The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-14

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she thought she could not really have
expected to find him.
But what shall I do?" she said,
turning in her perplexity to the cab
man, who gazed at her in turn, out
of his indistinct, moon-like vague
ness of features, with a calm neutral
ity that was at first eXasperating;
but there was a human being behind
that mask of flesh, a slow thinking
machine, that could feel for a fellow
creature on occasion, although he
recognized no difference of degree,
and habitually COMPOUNDED age, sex
and rank, CHASING them all as fares,
good or bad, in a common category,
according to the way they paid.
1--WE left a women in charge of the
house." Gertrude further explained.
"She ought to have been there to let
me in"
well, there was no m there, I'll
take my dick" the cabman said. Il
know the sound Of a bell in an
empty house. One human bein'
makes all the difference, and there's
nobody here, neither"
Then they both looked up at the
house for ONE seconds.
But what shall I do?" Gertrude
repeated.
"Hev you no friends?"
"Oh, yes; plenty
Then go to them as lives a
est" the cabman disinterestedly
growled forth.
What! at this time of night?"
Gertrude exclaimed. We seem to
have so many friends, and yet in
| great emergencies how few there are
to whom We feel entitled to appeal
for special help! II couldn't pos
sibly disturb any one so late. And
besides, how should l explain?"
Then she remembered that she
must not explain, which would in any
case have settled the question.
"Well miss, I should say then
that a respectable hotel would be the
place for yew," the cabman further
advised, with grave deliberation, eff
you ear get in; but I very much mis-
doubt it, though you hev Z tidy bit
of luggage. But you see, it being the
season, every place is chock-full.
Howsumever, yew can but try"
Gertrude looked up at the dingy
house again.
81 suppose I can do no more till
daylight" she said, thinking of her
husband. Drive me then, please,
to some respectable place-the
nearer the better. I am very tired"
So they rumbled away again, first
to a large hotel close by. then to
another a little further off, then to
three, one after another, that seemed
quite close together; then on, and on,
and on, again, till it seemed to Ger
trude as if she had been driving for
ages in that cab, and would 60 on
forever; but nowhere could she get
a room, Or ever a sofa to rest upon
till morning.
The cabman's patience seemed I'M
ending, but he stopped at last in de-
spair, and came to the door. The
darkness was paling by this time,
the morning air was fresh, but keen;
the day was at hand, and the gas
in the streets looked belated already,
and yet was missed when suddenly
the lamps went out. The cabman
looked at his pale fare, and felt a
fatherly compassion.
Its no use goin' on" he said;
"hut if you'd take a nap IN the cab
now"
Gertrude answered him with the
ghost of a smile. How do you man
age yourself?" she said. do you
go on all night like this and every
night"
"Ay," was the unusually quick re-
Spouse. Probably the fact, as seen
from her point of view, surprised
him. "Only sometimes it r%ains,' he
added, "and sometimes l don't make
4 breakfast for the old boss out of
ell I get"
"Ah, then this is a good nights
work." she said.
well, yes,' he answered, as if
that, too, had never occurred to him.
where are WEI"
He named the locality.
Why" she exclaimed, my sis
ter-in-law lives here, at No. "a. How
a l have V been so stupid. l
never thought of her. Drive me
there, please, at once"
Some n opened an upper win
dow, and looked out in answer tc the
claimants ring.
Let ME in, Annie! 1t is I, Ger
trude!" she called.
Good heavens! wEat has hap
pened?" she heard her sister-in-law
cxclaim as she left the window.
In a few seconds she opened the
door herself and embraced her
brothers wife, but asked no ques-
tons until they wer9 alone to-
gether.
You are a good old man." Ger
trude said to the cabman as she paid
him. Come for me tomorrow morn
ing-this morning at 3 o'clock. /
may have many places to go to.
Bring q fresh horse"
Then she turned to enter the
house, but stumbled, and fell faint
ing on the threshold. The cabman
helped Miss Somers TO carry her into
the dining o
They laid her IN the sofa, and
then Miss Somers showed the man
out. She had not questioned him,
niihnr and Que Glance al her nlaiM