Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-16

All that seemed open to him was a
| clerkship But his soul reyolted at the
thought of desk and Il stool in a stuiiv
office. His life had always been spent
in the open air.
Something had to be found which re-
quired no previous experience His first
suggestion was that he should Join the
police force. They had plenty of fresh
air, a decent wage. and fairly interest
ing time, he explained But Miriam OBJ
| lected-not on the grounds Of pride for
she realized that one so valueless in the
commercial world as her husband must
be humble in his ambtions-but because
of the danger. Some drunken brute. some
desperate thief, might iniure him. she
pointed out and the fear of it so
preyed on her loving heart that ne gave
way.
The brilliant suggestion which was nj
timately adopted she made herself. Why
should he not drive a cab? He knew lots
about horses; he knew London pretty
well, and could soon learn enough about
it to pass his examination 1t was a
| healthy life, and n paying one for a
smart man. He would have lots of time
at home with her. especially in wet
weather
But that's the time to make money,
he objected
Your not going out in the wet-so
there!" she announced. And he found
her air Of propretorship and decision so
delightful, that they passed the rest of
the Journey as most fond and foolish
lovers pass long railway journeys when
they have the carriage to themselves.
But the problem was solved. A cab
man he would be. and the cross. rude
colonel might keep his silly old money to
himself
He had driven cab three years, and it
had made man of him. Living in fur
nished lodgings at first they had saved
enough to gather home together and to
migrate to a tiny siX-roomed villa. with
quite twenty feet of garden to grow roses
and cabbages in Resolutely they had
cut themselves off from the old world
and lived in wonderful happiness to-
gcther. They had a little boy-an imp
OF mischief years old-and they loved
each other as dearly as ever. All the
economies the makeshifts of this life,
they looked upon as jokes. They played
together never ending game OF pretense.
Mutton was venison; cheap cigarettes
We're priceless Havanas, and the cab was
their own private carriage They discov-
cred what is, perhaps, life's most precious
sccret-that very little matters OF hurts
if only you laugh at it,
They spoke often of the colonel. and
Miriam several times tried to persuade
Frank to write. But he was too proud to
run the risk of being thought to be hank
ering after the old mans money"
One day, however, his father jumped
into his cab outside Liverpool street sta
ton and babe him drive to the United
Service club.
Frank was amused. The possibility of
such a thing had occurred to him before.
So he was not so surprised as might have
been expected.
Wonder how much the old boy will
give me over my legal fare?" he chuckled
to himself. He had not the slightest in
tention of making himself known, and
no fear of being recognized. Even if his
face should remind his father of his son,
it would never occur to him that FranA1
was really earning his own living as a
London cabman.
The cab turned irto Piccadilly and sud
denly a stick was thrust through the
trapdoor and he was commanded to stop.
Col. Leadforth leaned out and called to
a man on the pavement.
Halo" he cried Why it must be
five years since | saw you!"
They chatted of old times and the
cabman listened interestedly. His father
had a military manner and a military
voice: all he said rose up clearly and
distinctly TO his son on the box. Fa-
miliar names OF people and OF places fell
upon his ears. just the faintest tinge
of homesickness crept into his heart
suddenly he pricked up his ears and
thrilled. The stranger was asking after
Frank.
Don't know where he is" said the
colonel, grimly. HE married beneath
him-and II turned him out"
There was an embarrassing pause. The
stranger obviously didn't know what to
say.
"Confound it ALL" the colonel ex-
claimed. with sudden startling vehemencc,
Il was an ass, man! And so was he con
found him! We're stiffnecked begears,
we Lcadforths.'
He broke Off and the cabman knew.
though he could not see. that there must
be tears in the tired old eyes. His heart
melted. Yes-they were stiffnecked beg
gars-each waiting for the other to make
the first advance.
lie whipped up his horse. The man
ON the pavement looked astonished. The
colonel shouted angrily; Hi. what the
deuce are you doing?' But the cabman
was deaf.
Boldly he threaded the traffic needless
alike of the comments of INSTRUCTED bus
drivers and the furious remarks of his
fare. \ policeman held ont his hand
He dashed by, and the constable made a
note of his number But he only laughed
The excitement of the colonel grew al
most apoplectic.
But the ca bdidn't stop, On and on ii
went, mile after nile. and Col. Leadforth
| began TO fear he was being taken to
lonely place, there TO be robbed and NAL.
| treated.
At last, in a quiet suburban street. be
tween a row of neat, tiny houses, that
reckless gallop came to an end The
ianglc of the stopping horse brought