The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-18
CHATTER !.
The Wreck q the TaxIcab.

tst " .5E
The Wreck Of the Taxicab.
The young woman In the taxicab
scuttiing frantfcaIly down the dark
street. chung to the arm OF the young
man alongside. as II she were terri
fed at the lawbreaking, neck-risking
speed. But evidently some greater
fear gcaded- her. for she gasped:
Cant he 60 little faster?
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 taxigale swept
his voice aft, and the taut chauffeur
perked his ear in vain to catch the
vanishing syllables.
What's that!" he reared.
Cant you go little fastery"
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
Iicense?"
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
dung. as It were. its arms drunkenly
around q perfectly respectable lamp
post attending strictly to its business
on the curb. There ensued q con-
densed Fourth OF July. Sparks fiew.
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 tree and
rested
A dozen or more miracles conceded
to save the passengers from injury.
I 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 a
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-
she did not faint. she did not muir
muir, Where am II" She simply said:
What time Is it. honey?.
And the young man, not realizing
.aow befuddled he really was. or how
ais hand trembled, fetched out his
watch and held It under the glow OF
the lamppost. which was now bent
over in convenient but disreputable
attitude
"A quarter to ten. sweetheart
Plenty OF time for the train"
But the. minister. honey! what
bout the minister
The consideration Of this riddle was
Interrupted by mufied hubbub OF
y6lps, 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 CROPPED, about in the topsy-
turyy taxicab, run1maged among a
tumble Of suitcases. handbags. UNI
Drellas and minor impedimenta, and
6shed out a small dog-basket with an
Inverted dog inside. SnoozIeums was
ridiculous In any position, but as he
Slid tail foremost from the wicker
basket, he resembled nothing so much
~ q heap Of tangled yarn tumbling
out OF q 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
~ 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 II
sver was a taxicab. does IT..
The young man shrugged his shout
4ers, and stared up and down me
long street for another. The young
woman looked sorrowfuily 1T the
wreck. and queried:
DO you think you can make II eo?-
The chauffeur glanced her way.
more IN pity for her whole sex than ii
pcorn for this one type, as he mum
5led:
Make 1t go? It'Il take a steam
winch week to unwrap it from that
hmppost."
The young man apologized.
oughtn't to have yelled at you
He was evidently very nice young
nan. Not to be outdcne In courtesy.
he chauffeur retorted:
Il hadn't ought to have turned me
Aead."
The young woman thought, -What
nice chauffeur!" but she gasped:
Great heavens. you're hurt"
IT'S muffin but scratch on me
.umb."
Lend me clean handkerchief,
Harry
The young man whipped out his re-
serve supply. ana IN txice 1t was
bandage on the chauffsur>s hand. rhe
chauffeur decided that tk~ young WON.
an was even nicer than the young
man. But he could not settle on way
to say 1t. So he said nothing, ana
grfnned eheepfshly as he said It.
The young man named Harry was
wondering how they were to proceed.
He had already. studied the region
with dismay. when the girl resolved:
We'll have to take another taxi.
Harry"
Yes. Marjorie, but We cant tax II