Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-08-10

of blue cloth and brass buttons. Their
surprise turned quickly 20 amazement
and dismay 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. lie seemed unconscious
of his surroundings, like one drunk
or in n stupor
At his side sat a young man closely
muffled in his overcoat, and with q
sealslxin cap pulled well down over his
ears. His face was deathly pale. Those
who caught sight of his features saw
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 10 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 a twinkling what was
horses head. But il was too late.
The cab was fairly across the track
when the car, with slackened speed,
crashed into il.
Just before the collision, the young
man in the sealsllin cap sprang from
the box 10 the street. lie 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 tottering for an in
slant on two wheels, fell over upon
it's side. with a loud noise of splinter.
ing wood and breaking glass. The
driver rolled off the box in heap.
At the same time, the panic-stricken
passengers on the car rushed madly
for the doors fighting like wild
beasts in their haste to reach place
of safety
After the first frenzied moment, il
became evident that, although badly
shaken up. the passengers had re-
ceived no injuries, except such bruises
as they had inflicted upon each other
in their mad struggle 10 escape. BY
this time a crowd had collected about
the overturned cab, and several more
policemen had come 10 the assist
ance of the first one, who was now
seated serenely upon the head of the
cab-borse, precaution seemingly
superfuous, for the poor beast,
though uninjured, appeared TO be
quite satisfied to rest where he lay
until he should be forced once more
70 resume the grind OF his unhappy
existence.
The cabman had been rudely
shaken by his fall. He had lain as
though unconscious for the space of O
few seconds; then, with assistance
he had managed to struggle to his
feet He stood now as though dazed
by the shock. trying to understand
what had happened.
Are you hurt?" inquired one of the
policemen.
The man, mumbling an unintelligi-
bic reply, raised his hand to scalp
wound from which the blood was
flowing freely.
At that moment two men forced
their way through the crowd which
a circle of policemen had some diff
Guilty in keeping at a distance from
the wounded cabman. One was a
middle-aged individual who gave his
name as DR.. Thurston and offered his
services as a physician; the other was
young man with keen gray eyes,
who said nothing, but exhibited re-
porter's badge.
The physician at once turned his
attention TO the cabman; felt him,
thumped him, pinched him; smelt his
breath; and then delivered his YER
dict:
mo bones broken. The slight
scalp wound doesn't amount 10 any
thing The man has been drinking
heavily. He is simply drunk
The horse had by this time been
embarrassed and the cab had been
lifted upon its wheels again.
The reporter stood by silent and
apparently listless spectator of the
scene.
DR.. Thurston turned 10 him:
Come along, Sturgis; neither you
nor I are needed here; and if we do not
hurry, sprague's dinner will have to
wait for us. IL is a quarter to eight
now"
The reporter seemed about to follow
his friend, but he stood for an instant
irresolute.
II say, DOCTOR" he inquired at last,
"are you sure the man is drunk ?"
"He has certainly been drinking
heavily. Why?"
Because il seems to me--IIello, we
cannot go yet; the passenger is more
badly hurt than the driver"
The passenger" queried the ply
stefan, turning in surprise to the police
man.
What passenger" asked the police
man. looking at the cabman Have