The citizen., 1913-11-14

| Mccarthy clambered aboard and sat
down in a comfortably nlled car. Up
and down the perspective of the street
could be seen other cars, also stalled
Ten minutes slipped by; then Mala-
chi Mccarthy grew impatient With
a muttered growl he rose, elbowed his
way through the strap,hangers, and
stepped to the street. A row of idle
taxicabs stood in front of the Atlas
Building. Into the first of these
bounced Mccarthy, throwing his ad-
dress to the oxpectant chauffeur
The man hoped down from his box,
threw on the coil switch and ran to
the front. He turned the engine over
the compression, but no explosion fol.
lowed. He repeated the effort a dozen
times. Then, grasping the starting
handle with firmer grip he "whirled'
the engine-without result
What's the matter? Can't you make
her go?" demanded Mccarthy. thrust
ing his head from the door
will you please listen, sir, and see
if you hear a buzz when l turn her
over?" requested the chauffeur
Il don't hear nothing" was the YER
dict.
I'm sorry. but you'll have to take
another cab" then said the man. MY
coils gone back on me-"
Mccarthy impatiently descended,
entered the next taxi in line, and re-
peated the same experience. By now
the other chauffeurs, noticing the
predicament of their brethren, were
anxiously and perspiringly at work
Not an engine answered the call of the
road! A passing truck driver, grin
ming from ear to ear, drove slowly
down the line. dealing out the ancient
jests rescued for the occasion from
an oblivion to which the perfection of
the automobile had consigned them
Mccarthy added his mite; he was
beginning to feel himself the victim
of series of nagging impertinences
which he resented after his kind.
If, said he, your company would
put out something on the street be.
sides a bunch of retired grist-mlls
with clock dials hitched on to them.
you might be able to give the public
some service. I've got lots of time.
Don't hurry through your afternoon
exercise on my account. Just buy a
lawn-mower and a chatelaine watch
apiece-you'd d do just as we'll"
BY now every man had his battery
box open. Mccarthy left them, puz.
zling over the singular failure of the
electrical apparatus, which is the nerv.
Gus system of the modern automobile.
He turned into Fifth Avenue. An
astonishing sight met his eyes.
The old days had returned. The
center of the long roadway, down
which ordinarily long file of the pur.
ring monsters of gasoline creep and
dash, shouldering aside the few han
SONS and victorias remaining from a
bygone age. now showed but a swing.
ing slashing trot of horses
Hansoms, hacks, broughams; up
raised whips, whirling in signal; the
spat spat of horses hoofs; all the OBJ,
solescent vehicles that ordinarily doze
in hope along the sands of the side
streets; it was gay sight of the past
raised again for the moment to reality
by the same mysterious blight that
had shadowed the Atlas Building the
night before.
Mccarthy looked about him for a
hanson There was none unengaged
In fact, the boss soon determined that
many others, like himself, were walt
ing for a chance at the first vacant
one. Reluctantly he made up his mind
to walk. He glanced up at the tower
of the Metropolitan Building; then
stared in astonishment. The hands OF
the great dial were still perpendicular
the hour indicated was still six
o'clock
(TO BE CONTINUED)