The Raymer enterprise., 1912-06-20
oWsaehe en RAEN O
CHAPTER |.
The Wreck 81 II. r,xle,h.

man alongside. as Il she were terri.
ned at the slawbreakins, neck.risking
speed. But evidently some greater
fear goadsd her. for she gasped:
Cant he 60 . little fasteri"
Cant you 20 little faster?" The
young man alongside howled q he
thrust his head and shoulders through
the window In the door.
But the self.created taxi.eals swept
bis voice Aft and the taut chauffeur
parked his ear In vain to catch the
vanishing syllables.
"What's thatf" he roared.
Cant you 90 q little fasterY'
Tho indignant charioteer simply
had to shoot one barbed glare Of 70.
proach into that passenger. He turned
his head and growled:
Say, do youse want to lose me me
hcsnsei'
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
dung. as 1t were, its arms drunkenly
around a perfectly respectable lamp
post attending strictly to its business
on the curb. There ensued con.
denssd Fourth Of July. Sparks new.
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. The
young woman's arms were round his
neck. Her head was on his shoulder.
It had sreposed there often enough,
but never before in the street under
lamppost. The chauffeur found him
self in the road. walking about on all
fours, 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 mur-
muir. 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 bis
watch and held II 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
about the minister
The consideration of this riddle was
interrupted by a mufled hubbub OF
yelps, whimpers and canine Mysteries.
Immediately the young woman forgot
ministers, collisions. train.schedules-
everything. She showed her first sign
Of panic.
1Snoozleums! Get snoozleums!"
They groped about In the topsy-
turvy taxicab. rummaged among a
tumble Of suitcases. handbags, um.
brellas and minor impedimenta. and
flshed 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
% 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 al language OF
the garage. He was too deeply
shocked to achieve any comment more
brilliant than:
THAT mess don't look much like It
ever was q taxicab. does 1T"
The young man shrugged his shoul.
ders. and stared up and down tho
long street for another. The young
woman looked sorrowfully at the
wreck. and queried:
"Do you think you can make II go7"
The chauffeur glanced her way.
more In pity for her whole sex than in
scorn for this one type, % he mum.
bled:
Make II 90? lt'll take . steam
winch q week to unwrap It from that
lamppost."
The young msn apologi1ed.
n oushtn't TO have yelled At you. 9
He was evidently q very nice young
man. Not to be outdons IN courtesy,
the chauffeur retortsd:
Il hadn't ought TO have turned me-
head" ~
The young woman thought, "whsi
. nice chauReur!" but she gasped:
Great heavens. you're hurt!"
ITS nuttin' but Q scratch on me
t'umb."
Lend me a clean handkerchief.
Harry"