In order to be sure against exorbitant charges the drivers were always made to announce their prices before the journey was commenced.

A crowd of girls was standing around to bid the young lady adieu.

In an off-hand way Belton said: "Driver what is your fee ?" He replied: "For you and the young lady and the trunks, two dollars, sir." Belton almost froze in his tracks, but, by the most heroic struggling, showed no signs of discomfiture on his face.

Endeavoring to affect an air of indifference, he said: "What is the price for the young lady and the trunks ?" "One dollar and fifty cents." Belton's eyes were apparently fixed on some spot in the immensity of space.

The driver, thinking that he was meditating getting another hackman to do the work, added: "You can call any hackman you choose and you won't find one who will do it for a cent less." Belton's last prop went with this statement.