New Britain herald., 1927-11-26

How much money do you ma more thing for me-" she said in her musical voice. T want you to call up Miss Ann Barney and tell her l cant como for lunch today, but that I'll be there later for the bridge game. Explain to her about my headache, won't you?'
 And Carrie trotted away without saying a. word, but with look on her face that showed her strong disapproval of such white lying.
 Aren't you afraid someone will see you if you go out, and tell Miss Barney about it?" she asked, com ing back into the room for the breakfast tray
 Lily did not answer
 She was not afraid, Of course. She wasn't the least bit afraid of Ann fibbed to her. She wasn't afraid of what anyone knew or thought about her, suddenly
 All she was afraid of, as she dressed and set off on foot for the street car line. was that she might rot see Pat France and his blue eyes that day.
 Now, Lily naturally knew very little of taxicabs and their habits. She had rarely used them.
 But it seemed reasonable to sup pose that if she had found Pat France standing in Alhermarie street the day before, she might happen to find him in the member that there had been a sign near the tailor's shop that had read Taxi Stand" when she had stopped there to look in the rain-spottod mirror.
 The minute she turned the corner she saw him.
 He was sitting in his cab this time, staring straight ahead of him as if he were thinking hard.
 She walked straight up 10 il, opened the door and got in before he saw who she was. Then he frowned in a surprised sort of way and asked her where she wanted to go in voice that was nothing more than q deep growl.
 Well, ] want to talk 10 you ishing smile, 50 just drive me around and then I'll have you take me 10 the Barney house, way out on Montpelier road. Do you know where it is?"
 He nodded as he started his car Everyone knew Ann Barn"y's fath- CTS great white house that was a copy of George NaShington's home, Mount Vernon.
 Lily sat back against the tutted jolted along for a good half hour She noticed that the little isinglass pocket still was empty, and thought of the Identification card under the sachet- scented lining of her dressing table ira al home.
 Stop the cab for minute now" she said when it reached Dutton road empty under the bare trees and the gray sky, at this hour
 He pulled up at one side, under willow tree whose branches were like a harp in the high Wind
 ''I wanted to tell you that l have your identification card" she began. sitting on the little iump seat 'I don't know why l took it yesterday but l did"
 To her amazoment, he showed no astonishment at all. "I knew that you must have it, he said, ind;ffer- ently. "I had just cleaned up my cab before ! saw you yesterday. and I went straight 10 q friends house and talked business for three or four hours. So, you see, nobody had been in the cab but you"
 DO you want it back--thc card?" asked Lily.
 Tine man shook his head. "No, I'm going to sell the cab on the first of April, anyway he eaid~evcnly "So l won't need the car1.'
 "Youre going 10 sell the cab?" Lily repeated feeling as if some door were closing in her face. How would she see him after he sold the cab? What are you selling it for?'
 He gave her a look that was half amusement and half resentment. But he answered her question:
 'I want the money I'll gdt for it. want it for my invention-my pis- ton ring. That's what l drove the cab for in the first place. It gave me lot of tim" to myself 10 work on the ring, and there's quite a lot of money in it for such short hours"
 Lily wondered what his idea of "quite lN of money" could be.
 How much money do you make?" she wanted to know.
 But this he would not answer He turned suddenly in his seat and ask cd her if she were ready to go 10 the Barney house noW-and if not. where she did want 10 go? His voice was sharp and matter Of fact.
 What time is it?" she asked him.