Evening star., 1923-08-06

Continued from Yesterdays starr
"There's a mystery about him. too.
In the excitement he disappeared
with his cab. and nobody had thought
to take down his number. A real
goodlookin' hoy. they said; not over
sixteen year old"
Greg hung around a bit. but no
further information was forthcoming,
and he finally went on. His heart
was heavy with anxiety for his
plucky little companion of the night
before. So she had been the means
come of her when daylight overlook
her? What had she done with the
cab? The only thing he had to go on
was the fact that he had given her
the address of the yard where he had
meant to keep the cab. Perhaps she
had taken it there. He started to
find out.
Gibbon street proved to be little
thorouGhfare on the extreme ragged
edge of Manhattan Island. "a little
backwater of the town passed by the
main currents. 1t was three blocks
long with bend in the middle.
Down one side stretched row of
dilapidated little brick tencments oc-
cupied by freer spirits than the dense
rookeries farther west: on the other
side We're lumber yards, coal yards
and small manufacturers. Greg had
no difficulty in finding what n"
[
between two yards a little store bore
the sign "Bickle's Grocery"
1t was little aged two-Story house
with the mortar coming out from
between the bricks. This store was
surely one of the smallest in New
York. Peeping through the window
Greg saw a he wlderinS variety OF
objects displayed for sale. Besides
the storekeeper there could hardly
have been room for more than three
ha
Sore was gateway and Grey went
through here. The bend in the street
made an irregularly shaped lot and
II opened up UNEXPECTEDLY behind.
Around two sides of this yard was
built an open shed providing stabling
for half dozen taxi cabs or 81.
There were four cabs there at the
moment. among which he instantly
picked out his own. He knew her
by her rakish list to starboard. His
license number. Ivy the way. which he
had scarcely taken note Of before.
was TIN11 The cab seemed to be all
right. hut this was the lesser half
of his anNietieS; where was its late
driver" He looked inside half hoping
to see little figure rurled up on the
seat, but it was empty.
\ baritone voice hailed him from
the back door of the little house.
voice with ',no-nonsense-now,
ring: Hey. fella. what do you WANT
Greg heheld a fat woman with arms
akimho regarding him fiercely. a
woman more than fat. mountainous.
It was the kind of fat that goes with
the highest degree of activity and
energy; that massive forearm might
have felled a pri2efighter. Moreover.
the honest. choIeric blue eye pro-
elaine the tartar; it was the pro-
prietreSS. no doubt. and person to
BE- propitiated.
Greg approached her. cap in hand.
She did not relent at all; on the con-
trary she seemed to find in his polite
ness an added cause for suspicion.
u m the new Elmer FiGhba ck." he
announced. Il bought old T7011 from
Hickey Meech last night. Here is the
bill of sale he gave me-
She looked over his papers with
here" she demanded.
IF YOU please, ma'am.'
My terms is the same to all. Dol
lar and a half a week in advance.
with free water from the tap for the
washing. | serve meals to them that
wants them at I. 13>and only. Reg
ular Is cents; second helping a quar-
ter. Beds 20 cents a sleep night or
day"
That's reasonable" murmured
You're right it's reasonable. times
like these" She fixed him with a
terrible eye. "There'S one things
got to be understood AZ the start. |
comes here. I'm a respectable woman
and | won't stand for no crooked
work. see? Your ear is registered
from this address. and if you get into
trouble the police will come here for
you. | won't stall them off. So it's.
UP to you. see?'
Il understand. a'am." said Greg
humbly.
In spite of herself twinkle light
ened her grim glance a long and no
q In nj in inn ho1
made her suspicious of strangers. and
there was much about Greg that re-
mained to be explained; at the same
time his clean youthfulness must have
appealed to her after the tag ends
of humanity she was accustomed to
dealing with She liked him and tried
not to show it,
Greg taking courage from the
twinkle said: II cot into bit of
trouble last night--nothing crooked
on my part, a'am. but a gang in 9th
street set on me and beat me up. A
friend brought my cab in for me.
young hoy: YOU didn't happen to see
Bessie Bickle shook her head Il
sleep nights like Christian" she
said grimly. THAT reminds me of
something else. ! don't hold myself
responsible for anything left in the
kitchen and I keep an eye out. but
at night it's up to YOU. Most of the
boys is out all night anyway, and
when they're in they're gen'allv sleep
ing in their cabs. There's Blossom
walked up. Asst him if he seen your
friend"
AS Greg turned away from the door
she called TO him. still with the grim
air that he soon learned she had
adopted out of self-protection: Say
you. breakfast is over now. but come
in to dinner on me. There's spare
ribs and cabbage"
Much obliged. ma am" said Greg.
He thanked the stars that had di-
reCtad him to such friendly soul in
selfish world.
4 man had showed his car out of
the shed and was preparing to wash il
at the hydrant. Since the water was
allowed to find its own sweet way
out of the yard there was always a
muddy hole in the middle-which did
not lessen the labor of washing.
Even now the man was cursing
the mud. Greg had been struck by
his name Blossom; but when he
raised his head Greg saw that he who
bore so poetic an appellation was no
beauty. The Blossom" was a brandy
blossom perhaps. referring to his
nose. He was a lean. exhausted
looking, moroSe individual.
Hare You're" said Greg affably.
4 grunt was the only reply.
"How's business?"
Rotten"
bad weather for taxis."
"Rotten"
What's the matter? You seem a
bit down on your luck"
Rotten" declared Blossom like
bird with one note. Il got a pain in
me back and two fiat tires. a fellow
done me out of my fare last night.
Everything is rotten,"
"I'll help with the tires" said
Greg.
The morose one stared. You're
new" he said grimly.