and my arm, and the driver saw or heard me, for he made a quick
turn in the street and drew up at the curb beside me. I hastily
gave him the directions, jumped in and slammed the door shut, and
the auto-cab immediately started forward at what seemed to me
unsafe speed.

We had not gone far when something in the fore part of the
automobile began to thump in a most alarming manner, and the
driver slackened his speed, drew up to the curb and stopped. He
opened the door and put his head in.

"Something's gone wrong," he said, "but don't you worry. I'll
have it fixed in no time, and then I can put on more speed and
I'll get you there in just the same time as if nothing had
happened."

When he said this I was perfectly satisfied, for he was a nice-
looking man, and I lay back, for I was quite tired out, it was so
long past my usual bedtime; and the driver went to work, doing
things I could not understand to the fore part of the automobile,
where the machinery is. I remember thinking that the cushions of
this automobile were unusually soft, and then I must have dozed
off, and when I opened my eyes I did not know how much time had
elapsed, but the driver was still at work and I could hear him
swearing. He seemed to be having a great deal of trouble, so I
got out of the automobile, intending to tell him that perhaps I
had better try to get a car, after all. But his actions when he
saw me were most unexpected. He waved the wrench he held in his
hand, and ordered me to get back into the automobile, and I did.
I supposed he was afraid he would lose his fare and tip, but in a