CABBY'S WIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 154, 20 June 1908, Page 4

CABBY'S WIN

J By -\. St. John Adcock.) I "'old 'ard. gimier! Arf a mo"! I Wot iir*' yer givin" me?" 1 lie cabman leaned down from his perch. and. holding tli' tivo coins out Mi h:s open paim, lixed ii -tartled and inquiring gaze on them. "Thai i> your fare, my man," said -Mr. Titnev. with quirt digniiy. Ave another lok at it, mister/' urged the (-aiHiiait. -till ollering the of hi- palm lor in>.peetioi». •• It don't look like tlut to me. P'raps this i> your *-lf m-ek, | mt j t ain't mine. ami I sla 11 -uvc to trouble vou lor one more tanner, sir.'" Wir fare is said Mr. iiuicy; lie was a neat, s.-lf-oc.iiii-'"'"i "itli a belief iu ihs own i,„. porta nee; •• ami Juu have il." lie waved calniiait siinl tin- whole question asiilc wilii a delicate Hick of 'is gloved hand; lmt tile eahinan tossed his blanket across the roof of the hansom. hurled himself headlong j,j, seat, and strode obstinately after him. " U>ok 'ere. j;uvner, : ' he shouted, still e\[M>sin<.' tile eoins scornfully in Ii is palm, if yyu're savin' up fur the ivn.l. why didn't you "ave a taxi."then von could ha" done the trip for one and tenpence an' had twopence to put in ver money-box: You can't 'ave a man an' a real 'orse an' cab all round l>omlun for eighteenpenee. The price is two bob."

[ I ww 11 luisky, man, and he towered over Mr. Titnev ' with a gleam of battle in liis eyes; but though Mr. Tilney was u ne of tiie small I sixes .he never realised that anybody v.a.s bigger than himself, j "I have paid you, my man. and 1 have done with you " ' Done liie,' you mean, but don't vu'i br.l- guvner!" the cabman broke' in truculently. "If you're on the do. von -have ver moustache orf. ami sav von'iv under twelve, then you'll be able "to »o m .'very where 'art' price. H'lonj; as von i:o aliout like a man, if you can't alford to pay full fare, you orter 'ang on behind when the driver ain't lonkin'. See? Mv fare's two bob for growed-up {rents what ride inside." "iou had all you are entitled to." Mr. Titnev reiterated, calmly, but (irmly. " _\o>v, p.. away, my man, «wa.v, ami do not lw impertinent.'' " 'That's no flood to me," insisted the eahman. 'iniive 'ad your ride, and lin gom'*to 'ave my brass " He walked afhir i't across (he pavement. into the building. along the corridor to the foot of the sfairs, and there Mr. Titnev turned ,ternly at liav. " I cannot allow you' to follow me and in-ult me like this." He drew out his <wird-ca>e. "'there is my name and ad dre-s. If you annoy me anv further I shall call the police" The cabman accepted the card, and studied it tlniughtfully. _" N "11. ii I was a lion, and lived at Kensington (Jore,'' lie said, "I'd (.ive up l"lkin' jwre cabmen, bust me, if I wouldn't! Xot much lion, about thai, gnvner; a bit. orf, it seems to me!" Mr. Titnev went decorously -on upstairs as though he had not heard. " You'll ear more of this, mister," the cabman shouted after him. " You won't make nothink on this deal. When 1 as to take a hand in a game o' this ftort. I go for a grand slam, ail' don't you forgit it!" Mr. Titnev ignored him; he was rather pleased at the nay in which he kept his temjwr and preserved his dignity throughout. On the second Hour, he Juit the door of his lawyer's ollice behind him, and the husky voice still billing from Ik'low became inaudible. lielore coming away lie casually mentioned the incident to his lawyer; repeating what the man had said to him and what he li«d said to the man, with a natural pride in his masterful handling of a trouule-.ome situation.

- I never permit that kind of man to gvt the better of me/' be said. *'l >impiy wouid not have any argument with the fellow. *\ou hive your proper fare.' 1 Niid. 'lf vou are not satislied— there my card, and you can >umnions me.'"

"The i*>>t way, .Mr. Titnev," observed the lawyer, approvingly. "Xo use wrangling with tlieni, the ruNiatis! J only wish everybody had your courage and coimuonsciise, sir. and such nuisances would soon be put down altogether"

.Mr. Titney was distinctly pleased with himself. }|i- took another cab to tlu> city, having lMisiin-ss with his broker, and was a little disappointed that the driver accepted liis legal fee with out a murmur; for lie had tasted Mood' —he had taken one s,calp that morning and was in tin- mood to take another. Incidentally he chatted about cabmen to his broker., and. in his complacent fashion, boa-led of his morning'-; achievement, and his broker's unstinted praise wa. very gratifying. His good ..pinion ot hinisel! growing larger as he went on, he told the story over anil over several times at the club, and stirred the envy of a mac who had Ih-i-u intimidated only the previous day a>«7tflatscabman a shilling too imicTi, sooner thalKJuve a nasty row in the street. "I never have any row with them." snid Mr. Titney. smiling reminiscentfjv - "(Hi, dear, no! I do not answer them even. 1 merely give them my card, and directly they see you are not afraid of them they give it up, and do nut trouble you any further. They don't get over me!" On the way home to dinner he quite, looked forward to telling his wife; and had dim thoughts of how she would like to repeat the details of his astuteness to lady friends of theirs, and of the effect such a narrative must have on their already favourable opinions ot him. Whilst, he was taking oir his coat in the lull. llrs. Titney came out to him. "Oh. it is you. Walter!" she exclaimed. "Did you find vour purse?" "My purse':" lie glanced round at her wonderingiy. The man said." -!i<- explained, "that you were not .-ure whether you had left it at h'.me or droned it in the street." "Wluit man':'' he faltered. 1 ; "The cabman who called this morning."' site returned, surprised at his as-toiii-hinent. "He asked to see me. and ' said you told him if he brought me your ' c.-r.l'l would pay hint the live shilling-- ' for you. . . • Whv, whatever is the ' i matter, Walter!"