hearse. Not being an acrobat, that fate may
yet overtake me in New York and yet be no disgrace to my activity."

"I am more afraid of automobiles," said Considine, shaking his head,
"than I am of what I shall get in the next world. I wouldn't own one
or even ride in one to save myself from hanging. I always 'screech,'
as Faith says, when my cab meets one."

"You don't know how quickly they can be stopped, Considine," said
Jimmie.

"That may be," retorted Considine, "but are you going to pad your
broughams and put fenders on your cab horses?"

"I was in an electric cab not long ago," I said, "and a bicyclist rode
daringly in front of us. In crossing the trolley-tracks, his bicycle
naturally slackened a little, and my careful chauffeur brought the
machine to a dead stop. Result that I was pitched out over the
dashboard and barely saved myself from landing on my head.

"When I was gathered up and put back I asked the man why he stopped so
suddenly (I admit that it was a foolish question, but as I am always
one who asks the grocer if his eggs are fresh, I may be pardoned for
this one), and he answered: 'Well, did you want me to kill that man?'
I replied that of the two alternatives I would infinitely have
preferred to kill the man to being killed myself,--a reply which so
offended the dignity of my Jehu that he charged me double. I never did
get on very well with cab-drivers."

Jimmie laughed. He was remembering the time I knocked a Paris cabman's
hat off with my parasol to make him stop his cab. My methods are
inclined to be a little forceful if I am frightened.

"But New York is a city of resources," I continued. "There is always
somewhere to go! New York only wakes up at night and the streets
present as brilliant a spectacle as Paris, for until the gray dawn
breaks in the sky the streets are full of pleasure-seekers; cabs and
private carriages flit to and fro; the clubs, restaurants, and
supper-rooms are full to overflowing, the lights flare, and the
ceaseless whirl of America's greatest city goes on and on. And nobody
ever looks bored or tired as they do in England. We are all having a
good time, and we don't care who knows it. I love New York when it is
time to play."

"Well, we've about done up the old town to-night," said Jimmie, as they
prepared to leave. "She has hardly a leg to stand on."

"She deserves it," said Considine, gloomily. "I'm off. I'm about to
desert and go back to my cabba