Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-10
CHAPTER I.
THE CAnMAN's FARE.

HDlN IluUltU Ill lItll warm NIupSs
broadway was thronged with the
usual holiday shoppers and pleasure
seekers. Cabs with their jadcd stccds
driven by wcathcrbcatcn jchus, and
private carriages behind wrll-groomed
horses handled by livcried coochmen,
crowds and deposited their fares at the
entrances of the brightly-liEhtcd thea
iers or fashionable restaurants. \
Wizcned bag, seated on the curbstone
at the corner. seemed to shrink into
herself with the cold as she turned the
prank of her tiny barrel-organ and
ground out dismal and scarcely au-
nible cacophony; while an anxious
EYED ncwsboy, not vet in his teens, shiv-
Fred on the opposite side Of the way.
rs, with trcmulous lips, he solicited a
purchaser for his unsold stock. One
rould hardly be expected to open a
warm overcoat on such cold night,
for The sake of throwing cent TO an
Md bcggar 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-
luired perpetual motion to keep the
blood in circulation.
Tic giant policeman on the crossing,
representing the majesty of the law,
,waycd the crowd Of vehicles and pedes-
trims with the authoritative gestures
pf his popderous hands, and gallantly
escorted bands of timid women through
the inextricablc maze.
and withal, the cable cars. with their
discordant clangor, rumblcd rapidly
to and fro, like noisy shuttles, shoot
ing the wool of the manyhued fabric
which is tho life of Il great city.
Presently from one of the side streets
there came n cab, which start ed leisure
iy to cross Broadway. The big police
nan, with his eyes fixed upon an ap-
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
ldI td lllUS " NISItDdTNI INC iut llOIllN
of blue cloth and brass buttons. Their
surprise turned quickly to nmazement
and dismay when their eyes rested upon
him; for his head had fallen forward
lpon his chest and his limp body
waved upon the box with every mo-
ton of the cab. lie seemed unconscious
of his surroundings, like one drunk
Or in a stupor.
Vt his side sat n young man closely
mullcd in his oyercoat, and with a
scalsl;in cap pulled well down over his
ears. His face was deathly pale. Those
Hho caught sight of his features saw
that his bloodless lips were firmly set,
and that his eyes glittered with few
erish light. lie carried one hand in the
lapel of his coat. With the other he
shook the inert form of the uncor-
scious cabman, in an effort to arouse
MIN to sense of the impending danger.
The situation flashed upon the
Fripmau on the car. Instantly he
Threw his weight upon the brake
wheel, at the same time loudly sound
.ng his gong. The policeman, too, I'M
aerstood in a twinkling what was
about 10 happen, and rushed for the
lorse's head. But it was too late.
,,.hor tbo GOV With ,Iao,.o,,ad .,',,i u
crashed into it.
just before the collision, the Young
man in the sealskn cap sprang from
he box to the street. He landed uDon
49,, e.. l,,,+ lo.;,. 49,. t'.,'.' 'i'I''
lolI fo.,.'..l ,'..,,, ~. l.r. ~
,+l, ,o,,,.,i,,ad T., ,l1a l,.'ol - .,.
fro ,,,,st La,.a t,,nt ,.i''Ia.it'
.+.r,li,,,, Wan. H.. +., :.
pnt +l,o aa,.o, 1r ''''H - 90 H.
,.horo o,d 49, o,,a ,'o..i as
,io,, 80 40 ,a,,,.,. F''N - 'O'i q. '''i'
,,,ia,.I.. ,i,. 'o'''3 man. M"o' arising
'r,' o.h as. l,,'' w, !" inc cro"o
.41.'t 49, '','''. 'E Ior an m
.e sida ,..;t,. 1l,', '''' ~ er pom
49,. ,road a.5 , '.''S' ~ SP''itc'-
ani,.o. ralil'i ~ ''s Ei"SS' ne
A. +ho sn,na .,,ao Nv wa Al 4" nc"P
oa.sano,ors an ', ti'a ene p'n''-1 'rl'NUh
Tor the doors. fighting like wild
Dcasts in their haste to reach place
3f safety
After the first frenzicd moment, il
became evident that nl+hou,,h h.dI,
shaken up, the uasscngcrs had re-
sciycd no Injuries. exccpt such bruises
rs they had inflicted upou cacb other
N their mad struggle TO cscopc Dv
his time crowd had collected about
the overturned cab. and several more