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THE OWL TAXI
THE OWL TAXI
BY HULBERT FOOTNER AUTHOR OF "The Deaves Affair," "The Substitute Millionaire," "The Fur Bringers," "Thieves' Wit," "The Woman from Outside," etc. A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Published by arrangement with George H. Doran Company COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO G. M. F. WHO FILLED THE TANK THREE TIMES A DAY AND KEPT THE CHILDREN MODERATELY QUIET. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Transfer II Greg's First Fare III Greg's Second Fare IV In the
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CHAPTER I THE TRANSFER
CHAPTER I THE TRANSFER
At eleven o'clock of a moist night in December, Gregory Parr was making his way far westward on Twenty-third Street. At his right hand stretched that famous old row of dignified dwellings with pilasters and little front yards, and ahead of him was Tenth Avenue, the stronghold of the Irish. The wet pavements glistened under the street lamps, and the smell of influenza was in the air. The street was deserted except for a cross-town car at long intervals, hurling itself blithely through the night o
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CHAPTER II GREG'S FIRST FARE
CHAPTER II GREG'S FIRST FARE
Greg had come to a stop beside a gas lamp in a long block of little houses. Not a soul was in sight, and no window showed a light. Slipping out of his seat he opened the door to have a better look at his gruesome freight. Perhaps after all he had been mistaken. When the door was opened the feet impatiently pushed out again. There was something piteously human in the aspect of these turned-up toes in common-sense shoes with soft kid uppers comfortable for old feet. There was no doubt that the man
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CHAPTER III GREG'S SECOND FARE
CHAPTER III GREG'S SECOND FARE
He made the rest of the run to the Hotel Tours in a high state of anticipation. That charming vivid face traveled between him and the asphalt on which his chauffeur's gaze was fixed. His delight in the prospect of the coming meeting was not unmixed with dread—for her. He shuddered to think of the risks she ran wandering about town alone in the small hours of night. Surely any one could see through her disguise at a second glance. Her character was written in her eyes—ignorant, innocent and darin
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CHAPTER IV IN THE HOUSE ON NINTH STREET
CHAPTER IV IN THE HOUSE ON NINTH STREET
The house fronting Greg was built according to an old-fashioned plan imported from Continental countries, of which there are two or three examples still extant in the older parts of New York. Though but a small house it was laid out on a liberal plan. At one side great double doors carried a driveway through to the rear. In other words, in the old days the carriage and pair of the owners had driven right in the front door. Greg pulled the old-fashioned bell, and presently one side of the big doo
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CHAPTER V THE TAXI YARD
CHAPTER V THE TAXI YARD
Greg came to to find himself in a sort of deep narrow well with rough stone walls on either hand and flag-stones beneath him. He was sensible that he was not alone, but his companion was no more than a hazy shape between him and the strip of pale sky far overhead. A strong odor mixed of stable manure and stale whiskey nauseated him. He was sore all over and there was a splitting pain inside his skull. He had no sooner opened his eyes than he was glad to close them. As from a distance he heard a
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CHAPTER VI GREG'S RIVAL
CHAPTER VI GREG'S RIVAL
The nine hours had worked a great change in Hickey. Gone was the dashing air; he drooped in every line of his loose clothes. But he was still grinning. It was a shamefaced, impudent and appealing grin that he bent on Greg. "H'are yeh?" he said, sidling towards him. Greg hardened himself against the grin. "By God, you have a cheek!" said he. Hickey jerked his head towards the flivver. "What have you done with—you know—It?" he asked in a hoarse whisper. "It's disposed of," said Greg grimly. "And a
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CHAPTER VII THE UNDERTAKER
CHAPTER VII THE UNDERTAKER
Greg and Hickey dined with Bessie Bickle. Greg's zest in his adventure was gone; there was a pretty stew of suspicion and jealousy in his breast. In his first bitterness he even told himself that the little red-haired girl was no better than the rest of the gang. Nevertheless he had promised to tell Bessie the story, and he did so, disguising his changed feelings as best he could. That is to say, he told them the main lines of the tale; certain details it seemed more discreet to keep to himself.
