The Monticellonian., 1904-01-14
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 !. A Disastrous !. Cab Ride 9 9
By HOWARD DEVINE
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Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Col

l ffTfS$fF%SF<ff Copyright 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Col IF ANYBODY had told Ralph Huston
 that one short cab ride of six blocks could destroy the reputation he had built up by years of hard work and righteous living; lose him the position at the bank which he had acquired by | so many years of faithful work and drag his beloved wife and himself into | the divorce court, he would have laughed at the idea Now, however, he laughs not at all at such a story and shuns cabs as something diabolical and devil l ish.
 And yet the cab ride referred to was the most innocent thing that could happen. On the morning of September 10 as Illus ton was gulping down his breakfast in his daily effort to catch the 7:30, his wife spoke from behind the coffee pot.
 How much was the gas bill this month. dear?" she asked
 He paused in the process of throwing l large spoonsful of the newest advertised health food into his mouth. and a start led expression spread over his coun- tenanee.
 By iingo, forgot to pay it" he an- nouneed in dismay. Lets see. what day is this?" And he hastily grabbed the morning paper.
 oh, it's all right. It's the 10th. !"
 Well, don't forget it" continued Mrs Huston. This is the last day and remember the gas office closes at one o'clock on Saturdays. ''
 No danger of his forgetting it. The discount on the bill was 2S cents and every cent counted in the effort they were making to pay for that suburban cottage they had bought on the install ment plan. He could not get away from his desk until 11:30, when he had half hour for lunch. The gas office was six blocks away and he had to calculate pretty closely to find time to make the trip ard get time to snatch a mouthful of lunch in the brief half hour.
 As he dashed down the stone steps three at time and started on half run down the street, a familiar voice hailed him:
 Hi there, Huston; where ye going SO fast?"
 Turning. he beheld his old ftfend b, . Phillips sitting on the box C a shiney new cab driving leisurely down the street. He and Phillips ha been ship ping clerks together in wholesale house years ago, when he first went to work. He knew in a ge eral way that Ben had become cab Iriver, but had not seen him for years
 Mentally chaflng at he loss of pre- clous moment he sho fed in reply:
 Coin to the gas Office I'm in the deuce of hurry. F ow are you?"
 He waved his ard and hurried on.
 Wait a minut 2 shouted Phillips. I'm going right past the door on my way to the barr Hop in and I'll land you there in fly"
 This struck duston as most prac- tical suggestieI and in he climbed and q moment late Twas being hurried along at thrice th 3pace he could have made on foot Aslhe whirled along the grim humor of lie situation appealed to him. and he o.dckled to himself. The cab was nf* one of the latest model. rub Der tire. and all that sort of thing. and it shorflik piano. Here I am ridinf in well cab like a drunken sport [ , save 8 cents on my gas bill," thous 1t Illus cn, and he laughed aloud. Philips was true to his word and m de his best time, dashing dow the sfieet as though he was making rain. tnally coming up in front of the .as Of ice with whirl and a flourish. He pro- posed to show his old friend that he fwas strictly onto his job.
 Huston leapA from the e Q. waving his thanks to Phillips and dshed into the office. where he paid $ bill 10 an astounded clerk who had | aheld his ap- proaeh, and moment lat 1T was whist ling up the street towf I'd the dairy lunch room, where he rived in ample time to swallow his pic and coffee with no more than normal haste
 Now all this seem Innocent enough and commonplace CT ough, does it not? But when Fate is we aving web about a man the yarn ma Seem simple when the result is to be most complex.
 There were two persons who observed the descent of F aston and the cab upon the gas office w h surprise. These were the instrumen sof Fate One was Mir. James Whart n, third vice president of the bank; ie other young married woman. M, ,. Josephine Hodges by name, a e nfdential friend of Mrs Huston. n his haste Huston saw neith- CT of the a.
 "Hm nuttered Mir. James Wharton Good eal of style for young man of Husto' s salary, 1t seems to me Won de.% lhat's his hurry 9"
 So, ever vigilant in the interests of the bank. MT James Wharton stepped into the gas office and asked the clerk what Huston's mission was.
 Paid gas bill of s2s0." replied the
 VANITY OF MEN