Little Book of Christmas

Ten minutes later a passing taxi was hailed by a shivering gentleman carrying an iron pot full of pennies and nickels and an occasional quarter in one hand, and a turkey-red coat, trimmed with white cotton cloth, thrown over his arm. Strange to say, considering the inclemency of the night, he wore neither a hat nor an overcoat."e;Where to, sir?"e; queried the chauffeur."e;The police-station,"e; said Hetherington. "e;I don't know where it is, but the one in this precinct is the one I want."e;"e;Ye'll have to pay by the hour to-night, sir,"e; said the chauffeur. "e;The station ain't a half-mile away, sir, but Heaven knows how long it'll take us to get there."e;"e;Charge what you please,"e; retorted Hetherington. "e;I'll buy your darned old machine if it's necessary, only get a move on."e;The chauffeur, with some misgivings as to the mental integrity of his fare, started on their perilous journey, and three-quarters of an hour later drew up in front of the police-station, where Hetherington, having been compelled in self-defense to resume the habiliments of Santa Claus under penalty of freezing, alighted."e;Just wait, will you?"e; he said, as he alighted from the cab."e;I'll go in with you,"e; said the chauffeur, acting with due caution. He had begun to fear that there was a fair chance of his having trouble getting his fare out of a very evident lunatic.Utterly forgetful of his appearance in his festal array, Hetherington bustled into the station, and shortly found himself standing before the sergeant behind the desk."e;Well, Santa Claus,"e; said the official, with an amused glance at the intruder, "e;what can I do for you to-night? There ain't many rooms with a bath left."e;