The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-09
CHAPTER I.
The Wreck of the Taxicab.

Scuttllng frantcally down the DARK
street, chung to the arm OF the young
man alongside, as if she were terri
fed at the Iawbreaking, neck-risking
speed. But evidently some greater
fear goaded her, for she gasped:
Cant he go 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 taxigale 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 NE
license?"
For Just one instant he turned his
head. One instant was just enough.
The unguarded taXicab seized the OPP
portunity. bolted from the track, and
around perfectly respectable lamp
post attending strictly TO its business
on the curb. There ensued a 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 block
before it leaned against a 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 IN
hinged door still around his neck. The
young woman's arms were round MS
neck. Her head was on his shoulder.
1t had reposed there often enough,
but never before in the street under a
lamppost. The chauffeur found him.
self in the road, walking about on all
tours, like a 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 I?' She simply said ::
| What time is it, honey?"
And the young man, not realizing
how befuddled he really was, or how
| his hand trembled, fetched out his
| watch and held it under the glow OF
the 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
i The consid eration of this riddle was
| interrupted by a muffled hubbub Of
i yelps. whimpers and canine Mysteries
Immediately the young woman forgot
i ministers, collisions, train-schedules-
| everything. She showed her first sigr
of panic.
! "SnoozIeums, Get Snoozleums!"
i They CROPPED about in the topsy
turvy taxicab, rummaged among &
! tumble of suitcases, handbags, um
; brellas and minor impedimenta, ant
/. fished out a small dog-basket with al
; inverted dog inside. Snoozleums wa
ridiculous in any position, but as n
slid tail foremost from the wicke
basket, he resembled nothing so mucl
as a heap of tangled yarn tumblinl
out of a work-basket. He was an in
dignant skein, and had much to sa,
before he consented to snuggle unde
his mistress chin.
About this time the chauffeur cam
prowling into view. He was too deer
ly shocked to emit any language o
the garage. He was too deepl
shocked to achieve any comment NOR
brilliant than:
That mess don't look much like
ever was a taxicab, does it,"
The young man shrugged his shou
ders, and stared up and down tn
long street for another. The youn
woman looked sorrowfully at tn
wreck, and queried
do you think you can make it go?
The chauffeur glanced her wa!
more in pity for her whole sex than
scorn for this one type, as he mum
bled:
Make it go? It'll take a steaI
winch a week to unwrap 1t from tia
. lamppost."
The young man apologized.
Il oughtn't TO have yelled at you
He was evidently very nice youn
man. Not to be outdone In courtes
the chauffeur retOrted:
II hadn't ought to have turned II
head
The young woman thought, "Wh;
a nice chauffeur" but she gaspeC
Great heavens. you're hurt
, Its muffin but a scratch on u
t'umb.'
Lend me a clean handkerchie
Harry"
The young man whipped out his r
serve supply, and in trice 1t was
bandage on the chauffeur hand. IT
chauffeur decided that the young VOL
an was even nicer than the your