Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-10
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
His Last Fare

The starter who stood in front OF the
cd Brevoort House was busy that af-
tsrnoon. At his sharp whistle taxIs
came and went, one succeeding another,
4 continuous wave OF them joining the
uer.moving stream Of trafiic that
poured up the avenue. And amid 1t
oil, stationary, shadow of the past,
stood hanson cab, its old driver
Mched atop, his ancient high hat over
bis eyes, his reins lying slack and list
less over the patient horses back.
For twenty years Pat had stood in the
mme place. The time had been when 1t
was be who had dashed up to collect
bis fare and had trotted off merrily to
! Join the gay procession of shiny, black
cabs going to many a gay rendezvous
further uptown. For while it had
seemed to Pat that the whole fashion
able world was awaiting for him and
| bis sleek brown horse to whirl IL away.
| But he was living to see his world
hckle thing at best and his golden place
IN It usurped by dago taxi drivers and
their yillainous, reeking cars.
The starter, with n minute or two to
spare, reused Pat from his dreary re.
yerie with:
well, Pat no business this after
noon-eh?"
Pat shook his head in a weary mega
Tive. ,,",Our days. over-the nag's and
moine," he answered slowly. "Tomor-
row It's the auction room for me cab
and the country for the nag and me, |
guess. The city has no use for the likes
Of us any more; we're done for, shure
shough."
-. TOO = ss,bad bad Pat, old boy; too bad"
time you've had your stand here, and
I'LL miss you. But everybody's for
hurrying nowadays; it's catchin' a
train with five minutes to spare, or
IT'S tea at the Ritz in another five
minutes, or the like. Well, good by.
must be off. Here comes a. young feller
who Il want taxi in hurry, I'll bet"
Pat leaned back again, beset with
gloomy thoughts of the future, taking
farewell glance at his dearly beloved
New York that was treating him so
badly.
The young mans voice. raised in
dispute with the starter, brought him
S,t to the present.
no, no." he was saying, "I don't
want any of your old taxis. They're
No damned quick and cheerful. A
nearse would be just about suited to
NE, but / don't suppose you have one
90 tap, Worse luck. Hey! that han
som cab. That driver looks almost as
floomy as anything around. He'll do"
And Ike an angry whirlwind the young
gentleman entered the hanson, calling
to Pat
Drive me to hell. Sunny jim"
All roight: sor,' says Pat. But
,nn1 Without intrudin'., sor, which one is it
'Oh, any place-East End avenue
anu Eighty sixth strect--that'll do"
Mapped the young gentleman, banging
'ne Mttie half doors together.
."We're off, says Pat. and they
'oned d the upward stream.
shure, it's terrible way he's in,"
ne unused. Il wonder what's ails him
ne looked back over his shoulder
a =, inc hotc to see if an answer to the
souhg man 5 desperate mood could be
aS aVanu therc. And on the steps, looking
a a.,er 'he rctrcating cab, was one of the
ru'LLileSt auL ladies Pat had ever seen in
o um nlS DAYS OF close association with the
wa ,vrs pest New York had to offer. She
.rS "aS speaking hurricdly to the starter,
TIa TTu 'nev both looked after the hanson.
patil patn 'ne starters sharp whistle reached
lad, ear. ear. a taxi slashed up and the
'uaS ,, entered it.
,s,d iIat the answer, sure enough"
for ,t ray 10 himself, and he chuckled
Tbn ne nrst time in many a long day.
bv Ie tSoAl luAl' with the lady in it, rushed
tSo i"eail' hoah Gut of the little window In
A. bIs lax rat saw her looking intently
from S SinH. luce below until she disappeared
'Tbn pn sight up the avenue.
avNnMo anew every landmark on Fifth
''' out on this last ride of his he