Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-06-08
CHAPTER II.-Continued

An Grant cabby, cruising aimlessly
but hopefully, sighted Maitland's tall
figure and white shirt from a distance.
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 81
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, ad-
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 I 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
land glanced at his watch and elevated
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.
"Yessirl"
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 regardless
pace which reused the gongs of the
surface cars to a clangor of historical |
expostulation. In a trice the 81" ex- |
tension was roaring overhead: and q
little later the ferry gates were yawn-
ing before them. Again Maitland con-
suited his watch, commenting briefly:
I'm time"
Yet he reckoned without the ferry.
one of whose employees deliberately |
and implacably swung to the gates in
the very face of the astonished cab
horse, which promptly rose upon its
mind legs and paved the air with ges-
lures OF pardonable evaporation. To
no avail, however; the gates remained
closed, the cabby with language)
refined his steed back a yard or two.
and Maitland, lighting a cigarette.
composed himself to simulate patience
Followed a wait of ten minutes or
so, in which a number of vehicles
Joined company with the cab; the pas
senger was vaguely aware of the jar
ring purr of a motor car, like that of |
some huge cat, in the immediate rear.
A circumstance which he had occasion
to recall ere long.
In the course of time the gates were
again opened. The bridge cleared of
incoming traffic. AS the cabby drove
aboard the boat, with nice considera-
ton selecting the choicest stand of
all, well out upon the forward deck
a Rotor car slid in, humming, on the
right of the hanson.
Maitland sat forward, resting his
forearms on the apron, and jerked his
cigarette out over the gates; the glow
Ing stub described a fiery arc and took
the water with hiss. Warm whiffs
Of the rivers sweet and salty breath
famed his face gratefully, and he be-
zane aware that there was a moon.
His gaze rowing at will, he nodded an
,ven-tempered appreciation of the
lights splendor-in the city thing
Never, he thought, had he known
moonlight so pure, so silvery and