The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-05-16
Cabby' Jenny

One very foggy day 1 nailed nan
som lust outside the Great Western
hotel There was an important opera
ton to be performed at st. Georges
hospital, and | was rate, else driving
about in cabs in those days was not
much in my line.
However, that is neither here nor
there. | hailed the cab as | said; told
the man where to drive, and jumped
in.
The very next moment nearly bolt
ed out of the vehicle as sharp cry
rang upon my ears-whether that of
child or puppy l could not tell. But,
cropping in the darkness, my hand
came in contact with a bundle OF
clothes, and that settled the question.
Hi, cabby," l called out, why did
not you say you had a fare already?
Draw up to the curb and I'll get out"
He obeyed, and descending from his
| perch, peered into the cab in bewll-
dered kind of way that showed he
knew nothing of the intruder. But
| had no time to waste in speculation as
| to how the child got there, SO | gave
the man a shilling and called another
| cab.
The operation over | was about to
make my way homewards, when at the
gate of the hospital was accosted by
the driver of the very cab had quit
ted so hastily an hour before.
please, sir" he said civilly, as he
handed me his number, Il have
brought that infant here. 1t is half
starved with cold and hospital is the
best place. You are a student here,
the porter tells me, and may be you'll
see after IT,"
This was asking too much A stu
dents reputation is easily furnished,
and If he respects himself he will not
waif or stray. So walked on. But
cabby was not to be got rid of in that
fashion. He drove on little way,
then got down and planted himself in
my path.
Look here, sir" he resumed, "if you
don't care what becomes of an inner
cent babe, do. 1t won't hurt you to
keep an eye on the kid. I'll be round
tomorrow, and you can tell me how it
is getting on"
There was nothing for 1t but to do
as he wished, so took down his name,
Bill Ashton, and dismissed him.
had no need to make special inquiry
for the infant, for the whole ward was
talking about it. 1t was a girl, some
four or five months old, rather a pref
ty child, with blue eyes and quanti-
ty of fair hair curling in tiny ringlets
over its head. It's limbs were straight
and well formed; 1t was clean, and
from its dress seemed the child OF
parents well-to-do. Its white frock
had the word Jenny" written on it In
indelible ink, but no other mark was
to be found.
The cabman's story was this: Early
in the day he had driven a woman
looking like respectable servant
from Craven Hill to Victoria Station
She had stopped him in the street, sc
he could not point out the house. She
wore circular cloak, and had some
thing bulky underneath it, but II
might have been a child she wanted
to protect from the wet for it was
raining slightly. To the best of his
belief she had it with her when she
alighted, but the fog was so thick he
could not be sure.
AS they drove into the station g
man came to the door of the cab. The
woman seemed surprised t. see him
and they stood talking together fol-
some time. Then the man threw III
a shilling and hurried his companion
into the booking Office. Ashton made
no examination of the cab when they
were gone and the next person to hire
it was myself.
1t was a curious affair, but in this
vast town of London children arr
abandoned every day, and 1 confess
was not greatly impressed. Indeed
l should have forgotten 1t altogether
had 1t not been for Ashton, the cab
driver. Az long as the child remained