Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-01
BY Herbert Footner

| dim radiance like the reflection OF
| the emberS of burnt-out connasra-
| ton.
At Greg's elbow the tall man chat
tered on in the inconsequential way
that accorded so i'll with his aristo-
cratic mask and falconlike glance.
Il hope the old boys resting easily
| in the cab back there. He must be
he had seen insideD We'll. there's
no accounting for taste in beds. You
can't blame a man for taking a drop
too much in weather like this. The
dampneSS gnaws your bones. In my
country the sun never forsakes US
like this"
What country is that?" asked Greg
idly.
; seconds hesitation. He went on
with his Singer: II guess maybe I've
had drop or two too many myself.
Two too many, English is a funny
language! l had my first cocktail at
five this afternoon--no, yesterday
afternoon. and after dinner / seemed
to lose count. oh. well, what's the
difference! We only live once. I'll
buy you "A drink. cabDy, when we land
on the other side"
In the middle of all this he pulled
himself up short and a great breath
escaped him-was it of relief? For
moment his foolishness seemed to
fall away. We'll, that's all right"
What did you say?' asked Greg
curiously.
Nothing" He resumed his chat
ter Greg scarcely remarked the in
terruption, but he remembered it
later: remembered too, that the man
had been listening.
They returned to the cab. AS they
rolled out of the ferry house Oh the
Jersey City side Greg said:
Where to-"
His fare saeined m have hccoma a lit-
tie drunken. Fellow told me you
could get drink in Jersey City any
! time you wanted. Said there was
place called Stacks over here. Some
thing doing there all night. Stacks
of liquor, stacks of fun-that's how l
remembered the name. l forget the
address. But it must be on the main
street. Drive up way and look
for the sign"
Greg. rejecting that taxi drivers
had more to put up with than he had
supposed. obediently drove quite a
: long way up the principal thorough
! fare leading from the ferry. No
stacks" appeared among the street
signs. Greg's fare hummed snatches
of a little Spanish song to himself.
and did not appear to pay the
; slightest attention to the signs.
+ We'll. what do you want me to
do?" asked Greg at last. I'VE seem to
be coming to the outskirts now"
"Oh, ask d policeman" said the tall
! man foolishly.
Greg couldn't get rid of the feeling
| that he was being made game of.
! What do you think / am" he said.
IF he did know such place he
couldn't give himself away by letting
on. Very likely he'd want to run US
| in for asking.
! "Oh, we'll, let's go hack to New York
! then. We've had a pleasant drive"
For moment Greg forgot his role
/ of the submissive cabman. What
| the hell" he began, thoroughly
eNasperated.
What do you care so long as you
get your pay" said the tall man
| unconcernedly.
! Greg reflected that it did indeed
make no difference, so he shrugged
his shoulders once more, and, turning.
drove back to the ferry at a smart
charge this capriciouS fare double
/ rates.
! On the return trip the tall man
evinced not the slightest concern as
to where the taxi was put on the
ferry. He had got over his talka-
tiveness. He sat deep in thought,
smoking one cigar after another.
When they landed on the New York
side he CURLY ordered Greg to drive
, him to the Hotel Tours, at 102d street
| and Broadway
During the long drive to Sth ave-
| nue., to Columbus Circle and up
broadway he scarcely spoke. He had
| apparently recovered from his drunk
! enness. The night air had cured him.
perhaps. AS natural result his
! spirits had sunk. Greg, stealing
| curious side glances into his face
as it was revealed in the light of the
! street lamps, saw that his head was
sunk on his chest, and that something
grim and haggard and perhaps a little
Wistful had appeared in the handsome
features. 1t suggested the face of a
desperate gamester dreaming of the
/ simple life.
Somewhere about S0th street Gres's
engine began to sputter. His fare
was evidently an experienced automo-
bilist.
Gas running lowe" he asked
Greg nodded. and looked out for a
garage. The first they came to was
an open-air place in n vacant lot A
light was still burning in the little
office, and Greg turned in. With a
hail he brought a man o1t to the
tank. He and his fare had to get out
while the f1ivver was filled up. After
ward the fare with true aristocratic
carelessness handed Greg another bill
and resumed his seat Greg went
back to the office with the man to
get change. This was fifty feet or so
behind the cab. 1t was dark in the
vicinity.
As Greg stepped out of the Office