"Extra Fare"

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13622, 21 April 1942, Page 7

"Extra Fare"

Sam. He '- :i , dis heah trablin' rac- ■;,.>; 'bout a'~ 2;a!l on go on-steam yo'«*2 aah ob him an. meb--?t anickle, too. But say ,^'!!S lta , Dat bride and ■ ... bean- u , -■• flb . ,' it what's in yob cab— watch and see when tip his wife's looke ob dem birds what laks folks how but when dey ain't :^ 5 put de' silvah in bis f; a Jde towels in his suit- * Would you believe it dis 4;° he breafas- check £ ollahs, he gives me my he w us watchin' him close : : b ; d one took de change off'n * well de lunch check wus pilars, and ah thinks to mah, •;,,„, 'dis heah am a good cus- * 'yob treat him! right.' Boy, and gib 'em eleservice Well, he pays de t. wJd a fibe dollah bill and ah Z him a nice assortment od 1,.,' He begins to pick it up

•lah houds man breath until , jfty cents left. Den, by Joe, m his wife a quick look "an' ; m readin' 'about de Grand ; 03 SC enery on de back ob de "ucahd, so he quick picks up all ' m d ime! Kin yob-all feachab

ji e recitation called forth a . : :i of tooth-gleaming laughter. C2BI commented again. "Yoh-all :•.some folks what'll help to make lake up de average, though, ah'l] it dat. Dey's a beautiful little lady Mam a sight fob. tiahed eyes—in red-brown haiah and smiles all ; . time. Guess she done made a ibS already on a smaht young feliilecome into lunch wid. He'? aright, too, Annudah couple come : :ogethah. dis noon, too, that was .: togethah dis mo'nin' —big blonde ;':;■ wid blue eyes and a oldah ■.? what looks wise and don't talk nth. Dey shoh do. paiah off quick :teehead limited rtains." Ain't dat one reason foh limited "« ah's askin' you?" winked te. "Well, ah's got to be goin Wl Dat ol' lady in numbah siy li hab de bell woah out ef ah

A; Mose anticipated, the bell wae -W shrilly and number 6 was 'y ia the box when he reached his * He hastened to Mrs Sanders. ttere have you been—asleep?" *■ demanded sharply. ''l shall " : P'ain to the company about you '•■ s l get to Los Angeles. There plenty of men who would ap f a:e hav 'ng work, enough' to ■Jto passengers service." sfry, ma'am, but ah was havin' '*« of lunch. What kin ah do ■ yoh-aii?-

say 'a bite," she snap- . bring me a table, and k all day about it?" ; cQ he had gone, she crossed the :;; addressed Jaxie with a :^ tlon of a smile. "Would you •;;° make a fourth for a rubber • ihe two ladies in the T*«on will play." fc exch anged glances with W imiicate(i the merest entfe * nt He did not want her C, h Women at a", but he Wiv h Jaxie was the kind of *«M i° tlieS t 0 please evervHarbours malice toward SfcT Was Part of sparkling t w ' He had no w\ish to in- .,'; ie r now. t ;-;■ ? * i!e for Mrs Sanders crin%t e at ° orners of her eyes and H „ w Ule corners of her T oii n . 5 ~~ yes — of course—- *%. Id >" ou rest well this ' ; 'tyi„ e ' she snapped. Kirbv'° Ul " Wol ' k d ° ne? " ad " he UOddecL He : *t:o n approached Jax- - aisi e aUd remaine d standing tell you that you .^h ini • i °! r se at," she repri- > iouactas if i ai . ove i happ ' assured her. ■^Missr 8 * fort unately for r have 'thl, acoi nmon and we've l6f ilto ant day " In factiNance° U JS* preci e ita «ns >OU fl ave your game."

MAY WEBSTER

He smiled at Jaxie. Her eyes followed, with reluctance, bis retreating- figure. Mrs Sanders won the rubber, bridge being her one cherished interest in living. She deplored the stupidity of her opponents and called Jaxie severely to task as her partner, whether she bid or not. Her delight was making trump and playing the dummy hand, which she managed to do three hands out of four. She insisted upon a second rubber, and Avon that also. The Misses Yates and Colbin were apathetic participants to whom a game of cards, won or lost, was a trivial incident. When one of them was dummy she exasperated Mrs Sanders by talking incessantly, and when they were playing it amused them to make an error.

"I'm no gambler," Miss Colbin boasted, "and it's a good thing, because I never have any luck. Bu: even if I did, I wouldn't approve of it. I don't believe in taking chances on anything."

"I'm sure of that," Jaxie thought with amusement. "'And you wonder why you miss so much of life, I suppose." She trimphantly finessed for Miss Colbin's nine-of-hearts trick with her ten, because the timorous lady wouldn't take a chance on playing her king to force Jaxie's ace. "Oh, I guess I should have taken that," she regretted, 'but I thought you still had the ace, and I thought you would play It." "I should, had you played the king. And that would have made your jack good for a trick. As it is, I'll take an extra one. That is one time when you should have taken a chance." The little man in khaki and boots passed through the aisle, glancing briefly at the four. Miss Colbin blushed suddenly. "What do you think of the uncouth people on this train? I never saw such a sordid lot. Would you believe it—that tramp of a looking fellow actually tried to speak to me this morning. I call such presumption an insult—tried to start 'talking to me about the scenery. I just glared at him and turned my back. The wonder of it Avas that he was man enough to take the hint and leave me alone. He might be one of those mining tramps, for all I know."

"Why, I shouldn't call him a tramp," Jaxie contradicted. "He looks to me like a gentleman." "Huh!" snorted Miss Colbin. "Gentlemen do not speak to strange ladies without an introduction —not real gentlemen.' It was Jaxie's turn to flush uncomfortably. "Oh, I beg your pardon, Miss Colbin, but that is quite permissible among travellers. He does seem to be lonely, too." "I don't know why it should be proper! At least, that wasn't the way I was trained and I don't approve any such, familiarity." "Would you mind, Miss Colbin,' reproved Mrs Sanders with sheathed scorn, "giving a little more attention to this game? You have trumped two of your partner's tricks. Of course, that gives us more score, but; I prefer to earn my points, by shrewd playing."

"Im sorry," murmured Miss Colbin. "but the way that man looked at me made me angry. I suppose he will try to be friendly all the rest of the way. I'm glad I put him in his place without an instant's hesitation. If more women treated insolent men like that they wouldn't he so presuming." Her didactic eye included Jaxie, who chuckled inwardly and ignored the implication. She had become acquainted with plenty of strange men, without conventional in f roductions, of which the last and not the least was Kirby Elliott.

After the game she slipped into drawing room A. for a chat with Mrs Dade. The children were shy and subdued at her entrance, but the toystrewn floor indicated a day of activity

"My but you look fresh and cool." Carrie Dade marvelled, hastily clearing papers and books aside for her visitor. "I feel and look like a rag. But having this room to myself surely has made it a lot easier for me to-day. I hadn't known there could be such a difference."

I thought it would be much, better." Jaxie held out her hands towards the baby, who appraised'her for a hesitant moment and then ex-

tended her chubby fingers, bouncing happily. "Why, she remembers me, the precious." (To be continued)