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CHAPTER VIII THE HOLD-UP
CHAPTER VIII THE HOLD-UP
Hickey took Greg to a restaurant on Third Avenue that to him represented the ne plus ultra in eating-places. It was called "Dick's" on its signboards, or "Greasy Dick's" in affection by its habitués. Whenever a restaurant gets a derisive nickname like this you may be sure it is a good one. Within there was a double row of mahogany tables end to against the side walls, leaving an aisle in the middle up and down which paraded the sociable waiters, who published each man's order to the kitchen in t
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CHAPTER IX THE FLIVVER AS A POST-OFFICE
CHAPTER IX THE FLIVVER AS A POST-OFFICE
Shortly before ten next morning Hickey was despatched in the flivver to the Stickney Arms. Small probability of any delicately nurtured ladies venturing out before that hour. Hickey's instructions were detailed and explicit. "I've got to send you," said Greg, "because I might be recognized. You're to take up your stand just above the entrance to the apartment house where you can roll down to the door at the right moment. You may have to wait a considerable time. Throw back the hood of your engin
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CHAPTER X AMY'S STORY
CHAPTER X AMY'S STORY
Greg's immediate impulse was to confide in Bessie Bickle. That good soul looked interested but dubious. "Will she have her boy's pants on?" she demanded. "No," said Greg smiling. "That's all right, then. Mind, I'm not saying I blame her; if she can get away with it, all right. But I wouldn't have the face myself to talk to a girl with boy's pants on; I wouldn't know where to look. You can have my parlor to sit in." "You must come in too," said Greg. "I want you to know her. She needs a woman fri
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CHAPTER XI THE RIDE HOME
CHAPTER XI THE RIDE HOME
Hickey brought the flivver round to the front door again. As Amy got in and saw Greg preparing to follow, she said with a great air of surprise: "Oh, you're not coming." "Why, of course I am," said Greg with a surprised air as good as hers. "Why not?" "But it isn't in the least necessary. I came alone." "I know. But I want to come." "Oh, thank you, but I don't think you'd better." "I'm coming," said Greg doggedly, and got in and closed the door. She drew stiffly into her own corner, and stared o
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CHAPTER XII WHAT THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK CONTAINED
CHAPTER XII WHAT THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK CONTAINED
At eleven o'clock next morning a strange taxi-cab appeared in Gibbon Street and drew up before Bickle's grocery. From it stepped a figure so remarkable in that neighborhood that the little boys for the moment were too astonished even to deride it; to wit: Señor Henry Saunders in full regalia, a red carnation in his buttonhole. He picked his way gingerly into the store and looked about him with an expression of astonished rebuke that the common things of life should dare to approach so close. He
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CHAPTER XIII DE SOCOTRA HIRES T7011 AGAIN
CHAPTER XIII DE SOCOTRA HIRES T7011 AGAIN
It was now two o'clock. Greg said to Estuban, "Come to the corner drug-store with me. I am to receive a report there from the man who is watching de Socotra. He may give us something to go on." This was the substance of Pa Simmons' communication: "An hour ago I took up my place where I could watch the entrance to the Stickney Arms. His nobs, the Spanish gent, come out about one-thirty; there was a taxi waiting for him. He was carried down-town, me following, to a house on East Seventeenth Street
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CHAPTER XIV THROUGH THE STREETS
CHAPTER XIV THROUGH THE STREETS
Greg sped down the incline, made a wide turn into the Drive and headed down-town. As they circled they saw the other cab gathering headway. It had a more powerful engine than Greg's, and was in better condition. It ought to have overtaken Greg easily, but as they straightened out in the Drive it did not do so, but contented itself with maintaining a certain distance. Greg slowed down, and the following cab did likewise. "What's their game?" Greg asked himself a little anxiously. He rapped on the
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CHAPTER XV NINA
CHAPTER XV NINA
Once more the old flivver traveled the familiar way up-town. In thin extended Manhattan Island places are bound to be far from other places, and the inhabitants learn to take their long rides for granted. Greg and Hickey always took the same route, and in the course of their ride the whole panorama of town was spread before them in its variety. First there was Houston Street, the heart of the ghetto with its tall old tenements, its narrow stores and vociferous push-cart venders. Then there was S
