ut her purse in her bag or not.

She found herself staring at the cabman, who was looking distrustfully at
her.

"I think I have had my pocket picked," she said slowly, "or else I left
my purse at home. I don't know which."

"No, no, Miss, that won't go down," said the cabman, not rudely, but with
an uncomfortable effect of being determined to have his fare. "Pay up,
now, pay up," he went on, "and you'll save yourself trouble in the end."

"But I can't pay you," said Patty. "I haven't any money."

"Then you didn't ought to ride. It ain't the first time I've knowed a
swell young lady to try to beat her way. Come, Miss, if you don't pay me
I'll have to drive you to the station house."

"What!" cried Patty, her face turning white with anger and mortification.

"Yes, Miss, that's the way we do. I s'pose you know you've stole a ride."

"Oh, wait a minute," said Patty; "let me think."

"Think away, Miss; perhaps you can remember where you've hid your money."

"But I tell you I haven't any," said Patty, her indignation rising above
her fear. "Now, look here, I have a friend right in here at this address;
let me speak to her, and she'll come out and pay you."

"No, no, Miss; you can't ketch me that way. I've heard of them friends
before. But I'll tell you what," he added, as Patty stood looking at him
blankly, "I'll go in there with you, and if so be's your friend's there
and pays up the cash, I've nothing more to say."

The hansom-driver climbed down from his seat and went with Patty into the
costumer's shop.

A stolid-looking woman of Italian type met them and enquired what was
wanted.

"Is Miss Sinclair here?" asked Patty eagerly.

"No, Miss, there's nobody here by way of a customer."

"But hasn't a lady been here in the last hour, to look at costumes for a
play?"

"No, Miss, nobody's been here this whole morning."

"You see you can't work that game," said the cabman. "I'm sorry, Miss,
but I guess you'll have to come along with me."

CHAPTER VII

A RESCUE

Perhaps it was partly owing to Patty's natural sense of humour, or
perhaps her overwrought nerves made her feel a little hysterically
inclined, but somehow the situation suddenly struck her as being very
funny. To think that she, Patty Fairfield, was about to be arrested
because she couldn't pay her cab fare, truly seemed like a joke.

But though it seemed like a joke, it wasn't one. As Patty hesitated, the
cabman grew more impatient and