Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-03
VI.
The Man on the Box.

to his room the mysterious bundle which
he had purloined from the stables 1t con-
tanned the complete livery of a groom. The
clothes fitted rather snugly, especially
across the shoulders. He stood before the
pier glass. and a complacent mot to say
roguish) smile fitted across his face. The
black half-boots, the white doeskin
breeches, the brown -buttoned frock
and the white hat with the brown cockade
Well, my word for 1t, he was the
handsomest jehu Washington ever turned
out. With a grin he touched his hat to the
reflection in the glass, and burst out
laughing. His face was as smooth as
baby,s, for he had generously sacrificed his
beard.
I can hear him saying to himself: Lord
but this is lark. I'll have to take another
my nerve. Won't the up boys s"e laugh efse when
they hear how 1 stirred the girls
when they all get home. It's good joke"
Mr.: Robert did not prove much of a
prophet. Many days We're to pass ere he
re-entered his brothers house.
He stole quietly from the place. He
hadn't proceeded more than a block when
he became aware of the fact that he
hadn't penny in his clothes. This discov-
cry disquieted him. and he half turned
about to go back. He couldn't go back.
He had no key.
'Pshaw! 1 won't need any money'-and
he started off again toward Connecticut
avenue. He dared not hail a car, and he
would not have dared had he possessed the
fare. Some one might recognize him. He
walked briskly for ten minutes. The humOr
of the escapade appealed to him greatly
and he had all he could do to smother the
frequent bursts of laughter which surged
to his lips. He reached absently for his
cigar case. No money, no cigars.
That's bad. Without a cigar I'm likely
to get nervous. Scraping off that beard
made me forgetful. Jove! with these flesh
ings L feel as self-conscious as an untried
chorus girl. These toys can't be very warm
in winter. Ha! that must be the embassy
where all those lights are; carriages.
Allonsr'
To make positive, he stopped a pedestrian.
Pardon me, SIR" he said. touching his
hat, but will you be so kind as to inform
me if yonder is the British embassy"
'It is, my man." replied the gentleman.
THANK you, sir"
Now for William; we must find Will
lam, or the joke will be on Robert"
He unanswered his way through the con-
gested thoroughfare, searching the faces OF
the grooms and footmen. He lodged hither
and thither, and was once brought to a
halt by the mounted police.
Here you! What dye mean by runnina
around like this? Lost yer carriage, hey?
I've a mind to run We in. Y know tn rules
relatin' tn leavin' of yer box in times like
these Been takin' a sly nip. probably, an
they've sent yer hack down peg. Get
gait on y, now
for the sidewalk. The first man he pumped
into was William-a very much worried
William. too. Robert could have fallen on
his neck for joy All was plain sailing
now. WA,
tam II was afraid you could not get them
clothes on, sir. 1 was getting a tribe Wor-
ried. too Here's the carriage number.
warburton glanced hastily at II ana
stuffed it into convenient pocket
Its sixteen carriages up. sir; pay ana
q gray. You can't miss them. The bay,
being a saddle horse is bit restlVe IN tile
harness, but all you have to 90 Is TO loucn
him with the whip. And don't try TO push
ahead of your turn, or you will get into
trouble with the police. They are very
strict, And don't let them confuse you
sir The numbers won't be IN rotation.
Youll hear one hundred and fifteen, and the
next moment thirty-five, like as not. It's
ali according as to how the guests are leaV-
ing. Good luck to you. sir, and don lot
get to explain it all thoroughly to Mr.. war
burton. sir vii, oo,,o
ont of this with colors flying
.sVerv we'll. sir l shall hang around TIL
YOU are safely Off" and Wlliiam oisdp-
peared. ,, ,o.. tho
faint strains of music. From time 10 time
the carriage caller baWled out a uuiipel
and the carriage would roll up under tLe
porte -cochere Warburton concluoed 'La'
Il would be a good plan to hunt up MS fls;
His search did not last long. the pay anu
the gray stood only little way from the
gate, The box was vacant ana ne cii.i i
nm and gathered the reins. he SAT tieie
for some time longing intensely Tor cigar
q GOOD cigar. such as gentlemen smoked.
ssSeventeenv' came hoarsely along on the
wings of the night. Number seventeen
and lively there! 1,;
Warburton's pulse doubled us pe"'' i'
ski; The gray and the bay started
forward took the half circle and stopped
under the porte-cochere. Warourtoh lecol.
turned his head unless spoken to; SO ne
ievaled his gaze at his horses ears anu
waited But from the very corner VI
his eve he caught the glimpse OF t., TWO
women, one of whom was enxeiop .1tat 80 ~
orin,son cloak. He thrilled with exuitatloh.
" IUna. Joke it was! He felt the
o m list as the women stepped IN;
The door slammed to, and the rare sooo
Joke was on the way eoo+
"Off with your cried the pompous lool
man with an imperious wave of the hand
Number ninety-nine! ,,oa Tho
carriage man. ,,o ho,dfng
q toIerable rein. He clucked and lightly
touched the horses with the lash. This was
true sport; this was humor, genullle haIs III,
tive enforced. He could imagine the sltiS
and their fright when he finally slowed
down. opened the door and kissed them
both. wouldn't they let out yell, though
HIS plan was to drive furiously for hair
dozen blocks, zigzag from one sloe o. INC
street to the other, taking the corners
sharply and then make for Scott Circle.
Now, a lad of six can tell the dlHerence
between seventeen and seventy-one. But
this astonishing jehu of mine had peen con,
snicuous as the worst Mathematician ana
the hest soldier in his class at West Point.
No more did he remember that he was not
in the wild west, and that here in the east
there were laws prohibiting reckless driv-
ing. ,,
He drove decently enough till he struck
Dupont Circle From there he turned INTO
New Hampshire, thinking 1t to be Rhode
Island Mistake number two. He mad
studied the city map, but he was conscious
Of not knowing 1t as we'll as he should
have known it; but, true to his nature, he
trusted to luck.
Aside from all this, he forgot that wo-
man might appreciate this joke only when
she heard 1t recounted. To live through 1t
was Altogether a different matter. In an
episode like this, woman's imagination,
given the darkness such as usually fills a
Carriage at night, becomes a round of ter
rors Every moment Is freighted with death
or Disagreement. Her nerves are like the
taut strings of harp in wintry wind,
ready to snap at any moment; and then.