Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-14
IA Disastrous
Cab Ride . .
- HOWARD DnvINS


Y
Copyright 1905. BY Daily STORY Pub. col
If ANYBODY had told Ralph Huston
that one short cab ride Of six block
could destroy the reputation he hat
built up BY years Of hard work ant
righteous living; lose him the position
Il the bank which be had acquired BY
90 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, be laughs
not at all at such q story and shunf
cabs as something diabolical and devil
ish.
And yet the cab ride referred to was the
most innocent thing that could happen.
On the morning Of September 10 az Hus-
Ton was gulping down his breakfast in
his daily effort to catch the 1880, his
N1fe spoke from behind the coffee pot.
How much was the gas bill this
smonth. dear?' she asked. s
ne paused III the process Of throwing
large spoonsful Of the newest advertised
health food into his mouth. and start.
led expression spread over his coun-
tenance.
'.By lingo, I forgot to pay IT, he an
nouncedin dismay. Let's see, what day
= this?' And he hastily grabbed the
morning paper.
a0h, it's all right, It,sthe 10TH" "
well. don't forget IT. continued
lErs, Huston. 'This sthe last day and
remember the gas once closes at one
o'clock on Saturdays" VA
No danger OF his forgetting Il. The
discount on the bin was % cents and
every cent counted IN the effort they
were making TO pay for that suburban
rottage they had bought on the INSTALL
ment plan. He could not get away
from his desk until 1880. when he had
. half hour for lunch. The gas once
was six blocks away and he had to
calculate pretty closely to hnd time 10
make the trip and set time TO snatch
nouthful Of lunch In the brief half hour.
As be dashed down the stone steps
1hres ct . time and started on 1 half run
asun the street, familiar voice hailed
MRm.
.Hi there, Huston; where " going |
% fnstf"
Turning, he beheld his old friend Ben |
Ehiliips sitting on the Dor Of q shinsy
nsW cab driving lelsurely down the
street He and Phillips had been ship- |
pisg clerks together In Wholesale |
house years ago. when be first went to |
work. He knew In . general way that
Ban had become q cab driver. but had
not seen him for years.
Mentally ehafns ct the loss Of pre-
e,ous moment he shouted In reply:
''Goln' 10 the gas ONCE. I'm IN the
deuce Of q hurry. How are your"
He waved his arm and hurried on. |
-Wait minute" shouted Phillips,
I'm going right past the door on my
way to the barn. Hop in and IN land
you there In 4 iiify."
This struck Huston as I most prac-
deal suggestion, and IN he climbed and q
moment later was being hurried along
4 thrice the pace he could have made
% foot. As he whirled along the grim
humor Of the situation appealed to him,
and be chuckled TO himself, The cab
Nas new one Of the latest model. rub
ber tires and all that sort Of thing, and
4 shone like a plano. Here | am riding
N swell cab like drunken sport to |
ave 70 cents on my gas blll." thought
Huston, and he laughed aloud
Phillips was true 10 bis word and
made HE best time. dazzling down the
Iiroot hs though he was making q train.
nnally coming up N froul Of the "a o.
- Win 4 Hhiri and . flourish. Hspro-I
oaot 70 show bis old friend that he
~ strictly onto bis Job W II
Huslon ieaped from ne cab, vnvine
~ fhankn 70 Philllpa ana rushed into
- olles. where he paid be blll to Al
l1Iornled clerk Nho had bshslf hlr a.
Trc1cb. and = moment later vs. Whist
Inc ~ ~ rlfeet toward the dairy
Is11A foou' Vhglp ~ arIirs1 a ample
'Ios p swallow ~ ~ ant colas via | /
- rncf1 Ittn ncrr1Gi t,IlA II
NV 81 laI& 11tr1 I1nocrrl trnnra
c.urc,1'I,1 |roeIl| lorl n r-llI