queensferry
street lies something off the direct road
to Murrayfeld. But then there is the
billy cross-road that passes by the val.
ley Of the Leith and the Dean Gene.
terry; and Queensferry street is on the
way to that. What was to hinder the
'cabman, since his horse was dumb
from choosing the cross-road, and call.
ing on his friend in passing? So, IL
was decided; and the charioteen, al.
ready somewhat Modified, turned asidt
his horse to the right.
CHAPTER TX.
II Ohm, meanwhile
A chi ehin s SUNK upon hi.