Evened Matters

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 85

Evened Matters

The whin-flicking hero of this story had driven an irascible old fellow a good threemile journey in the metropolis. When the fare clirnbod stiffly out and plowlv produced a big pecket-book, cabby dre.w a deep breath and prepared to be sarcastic. A watchful constable standing near prevented all thought of his relieving his feelings by the use of picturesque terms.

Cabby watched the fare make a lencrthy monta! calculation of the distance ho had been driven, select the exact legal fare, count it twice over, and then proffer it to him with an expression on his face plainly indicative of "Xow. then, you dare dispute it and I'll take your number !"

fut e?l)bv didn't dispute- it. Instead, ho promptly accepted it. but 'lipping his hand into another poc'-et lie produced a farthing, wl ieh hr> handed to the faro.

'"What's this for?" c^emanded the old fellow.

"One farden. currint coin o' the rellum, sir," said cabby, E;p.ther:nsf up his reins, "I druv yer jest the exact distance repor «^nted by arf of that there shekel under the three mile you reckoned. I ain't sot no arf-fardon about me but it don't matter. You can keep the ohanee-. I ain't mean. Good-bye, sir, and God bless you. Gee-up, 'orse!"