The Man on the Box

fitted rather snugly, especially across the shoulders. He stood before the pier-glass, and a complacent (not to say roguish) smile flitted across his face. The black half-boots, th

glass, and burst out laughing. His face was as smooth

tch to screw up the edge of my nerve. Won't the boys laugh when they hear how I stirred th

prophet. Many days were to pass e

ame aware of the fact that he hadn't a penny in his clothes. This discovery disqui

possessed the fare. Some one might recognize him. He walked briskly for ten minutes. The humor of the escapade appealed to him greatly, and he ha

Jove! with these fleshings I feel as self-conscious as an untried chorus girl. These togs can't b

ve, he stopped

hat, "but will you be so kind as to info

n," replied t

k you

ssed on to

st find William, or the

ching the faces of the grooms and footmen. He dodged hither and

d to run ye in. Y' know th' rules relatin' th' leavin' of yer box in times like these. Bee

n he plumped into was William-a very much worried William, too. Robe

fraid you could not get them clothes on, sir. I was get

y at it and stuffed it i

try to push ahead of your turn, or you will get into trouble with the police. They are very strict. And don't let them confuse you, sir. The numbers won't be in rotation. You'll hear one hundred and

am; we'll come out of t

ll hang around till yo

m disa

te-cochere. Warburton concluded that it would be a good plan to hunt up his rig. His search did not last long. The bay and the gray stood only a little way from the

on the wings of the night. "Num

se doubled its

less spoken to; so he leveled his gaze at his horses' ears and waited. But from the very corner of his eye he caught the glimpse of two women, one of whom was enveloped in a

footman, with an imperious wave

ety-nine!" bawled

iative, unforced. He could imagine the girls and their fright when he finally slowed down, opened the door, and kissed them both. Wouldn't they let out a yell, though

ad been conspicuous as the worst mathematician and the best soldier in his class at West Point. No more did he r

nking it to be Rhode Island. Mistake number two. He had studied the city map, but he was conscious

like this, a woman's imagination, given the darkness such as usually fills a carriage at night, becomes a round of terrors. Every moment is freighted with death or disfigu

ore unwarranted stroke of the lash. They reared and plunged, and broke into a mad gallop, which was exactly what the rascal on the box desired. An expert horseman, he gauged t

opelessly. On, on: to Warburton's mind this ride was as wild as that which the Bishop of Vannes took from Belle-Isle to Paris in the useless effort to save Fouquet from the wrath of Louis XIV, and to anticipate the pregnant discoveries of one D'Artagnan. Th

ey are frightened. Hang it!"-suddenly; "this street doesn't look familiar. I ought to have rea

jingling to

ut the next thing. This will

of the pavement. Worriedly he turned his head. Five blocks away there flashed under

h in his voice. He hadn't counted on any policeman taking part in the comedy. "Where the devil is Scott Circle, a

ght to a walk. One more pull, and they came to a stand. It would be hard to say which breathed the heaviest, the man or the horses. Warburton l

an in a crimson cloak stepped (no, jumped!) out. Mr.

vile ..

k, his hands applied

n wretch, h

only I-" he

disclosed the speaker's wrathful features, disdainful lips, palpitating nostrils, eyes da

back speechless, benumbed, terror-struck. The woman he wa