Evening star., 1946-01-20
I Just Between
Ourselves
BY PhiIib n. Loy

A friend OF mine, tired and jit-
terry after long days work, decided
to go home by taxicab, rather than
endure the terrible scramble for a
place to stand on a bus. The first
cab to stop for him already was
occupied by two passengers.
That's a long way out, boss" the
driver said when my friend men,
toned a suburban street. But I'll
get you there eventually-after I've
delivered these folks'-he jerked his
head toward the couple in the back
seat-"and maybe one or two more" /"
My friend, who had best be identi-
fed right now as John Jones of 10
Smith street tbecause his name and
address aren't anything like that
climbed in.
1t wasn't very pleasant trip;
the driver was. Mr.. Jones felt. a
bit on the reckless side. Listen,
fellow" my friend cautioned, you'll
have to take 1t easy. I'm tired and
nervous-I can't stand all this weav-
ing in and out of traffic"
The other passengers offered no
comment. The driver simply said,
20. K, boss" and proceeded to fol-
low instructions.
X 4 4
1t was some time before Jones
got anywhere near home After the
first passengers we're discharged, the
driver picked up few more, all of
whom had to be dropped more or
less ION the way" to the suburb in
which Jones lives. All together, he
must have carried at least a half
dozen passengers besides Jones.
Finally, however, the last of the
other passengers was disposed of,
and the driver remarked, as he
shifted into high gear:
Now for No. 10 Smith street"
Jones jerked to attention.
wait minute" he exclaimed
Pull in here-I want out!"
whats the matter, Mr.. Jones?"
the driver asked.
Just pull in here" Jones per-
sisted. II want to get out"
Reluctantly, the driver slowed the
cab and pulled to the side of the
street. What are you so upset
about, Mr.. Jones?" he inquired.
I'm driving as carefully as I know
how"
"It isn't that" Jones answered,
opening the door and stepping out.
TITS just that you're too smart. I
didn't tell you my exact address
when I got in-T just asked if you'd
mind taking me to Smith street.
And I didn't tell you my name,
either. You-you just know too
much, that's ALL"
Jones figured, of course, that
stranger who knew so much about
him must be bandit. The driver,
he thought, must have planned to
pick him up, get rid of the other
passengers and then, when he came
to a sufficiently lonely spot, hold
him up. He was just about to slam
the door and start running when
the driver said
"Shucks, Mr.. Jones, I didn't mean
to scare you. Don't you remember
me? I'm your postman. It's
against the post office rules, of
course, but I drive a cab every Sat-
urday night and Sunday-need the
extra money. Get back in and let
me finish taking you home"
X xx
That little story points up the
fact that, as a result of the war, all
kinds OF people have been working
at all kinds of jobs. Most of the
high school students with whom I'm
acquainted still hold down spare
time jobs. And a taxi in which I
rode some time ago was driven by
man I recognized as a former
member of the police homicide
squad.
During the war, it was a fine, pa
triotic thing for boys and girls to
work after classes and on Satur-
days. But now that their efforts
are no longer vital to victory, they
are foolish, in my opinion, to go on
working. They will be far better
off, in the long run, If they devote
their spare time to healthful out
| door recreation,