Washington telegraph., 1909-05-21
CHAPTER II.-continued

An errant cabby, cruising aimlessly
but hopefully, sighted Maitland's tall
figure and white shirt from distance,
and bore down upon him with gal
liant clatter of hoofs.
"Kebsir?" he demanded, breathless-
ly, pulling in at the corner.
Maitland came out of his reverie and
looked up slowly. why, yes, thank
you" he assented, amiably.
"Where to, sir?"
Maitland paused on the forward
deck of the craft and faced about, look
ing the cabby trustfully in the eye. II
leave it to YOU" he replied, politely.
Just as you please"
The driver gasped.
you see," Maitland continued with
a courteous smile, 81 have two engage
ments-one at Sherry's, the other with
the 1920 train from Long Island City
What would you, as man to man, adj
wise ME to do, cabby?"
well, sir, seem as you put it to
me straight" returned the cabby with
engaging candor, 'I'd go home, sir, if
l was you, afore l got any worse"
THANK you" gravely. Long Island
City depot, then, cabby."
Maitland extended himself languid-
ly upon the cushions. Surely" he
told the night "the driver knows best
he and Bannerman."
The cab started off jogging so Sc
dately up Madison avenue that Matt
orIa o4 to1, mr. AIAu1t nd
his brows obviously; then with his
stick poked open the trap in the roof
IF you really think it best for me
to go home, cabby, you'll have to drive
like hell" he suggested, mildly.
'Yessir!"
A whip-lash cracked loudly over the
horses back, and the hanson, lurch
ing into Thirty-fourth street on, one
wheel, was presently jouncing eastward
over rough cobbles, at a regardless
pace which reused the gongs of tht
surface cars to a clangor of hysterica
expostulation. In a trice the IL" eX
tension was roaring overhead; and ;
little later the ferry gates We're yawn
ing before them. Again Maitland con
suited his watch, commenting briefly
In time"
Yet he recl1oned without the ferry
one of whose employees deliberatel
and implacably swung to the gates i
the very face of the astonished ca
horse, which promptly rose upon it
hind legs and paved the air with geE
lures of pardonable evaporation. T
no avail, however; the gates RENAME
closed, the cabby with language
reined his steed back a yard or two
and Maitland, lighting a cigarette
composed himself to simulate patience
Followed a wait of ten minutes Q
so, in which a number of vehicle
joined company with the cab; the pal
senger was vaguely aware of the ja
ring purr of a motor car, like that {
some huge cat in the immediate rea
A circumstance which he had occasio
to recall ere long.
In the course of time the gates wer
again opened The bridge cleared {
incoming traffic. AS the cabby drov
aboard the boat, with nice considers
ton selecting the choicest stand {
all, well out upon the forward decl
a motor car slid in, humming, on tn
right of the hanson.
Maitland sat forward, resting hi
forearms on the apron, and jerlSed hi
cigarette out over the gates; the GLOW
ing stub described a fiery arc and too
the water with hiss. Warm Whit
Of the rivers sweet and salty breat
famed his face gratefully, and he b.
came aware that there was moor
His gaze rowing at will, he nodded a
even-tempered appreciation of tn
nights splendor-in the city thin
unsupported.
Never he thought, had he know
moonlight so pure. so silverv an