Evening star., 1923-08-05
CHAPTER V
THE TAXI YARD.

CHAPTER V
THE TAXI YARD.
Greg came to to find himself in a
sort of deep narrow well with rough
! stone walls on either hand and flag
stones beneath him. He was sensible
that he was not alone, but his COM
panion was no more than a hazy
shape between him and the strip
of pale sky far overhead. a strong
odor mixed of stable manure and
sore all over and there was a split
ting pain inside his skull. He had
no sooner opened his eyes than he
was glad to close them.
AS from distance he heard a
voice, husky but kind. say: Don't
think you amt got no bones broke,
Jack. Can you get up?"
Opening his eyes again Greg saw
deplorabIy dirty, unshaven face
bending over him, but the blear eyes
| were compa ssionate. If one could
overlook tine dirt and forget the
Spirituous emanation. there was
something taking about the face, a
quality of childlike innocence of soul.
! The voice went on:
Say, can't you get up? We want
to get out of here before they open
up the stable. These stable fellas are
fierce and fresh. Amt got no CUTS"
Greg with an efford contrived to
sit up. Pain made his head swim.
but he would not give in to it,
In a few moments he was able to
nrt OF
the rough stones. He saw that he
! was at the bottom of a deep areaway
between sidewalk and foundation
wall. The building was great
stable. From the open barred win
dows below the street level came the
| quiet sound of munching and an oc-
casional stamp. on old planks.
He got ibetter look at his un-
known friend; On the stage such a
makeup would have been hailed as "A
| triumph; his hat had the jaunty air
! of utter abandonment; his oyercoat
! made Greg's own look as if new come
| from the tailor's. the holes in il with
| the various layers of interlining pro-
! truding their frayed edges were like
strange blossoms applique; through
his broken shoes his bent old toes
winked shamelessly.
He was fussing around Greg like a
feel new. Jack? The steps is just
behind you. Take il real slow I'll
come behind to keep you from falling
back wards. I'd carry you on'y | ain't
got me stren'th back since ! had the
shakes"
Little by little they got up the long
steep steps. At the top Greg rested
! himself against the iron fence that top
ped the well. II was flung over there -
he thought wonderingIy. Lord. |
must be tougher than I thought" He
saw that he was in MacDougall street
, between Clinton place and the Square.
not more than 100 Yards or so from
where the gang had issued from the
passage.
II was leaning against this very
fence thinking. when | look over and
see you down there" said the ragged
one. Your white face was look in g
straight up at me- First-off / thought
| had EN- again. But you never see
no men when you have 'em-on V
Squeezy things. SO ! goes down to
! happened to- he here. ] was on my
! way down to Washington street. but
1T was early and | stopped to think.
If you get down to Washington stree I
when the commission houses open
you get lots of things; an old salt
fish maybe. or a grapefruit that's half
good, or cabbage with good place
in 1t. The salt fish is best. 1t gives
you a peach of thUst Then | fol-
low the brewery wagon on it's rounds,
and get the drips when they bring
the empty kegs up from the cellar.
But it's too late now. All the boys
will be thre before me.
Greg felt of his pocket. I've got
money" he said. I'll blow you to a
regular square meal"
The other with noI accepted this