The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-16
A Cabrnan S
Experience
By EDWIN BRINsLEY


ming behind the steering wheel OF bis
vehicle on one of the principal streets
of New York. 1t was nearly midnight.
and a fine sleet was falling about him
But John Burns was far more inter
ested in catching nap than in looking
upon the marvellous electric display
But soon be heard his cab door open
and shut and a mans voice say:
Wake up.
John Burns turned and looked
through the glass behind him upon the
features of a very old man. The only
part of his apparel that was not Gov
cred by his cloak was his hat. which
struck the cabman as something re-
markable. 1t was what is called bell
crown. with large curled brim and
covered with short fur. The chang
ing electric displays lighted the wear
er's face. showing a countenance not
only old. but there was an evil twinkle
in the eye.
"Northward" said the passenger.
ION what street,"
The Bloomingdale road
The what?"
That one" The speaker pointed to
Broadway. Cabby put on the power
and. turning mt the corner, entered
that part of Broadway lying north Of
Forty-second street and now the live
lest part of upper New York After
reaching a less crowded portion of the
thoroughfare he asked the old gen
tIeman behind him just where ht
should take him and received orders
TO turn into One Hundred and Fortieth
street. From that time the passenger
kept pointing out the way till he pull
ed up before an old fashioned house
situated among modern edifices The
fare" opened the cab door and. sup
porting himself with staff. tottered III
the walk to the front door
From this point John Burns In tell
ing the story appears confused. He
doesn't remember whether the house
was lighted or in darkness. He can't
say that he saw the old man so into
the house His impression is that
there were no lights in the windows
and if his fare went inside he must
have gone right in through the closed
door. The only thing John Burns re
members distinctly Is that the wind
blew aside the mans cloak. which
reached to his ankles and exposed a
pair of legs no bigger than those of
skeleton.
However this may be. the cabman.
| who, 1t has been said. was in need Of
rest. soon began to doze in his seat
He was awakened by a blaze of light
| coming through the doorway of the
| house before which be was stopping
and saw distinctly two persons there
! The one was his passenger. the other
! lady. The latter was dressed very
| much in the present mode Of high
/ waist panniers and clinging skirts
/ The man who was bowling himself out
| lourished his bell crown hat. bowed
very low and scraped excessively with
! his feet After Il number of such
/ caperings. which made John Burns
wonder. be came down the walk. turn
/ ing TO throw a kiss to the lady who
/ still stood in the doorway. Then the
/ Illumination seemed to 90 out all Of "a
I sudden. and the passenger stepped into
the cab closed the door and said
'o"A the hIoomln@d;ue road
fltN-'- learned that the Blooming
'-'..v !'',j meant HFo"d"@}. raool ask
ea Ao questions, buJ Lotored south
ward llr received no order to leave
ae L-"r FIRE 60 .- ~ t. aag Iar
."u.ar place. So De drove ou past -.e
Junction at broadway and THIRTY
lA'a street "ld Madison and t-5es
squares "aa thence >tal-Lc ~aa.a
T Na"i through What Is now lower
. hr"ars"".- The life of the city grew
less aud less AIS he proceeded till it
. ""e~"e tae midnight OF a great city
1t HNe.gl Hp as they passed the City
. Hai HafA. "djoLaiuS which most Ut
Tile newspaper offices finger. but died
! out "s they approached Trinity church,
/ Ill the head OF Wall street Burns was
. directed 10 turn into Rector street.
/ bordering the churchyaTd on the south,