Part 78 (1/2)

THE CAB

That evening Beatrice's perforreeted with louder applause than usual, and, as es had been listened to with a stillness which spoke more loudly than the loudest applause of the deep interest of the audience

Langhetti had almost always driven home with her, but on this occasion he had excused himself on account of some business in the theatre which required his attention

On going out Beatrice could not find the cab around for hione

She was surprised and vexed At the saht that perhaps he had been drinking and had forgotten all about her Onback and telling Langhetti, but a cab to take her wherever she wished, and she thought that it would be foolish to trouble Langhetti about so sth she decided to e that he could take her to her lodgings as well as any body else

The cabh street after street, while Beatrice sat thinking of the evening's performance

At last it seeer tian to fear that the cab the upper part of Oxford Street, a great distance from where she lived She instantly tried to dran theso as to attract the cabman's attention, but could not move it She tried the other, but all were fast and would not stir She rapped at the glass to make him hear, but he took no notice Then she tried to open the door, but could not do so froht What could be theat a much faster rate than is co she could not conjecture

She was not afraid Her chief feeling was one of indignation Either the cabman was drunk--or what? Could he have been hired to carry her off to her enehtning through her mind

She was not one ould sink down into inaction at the sudden onset of terror Her chief feeling noas one of indignation at the audacity of such an atte the first impulse that seized her, she took the solid roll of ainst the frontso violently that she broke it in pieces Then she caught the driver by the sleeve and ordered hi a corner, he whipped up his horses, and they galloped on faster than ever

”If you don't stop I'll call for help!” cried Beatrice

The driver's only ansas a fresh application of the whip

The street up which they turned was narrow, and as it had only dwelling-houses it was not so brightly lighted as Oxford Street There were but few foot-passengers on the sidewalk As it was now about as-lamps were the chief means of illuht save her With this hope she dashed her ainst the s on each side of the cab and shi+vered the at the top of her voice for help

The swift rush of the cab and the sound of a wo for aid aroused the police They started forward But the horses were rushi+ng so swiftly that no one dared to touch theht that the horses were running away, and that those within the cab were frightened

Away they went through street after street, and Beatrice never ceased to call The excitement which was created by the runaway horses did not abate, and at length when the driver stopped a policeman hurried up

The house before which the cab stopped was a plain two-story one, in a quiet-looking street A light shone from the front-parlorAs the cab drew up the door opened and a man came out

Beatrice saw the policeman

”Help!” she cried; ”I i rowled the policeman

At this the man that had come out of the house hurried forward

”Have you found her?” exclaimed a well-known voice ”Oh, my child! How could you leave your father's roof!”

It was John Potts

Beatrice was silent for a ainst her despair