Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-27
CHATTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
| f1atter myself that | am man
who is not easily Disconnected. but
for the second time that day was
completely taken aback. | had
watched that cab so closely, had fol-
lowed its progress so carefully, that
it seemed impossible Hayle could
have escaped from it. Yet there was
the fact, apparent to all the world,
that he had got away. 1 looked from
the cab to the cabman and then at
my own driver, who had descended
from his perch and was standing be-
side me.
well. I wouldn't have believed it,"
I said aloud, when ! had recovered
somewhat from my establishment.
My own driver. who had doubtless
begun to think that the sovereign l
had promised him was in danger,
was inclined to be somewhat belli-
cose. II appeared as if he We're
anxious to make personal matter
of it, and in proof OF this he stern
~ demanded of his rival what he had
done with his fare.
"You don't think We ate him. do
ycr?" asked that worthy. whats
it got to do with me what a fare
does? | set i'm down, same as
should do you. and now I am on my
way 'omc. Look arter your own
fare. and take him 'ome and put him
ter bed. but don't yer a'come abOt h.
erin me. I've done the best days
work I've ever 'ad in my life, and If
so be the pair of yer like to come
into the pub here. we'll, | don't know
as ! won't stand yer both two of
! Scotch cold. II looks as if 'twould
kind a chear the gunner up a bit,
secin' as how he's Disappointed like.
/ Come on now"
1t is one of my principles. and to it
! feel that | owe a conSidcrah bic por-
| ton of my success, that l never al
my business. The most valuable in
formation is not unfrequently picked
up in the most unlikely places, and
| for this reason I followed my own
Jehu and his rival into the public
house in question. The man was
visibly elated by the good stroke of
business he had done that night, and
was inclined to he convivial.
"'F was a propcr sort of bloke,'
he said as we pareook of our refresh
ment. "'E give me a flyer, e did, an
l wishes as 'ow ! could meet an
other like i'm every day"
"They do say as how one mans
mutton is another mans poison" re-
torted my driver, who, in spite OF
the entertainment he was receiving
visibly regarded the other with dis
favor. "If you'd give us the tip
ia ave 'ad my suvcrinp. As it is
don't take il friendly like that you
should a bilked us"
Eyer can take it as yer darneG
well please" said the other, as he
spoke placing his glass upside dowr
on the counter, in order TO prove be
yond contradiction that It was emp
ty. | Immediately ordered n repeti-
ton, which was supplied. Thereupon
the cabman continued:
"When / as bit of business ter
do yer must understand that ] does
il, and that no man can say as
doesn't. 4 gent gets into my kct
and seq he: Drive me until | tel
yer to stop, and 20 as fast as yer
ram SEE he. Take every back street
yer know of, and come out some
where HoXton way. I'm not par
tic'lar so long as | go fast. an
don't git colared by the kcb that's
after us. If yer help me to give in
the slip there's a five-poun' note fol
yer trouble Well. seq I to myself
this is n proper bit of business anC
there and then | sets off as fast az
the old 'orse cud take us. We turns
up Southampton street. and you
turns up after us. AS we was agoin
down 'Enretta street asked him Il
let me ave a look at his fve-poun
note, for | didn't want no Bank o
Fashion or any of that sort of trucl
showed into me, you'll understand
You needn't be suspicious. cabby,
seq he, TN make il suvcrlngs, II yo'
like, and half one over for luck, i
that will satisfy yer" When l tol'
him 1t would, he give me two poun
ten in advance and away we wen
again. We weren't more than 'arf
mile away from here--thanlk We, sir
don't mind II do, it's cold drivin
well, as | was a sayin' we WASH
more than 'arf mile away from
here, when the gent he stands vi
and seq TO me: Look here, Kebby
turn the next corner pretty SHARP
and slow down AT the first bve-stree
you come to. Then I'll jump out
Right yer are, guynor,' SEE !, am
with that he 'ands me up the othe
two poun' ten and the extry hall
suvering. fobbed it and whippe
up the old 'oSs Next moment W
, was around the corner, and a-drivir
as II we was trying to ketch
train. Then we comes to little sid
street, an I slows down. Out
jumps and down he goes along sid
street as if the devil was arter hin
Then I drives on my way and pull
: up ere. Bilked you were, guynol