Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-01
pest last autumn. He is good cnap'
| Take some stalls"

"You are good chap. Hello, there's
Jones! Jones is good for couple.
Don't forget tomorrow night"
And the good natured enthusiast,
who was a terror to many Of his
friends, ran of to secure another vic.
tim.
Philip had sent his hanson home.
Shortly before II he quilted the club,
Intending to walk to Park lane by a
circuitous route long enough to con-
sumo big cigar.
He CHANGED to pass the hall in which
the concert was to take place. A few
people were hurrying from the stage
door. Evidently rehearsal had just
taken place. A short man with huge
cluster Of flowing locks that offered
abundant proof Of his musical genius
ran out with violin case In his hand.
He was about to enter a hanson
waiting near the curb, but the driver
said:
Engaged, sir"
The man did not seem to understand,
80 the cabby barred his way with the
whip and shook his head. Then the
stranger rushed to neighbOring cab
rank-evidently an eYcitable gentle
man, with the high strung tempera-
ment Of art
A lady quilted the hall few seconds
later.
care you engaged% Philip heard her
ask the cabman.
"No, miss"
"Take me to No. A Mazda Crescent,
Regents park" she said. After ar
ranging her skirts daintily she entered
the vehicle.
"That is odd" thought Philip, who
had witnessed both incidents In the
course Of a six yards walk. He
glanced at the cabman and fancied the
man gave a peculiar look Of intelli-
gence toward a couple of fashionably
dressed loungers who stood In the
shadow Of the closed public entrance.
The two men, without exchanging a
word to Philips hearing, went to a
brougham standing at some little dis
tance. They entered. The coachman,
who received no instructions, drove off
in the same direction as the hanson,
and as II to make sure he was being
followed the cab driver turned to look
behind him.
Once in Naples Philip saw man
stealthily following woman down an
unlighted alley. Without moments
hesitation he went after the pair and
was just in time to prevent the would
be assassin from plunging an uplifted
stiletto into the woman's back. The
recollection Of that little drama flashed
into his mind now. There was a sug-
gestion of the Neapolitan bravo's air in
the manner in which these men stalk
ed girl who was quite unaware OF
their movements.
He asked himself why Il cabman
should refuse one fare and pick up an
other in the same spot The affair was
certainly odd He would see further
into it before he dismissed it from his
thoughts. The distance to Mazda Cres-
cent was not great.
While thinking ha was acting. He
sprang into the nearest hanson.
"a brougham is following hanson
up Langham place" he said to the
driver. Keep behind them. II they
separate, follow tho brougham. When
It stops, pull up at the best place to
avoid notice."
The man nodded. Nothing surprises
London cabman. Soon the three ve-
hicles were spinning along the Outer
circle.
1t was not very dark night, the sky
being cloudless and starlit. Away In
front at point where the two lines
Of lamps curved sharply to the right
and vanished amid the trees row Of
little red lights showed that the road
was up.
The leading hanson drove steadily
on. There was nothing remarkable In
this. When the driver reached the OBJ
struction, he would turn out Of the
park by the nearer gate; that was all.
But he did nothing Of the kind. There
was u sudden crash Of wood, wom-
ans scream, and the horse was strug-
Cling wildly amid pile Of loose wood
en- blocks, while one wheel Of the cab
dropped heavily into shallow trench.
simultaneously the brougham pulled
up, and its two occupants rushed to the
scene Of the accident.
Philips driver Of course obeyed In
structions, but he shouted to his fare
as he jumped into the road:
"That feller's either drunk or e did II
a-puppuss."
Philip was of the same opinion. He
reached the overthrown barricade al
most as soon as the two hurrying men
| in front, both Of whom were In even
Ing dress.
One of them held the horses head
and steadied him. The other was just
in time to help the young lady to leave
her dangerous conveyance.
II hope you have received no injury
madam" he said politely.
"Oh, not ut all. was frightened fol
an instant. How could 1t have hap
pened? I saw the lamps quite plainly
| The man seemed to pull his horse de-
llberately into the barrier"
The voice was singularly sweet and
we'll modulated. A neighboring arc
lamp illuminated the girls face, will
its white, IMPLYING radiance. 1t re
yealed features beautifully modelled
and large, startled eyes that looked
wonderingly from the man who came
so promptly to her rescue to the driver
who had caused the mishap. Philip
behind the hanson, was unseen. Ht
remained q critical observer.
II fear he Is intoxicated" was thu
reply. Here, you! How came you tt
make such blunder?"
"Bllnd as an OWL" came the gurglinf
answer. 81 saw some red spots dancin
abaht, but thort 1t must be that lars
gill o. beer"
Nevertheless the cabman extricatet
his horse and vehicle from their pre-
dicament with singular ease for a hal
drunken man.
"Goin' on, miss" he grinned. There
nothin' extry for the steeplechise."
"No, now cried the lady. II vii
walk. will pay you now."
saTake my advice and pay him not
cent" protested the man by her side
L Ii f,.lo har