The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-06-21
Copyright, lsu, BY Il. Z Fly o.
CHAPT Err !.
The Wreck Of the Taxleab.

S"S0t, SAuAS w tAc al LII VI ZIG SOuue
man alongside, as II she were terri
fed at the lawbreaking, neck-riskint
speed. But evidently some greater
fear goaded her, for she gasped:
Cant he 60 a little faster?"
Cant you go little faster" The
young man alongside howled as he
thrust his head and shoulders through
the window in the door.
But the self-created taxi-gale swept
his voice aft, and the taut chauffeur
perked his ear in vain to catch the
vanishing syllables.
What's that?" he roared.
Cant you go a little faster"
The indignant charioteer simply
had to shoot one barbed glare Of re-
proach into that passenger. He turned
his head and growled:
Say, do youse want to lose me me
license?"
For just one instant he turned his
head. One instant was Just enough
The unguarded taxicab seized the op,
portunity, bolted from the track, and
flung. as 1t were, its arms drunkenly
around a perfectly respectable lamp.
post attending strictly to its business
on the curb. There ensued con.
densed Fourth of July. Sparks flew,
tires exploded, metals ripped, two
wheels spun In air and one wheel,
neatly severed at the axle, went reel
ing down the sidewalk half a block
before 1t leaned against tree and
rested.
A dozen or more miracles conceded
to save the passengers from injury.
The young man found himself stand,
Ing on the pavement with the un-
hinged door still around his neck. The
young woman's arms were round his
neck. Her head was on his shoulder.
1t had reposed there often enough,
but never before In the street under q
lamppost. The chauffeur found him.
self in the road. walking about On all
tours, like bewildered quadruped.
Evidently some overpowering need
for speed possessed the young won.
an, for even now she did not scream
she did not faint, she did not muir.
muir, Where am II" She simply said:
What time is 1t, honey?"
And the young man, not realizing
how befuddled he really was, or how
his hand trembled, fetched out his
watch and held 1t under the glow OF
Vie lamppost, which was now bent
over in a convenient but disreputable
attitude.
"A quarter to ten, sweetheart
Plenty OF time for the train"
But the minister, honey! What
about the minister
The consid of this riddle was
interrupted by a muffied hubbub OF
yelps, whimpers and canine Mysteries
Immediately the young woman forgot
ministers, collisions, train-schedules-
everything. She showed her first sign
of panic.
"Snoozleums! Get Snoozieums!"
They CROPPED about in the topsy.
turvy taxicab, rummaged among a
tumble OF suitcases, handbags, um.
brellas and minor impedimenta, and
fished out small dog.basket with an
inverted dog inside. Snoozleums was
ridiculous in any position, but as he
slid tall foremost from the wicker
basket. he resembled nothing so much
as a heap OF tangled yarn tumbline
out OF work-basket. He was an in
dignant skein, and had much to say
before he consented to snuggle under
his mistress chin
About this time the chauffeur came
prowling into view. He was too deep
ly shocked to emit any language OF
the garage. He was too deeply
shocked to achieve any comment more
brilliant than:
That mess don't look much like 1,
ever was a taxicab, does it,"
The young man shrugged his Shout.
ders, and stared up and down the
long street for another. The young
woman looked sorrowfully at the
Wrack and uuariad.
DO you think you can make II so7"
The chauffeur glanced her wav
more In pity for her whole sex than in
scorn for this one type. as he mum.
bled:
Make it go? It'll take a steam
winch week to unwrap II from tina,
lamppost." 4.
The young man apologized.
i onghtnt to have yelled at Won ;.
He was evidently very nice young
man. Not to be outdone in courtesy
the chauffeur retorted:
Il hadn't ought to have turned me-
head"
The young woman thought, What
a nice chauffeur" but she gasped:
Great heavens. you're hurt"
It's nuttin' but a scratch on me
t'umb,"
Lend me a clean handkerchief
Harry"