Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE “SANTY CLAUS” TO MY WILL. 175 out the least opposition. Then when it was all over, and too late for me to prevent it, I would be let out. I am not the kind to give up, though. ,I had gone too far in the search for that horse to surrender when he was almost within my sight. There was some way of getting out of that room, and I was going to get out. I looked out of the window and across the street to the exchange stable. The crowd of horsemen had already collected, and I could see the horses being trotted up and down the ring. My watch registered two minutes before four o'clock. Now for my escape. I spring to the push button that connects with the bell in the office. I ring and ring it again. Noone comes up. There’s the telephone to the office. I work the thing until I break it. Then I yell and kick against the door. : ae That villain Jackson led me into his own country, where everybody is his friend. He has probably told the clerk that I am intoxicated and not to mind me in the least. Once more I rush to the window, and much as I dislike the generality of cab drivers, I never saw a fairer sight than my cabby presented as ke sat on his hansom waiting for me, as I had ordered him to do. “ Hey, Hogan,” I shouted at the top of my voice. He looked up 1n surprise to see me there. “ Get a policeman and force your way up here. I’m a prisoner and can’t get out.” The utter ridiculousness of my position must have impressed th2 cabman, but he immediately whipped up his horse and disappeared around the block, only to return in a moment with a minion of the law as a fare. I called to them, and they both entered the hotel. I heard a lot of talking down the hall, and presently many footsteps ap- proached the room where I was incarcerated. A key was inserted in the door, the latter swung back, and I was a free man once more. I did not even stop to thank the cop. I grabbed my cabby by the arm and fled the place. We didn’t wait for the elevator, but rushed down two flights of stairs. | On the way I gasped out my predicament to my faithful driver, and he told me how he happened to strike an old pal of his on this beat, “ Con ” Kelly, the copper. “ He'll stand for anything I T give him, an’ he’s all right, he is.” I have a vague recollection of saying that I would use my influence to have Mr. Kelly promoted to a roundsmanship, when we rushed into the tanbark auction ring. There, in the middle of a group of men, stood the worst looking specimen of horseflesh that ever escaped being cut up for crowbait. It was a bay horse, and as I yelled, “ Santy,” its off ear came forward, and I saw that it was nicked. Hogan, the cabby, saved me again. He put up his hand just as the auc- tioneer’s hammer was coming down on the “ gone,” and the bidding com- menced again. I had my breath now, and my driver shoved me to the front of that circle of men. GORGE OOO A) UN ceo