Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-03-21
CHAPTE 1.
The Wreck Of the Taxicab.

The Wreck of the Taxicab.
The young woman in the taxicab
scuttling frantically down the dark
street, clung to the arm OF the young
man alongside, as IL she were terri.
fled at the lawbreaking, neck-risking
speed. But evidently some greater
tear goaded her, Tor she gasped:
Cant he 60 little taster?'
Cant you 60 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 att, and the taut chauffeur
perked his ear in vain to catch the
vanishing syllabies.
Whats that?" he roared.
Cant you 60 little faster?'
The indignant charioteer simply
had to shoot one barbed glare OF re-
proach into that passenger. He turned
his head and growled: II
Say, do youse want to lose me me
license?"
For Just one instant he turned his
head. One instant was just enough.
The upguarded ,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 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 1t leaned against tree and
rested.
A dozen or more miracles coincided
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. Inc
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
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 wom-
an, for even now she did not scream,
she did not faint, she did not MUIR
mur, Where am II" 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 1t 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
The consideration 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 Snoozleums!"
They groped about in the topsy-
turvy taxicab, rummaged among
tumble of suitcases, handbags, um-
brellas and minor impedimenta, and
fished out a small dog-basket with an
inverted dog inside. Snoozleums was
ridiculous in any position, but as he
slid tail foremost from the wicker
basket. he resembled nothing so much
as a heap of tangled yarn tumbling
out of a 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
prowlng 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 1t
ever was taxicab, does it,"
The young man shrugged his shoul.
ders, and stared up and down the
long street for another. The young
woman looked sorrowfully at the
wreck, and queried:
do you think you can make 1t go?"
The chauffeur glanced her way,
more in pity for her whole sex than In
scorn for this one type, as he num-
bled:
Make 1t 60? It'll take a steam
winch a week to unwrap 1t from that
lamppost."
The young man apologized.
II oughtn't to have yelled at you"
He was evidently very nice young
man. Not to be outdone In courtesy,
the chauffeur retorted:
II hadn't ought to have turned me
head"
The young woman thought, What
a nice chauffeur" but she gasped:
Great heavens, you're hurt!"
Its nuttin' but scratch on me
t'umb."
Lend me clean handkerchief.
Harry"
The young man whipped out his re-
serve supply, and in trice it was q
bandage on the chauffeur's hand. Ine
chauffeur decided that the young wom-
an vas even nicer than the young