[Illustration: "Maybe that is the cab Mr. Marvin ordered to meet us."]
"Maybe that is the cab Mr. Marvin ordered to meet us. He said we must not be discouraged if it turned out to be a 'one-horse chaise' instead of a taxi," remarked Mrs. James, highly amused at the experience.
Natalie made a vicious slap at a green bottle-fly that had annoyed her ever since she alighted from the train. Now she laughed and said: "Not a one-horse chaise, Jimmy, but 'one horse-fly' is here to meet us."
It was such an opportune play on words that they both laughed merrily. Rachel was now found to be arguing with a man seated in an antique vehicle. He seemed to enjoy the conversation immensely, for he was comfortably stretched out with his feet up over the dashboard and his arms resting along the top of the back of his seat.
"Let's go over and add our persuasions to Rachel's," said Natalie, picking up her luggage and starting away.
When they drew near enough to hear the conversation between Rachel and the man, the former was saying: "Yuh don't know what I kin do to yoh! Do yuh want to see my pow'ful arm?"
The driver sat up at that and looked at the doubled up thickness of that member of Rachel's anatomy. Then he said: "But I always gits that much a head fer such a long trip."
"What's the matter here?" demanded Natalie, coming up to join in the argument.
"Chile, dis highway robber wants to take fifty cents a haid fer takin' us acrost to Green Hill Fahm. Why, it ain't no furder'n f'om heah t' dere, an' I tells him it is stealin'. In Noo York sech profiteers gits what's comin' t' 'em."
Mrs. James interpolated at this. "Fifty cents each is not too much, Rachel. But he must take the luggage as well."
The colored woman retreated at that, and cabby chuckled. "How much baggage?"
"Three suit-cases and these bags and hat-boxes."
"You would, if you had been at the station where you belong. The station-man took the checks and turned the bags over to us before going away to enjoy himself until the next train comes in," retorted Natalie, impatiently.
"All right; I'll wait fer yuh 'til yuh git back," agreed the driver, preparing to take things easy again.
"See here," said Mrs. James, sternly. "Are you Amity Ketchum?"