Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-06-29

- 5ioit dAA I~pANNA
about for a taxicab.
There were several automobiles
drawn up TO the sidewalk Miss Mac
kenZie inquired of several chauffeur5
whether they were disengaged. receiY-
ing answers from some that the con-
veyances they drove We're private from
others that they We're waiting for per-
sons in the store. At the end of the
line young man sat in his car reading
newspaper. Miss Mackenzie ap-
preached him, and the first thing he
knew of her presence was hearing u
very well modulated voice ask.
rs this cab engaged
The younG man looked up into Miss
Mackenzie's liquid eyes He did not
reply at once, but when he did he
asked where the young lady wished
TO go. She said that she desired TO go
home. giving him her street and num-
ber He hesitated moment, then said
he thought he could take her there
and get back to the store before a lady
he was waiting for should finish her
shopping.
Miss Mackenzie was about to step
into the rear part of the vehicle when
she paused and said that she always
preferred to ride in front. The chauf-
feur thereupon opened the door beside
him. and the lady entered by that
opening.
Its a beautiful morning, miss" the
chauffeur remarked.
Indeed. it is. If you were not en-.
| gagged | would have you take me to the
park"
i think l can do that and get back
to the store before the lady am driy
ing finishes her shopping. 1t always
takes her a long while
well, If you think you won't get
into trouble you can take me for a
ride"
The chauffeur drove to the end of
the park turned and drove back, turn
ed again and again driving back and
forth. An hour had been consumed,
during which Miss Mackenzie was SO
pleased with the park scenery, the ve-
hicles glittering in the sunshine. and
the conversational powers of her COM
panion, remarkable for a chauffeur,
that she supposed but ten minutes had
elapsed She asked the driver if his
fare would not likely be through her
shopping and need him, but he said
| she had told him he would have to
wait a long while for her, and he en-
| tered upon another hours drive, at the
end of which he deposited the lady at
her home. On handing him his fare
she asked him if she could not use his
cab occasionally. TO which he replied
that she could and gave her his tele-
| phone number telling her to call for
Charlie.
After that Miss Mackenzie called
frequently for Charlie. taking long
rides with him, paying literally there
| for, with an occasional tip for himself.
One afternoon when he called for her
an elderly lady was in the cab.
Il must apologize for my presence"
she said, Charlie is my favorite
chauffeur as well as yours. When
asked him to take me TO my sisters
! this afternoon he said that he was en-
gagged to take you out. | told him that
he might take me in for half hour,
dropping me at my destination. You
must not blame him
Miss Mackenzie got into the back
seat with the lady, who made herself
so agreeable that the girl forgave her
| for what she had done. The lady
seemed to take a desperate fancy to
her and when they parted asked for
her address. Miss Mackenzie gave it
! 1hnaf.fl1llN nnI nc bo col
! turned a corner Charlie pulled up. and
| she took the seat beside him.
rs that the lady you We're waiting
for she asked, when | hired you the
first time?"
Yes, miss"
! A week later Miss Mackenzie receiy-
| ed note from Mrs. Chenoworth. the
| lady who had divided the cab with
her. expressing Interpretation of the
! girls kindly assent to that intrusion
and inviting her to dinner. Miss Mac
kenzie was "A bit uncertain about ac-
| cepting an invitation on so short an
acquaintance, but the lady had seemed
to be refined person and Miss Mac
kenzie had been much pleased with
| her. So she accepted.
On the evening of the dinner Charlie
was telenhoned for, and when he
pulled up in front of the house. al
though the evening was warm. he
wore an oyercoat bnttoned from the
throat to his ankles. On reaching Mrs.
| Chenoworth's Miss Mackenzie, after
handing Charlie the customary fee,
with a tip for himself, went into the
house. was received by the hostess
and, having removed her wraps, the
two sat conyersing in the drawing
room waiting for dinner to be ans
nounced.
But few minutes had elapsed when
young man in evening dress walked
into the room.
Was Miss Mackenzie dreaming? Sure
ly that Immediately attired young
man could not be Charlie. Neyerthee
| less he was Charlie and Smtlingly adj