The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-02-18
PART I-CONTINUED

"Oh!' she mOaned mo wonder
The awful awful price of those horrid
clock things! Why did let him tell 1T
to waltz"
Presently she was amazed to see
both the driver and Mr.. Randolph dis
hppear into the dark recesSes of the
k.ah and close after them its door. For
twenty : GREATNESS minutes she
watched, tormented by the thought
that they had retired to have it out
where they wouldn't be disturbed by
the police. But at last they issued
both of them. Mr.. Randolph proceed
ed to crank the car and then, walking
rather strangely, went off, headed
west; the driver mounted his box,
threw in the clutch, and scurried to
the east as though he were off to
meet the morning.
Strange doings!" thought Miss Imo-
gene Pamela Thornton, as she turned
from the window to start on a private
ly conducted voyage of discovery.
Strange doings. indeed, and stranger
still could Imogene Pamela have heard
as well as seen. This is what really
happened: Mr.. Randolph awoke the
cabman gently but thoroughly; then
he said:
"Look here: 1 want to buy your
wagon
"Gowan, boss; wot dyer take me
for? Here l been freezin' most to det'
fer two mortal hours an a gent like
you starts right in kickin' on the clock
widout even readin' it."
"Shucks!" said Mr.. Randolph
whats biting you? Never mind the
meter-reading; here's twenty for you
to forget that. Now tell me: Who
owns your buzz-wagon? Your
"Naw; the Village Cab company"
replied the saturnine cabman as he
stuffed the twenty-dollar bill into his
trousers pocket.
"Well," said Mr.. Randolph, "you
and l are about the same build and
I've got proposition for you Change
clothes, hand me over your cab, and
take two hundred dollars to see your
self to another job"
: The driver showed no surprise; he
contemplated the offer with half-closed
eyes and obviously working lips.
'More than that" went on Ran
dolph: I'm not taking your job just
for tonight; I'm going to hold it. The
only thing want you to promise is
that you'll keep your trap closed If
you see any ads in the personal col
umns looking for me-"
"How do l know you won't lift the
car and whoop it up fer New Haven?"
Randolph fixed him in the eye.
"You know I won't. because I say
it."
"Sure-that's all right, boss" said
the driver conciliatingly. mo bones
broke. Now, there's just one thing
more: have you figgered that it's five
hours to the opening of secondhand
Sixth avenue or the Bowery, an I'd
have to wear those clothes of yourn
all that timer"
what's the matter with these
clothes?" asked Randolph, a little
peeved. "Well, you've heard my offer.
Take 1t or leave it,
"Sure Ill take it," said the driver
promptly. IF I wasn't a-goin to have
took 1t from the first, what would l "a
been standin' here talkin' for?"
Whereupon they entered to the
cramped privacy of the cab and ex-
changed garments. Randolph was
ready in ten minutes, but it took him
another ten to complete, the apparel
Ing of the puzzled chauffeur. That
worthy added to his investiture in
Randolph's best evening suit a sickly
grin.
Say" he asked, "how do loob?"
MFR. Randolph surveyed him.
"Oh, you'll do, all right. You look
about the way l would if I'd been on
bat. Better have few drinks, if you
can find them, and the world will fall
for your clothes. What time do turn
the wagon In, and what time do l go
on again? Do you bunk at the garage,
by any chance?"
.'Never you mind where bunk"
said the ex-cabman suspiciously.
''D'you think I'm goin' to throw in a
happy home for two hundred? You're
on the night shift for this week. Read
the rules and regulations when you
get to the garage. Say good-by to the
boys for me an tell the manager to go
to blazes"
They followed this remark out of
the cab; the tough in fop's clothing
cranked the car and turned westward,
as previously chrOnicled, while Mr..
Randolph, now substitute to Patrick
O'Reilly as driver of the Village Cab
company's No. 1898, hurled his char
lot eastward, not to meet the morning,
as 1t had appeared to the watching
Miss Thornton, but In search of the
residence of the head of the legal firm
charged with the duty of carrying out
the instructions Of the defunct Mr.,