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CHAPTER XVI THE "PSYCHOPATHIC SANITARIUM"
CHAPTER XVI THE "PSYCHOPATHIC SANITARIUM"
Greg said to Nina: "Wait here till I come back or send for you." "Boss, let me in on this," begged Frank. "Very well, come with me," said Greg. They went out via the basement door of the building which led to the side street. The Stickney Arms as has already been described fronted on a narrow roadway which was terraced above the Drive proper. There was a sloping sward between roadway and Drive, which was set out with clumps of ornamental shrubbery. One such clump across the road from the main en
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CHAPTER XVII THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE
CHAPTER XVII THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE
As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead. All the houses were of the same design. "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do." "Let's go home," he said to Hickey. "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight." "An attack! Good Lord!" said Hickey apprehensively. "Hickey, where can we get a ten-foot ladder?" "There's ladders lying around the yard." "That simplifies matters." "A
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CHAPTER XVIII BLOSSOM'S REPORT
CHAPTER XVIII BLOSSOM'S REPORT
Greg heard a new voice in the kitchen. De Silva was now in a heavy sleep, and he went down to investigate. Blossom's failure to turn up had made him very anxious. This was the boy from the drug-store to say that Greg was wanted on the telephone. Greg went back with him. Over the wire he heard Pa Simmons' old voice: "Say, Greg, I'm sorry, but I lost his nibs, the Spanish bloke. On the level I couldn't help it. He took after Blossom and a girl, and I took after him, but they all got in the subway,
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CHAPTER XIX THE ABDUCTION
CHAPTER XIX THE ABDUCTION
Though he had seen him but on the one occasion, Greg had more confidence in Estuban than in any of the taxi-drivers, good fellows though they were. He much desired Estuban's help on the dangerous expedition he had planned, and waited for him as long as he dared. But one o'clock drew near without any sign of him, and in the end Greg had to go without him. He was in difficulties when it came to choosing a man in Estuban's place. They all wanted to go; each man loudly and shamelessly proclaimed his
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CHAPTER XX EXIT SENOR SAUNDERS
CHAPTER XX EXIT SENOR SAUNDERS
Before they got home Amy began to awaken from her unnatural sleep. Greg gave her over to the care of Bessie, who had him carry the little figure up to Bessie's own room, where by methods known to herself she completed her restoration. Greg learned that during his absence Pa Simmons had sent in a message that de Socotra had returned to his apartment about ten in company with a young Spanish-American whose description suggested Henry Saunders. A little before midnight de Socotra had come out again
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CHAPTER XXI UP-STAIRS AND DOWN
CHAPTER XXI UP-STAIRS AND DOWN
Leaving all cabs at home this time, they proceeded in couples by different streets to a rendezvous at the northeast corner of Stuyvesant Square. Greg and Estuban walked up First Avenue to Seventeenth, then west to the meeting-place, thus passing the house that was their objective. Their examination of it revealed these salient facts: there was no light in any window; the basement windows were protected by iron bars, the basement door by an iron gate, while above, before the front door, heavy oak
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CHAPTER XXII NEMESIS
CHAPTER XXII NEMESIS
On the afternoon of the day following these events Amy and Greg alighted from the flivver at the door of the Stickney Arms. Their pale composed faces masked a great inner excitement for they knew that Francisco de Socotra was at home. It had been Amy's idea thus boldly to beard him in his lair. Ever since she had got up that morning the direction of affairs had been in her hands. Greg looked at the little creature with a new wonder and respect. The hall-boy Frank received them with a broad grin
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CHAPTER XXIII CONCLUSION
CHAPTER XXIII CONCLUSION
The news of the deaths respectively of Antonio Bareda and Francisco de Socotra reached Managuay simultaneously. Many surmises were given rise to, but the truth never became known—or at least it was never published. The bodies of the two citizens arrived on the same ship and their funerals were held on the same day. Little inconvenience was thereby caused, for there were few in Managuay who desired to attend both ceremonies. One cortege was followed by the rich and the great whose sleek countenan
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