Page 127 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

The storm inside rose high. “Shameful;”

“He’s no better than a German; Why isn’t
he in the army?” “Call the police;” “Let’s all
report him;” “Let’s make him give us our

fares back;” “Yes, that’s it, let’s make him
give us our fares back.” For, everybody was
on the side of the lady and the dog.

That little animal sat blinking at the dim

lights in happy unconsciousness of the
rumpus for which he was the cause.

The conductor came to the door. “What’s
your number?” said one, taking out a

pocketbook.

“There’s my number,” said the conductor imperturbably.

“Give us our fares back - you’ve engaged to carry us - You can’t leave us here all night.”

“No fares back,” said the conductor.

Two or three passengers got out and disappeared into the night. The conductor took another
turn on the pavement, then went and had a talk with the driver. Another bus, the last on the

road, sailed by indifferent to the shouts of the passengers. “They stick by each other - the
villians,” was the comment.

Someone pulled the bell violently. That brought the driver to the door. “Who’s the conductor
of this bus?” he said, and paused for a reply. None coming, he returned to his seat. A policeman

strolled up and looked in at the door. An avalanche of indignant protests and appeals burst
on him.

“Well, he has got his rules, you know,” he said genially, and he went away.

And the little dog blinked at the lights, and the conductor walked to and fro on the pavement.
A young woman, whose voice had risen high above the gale inside, descended on him with

an air of threatening and slaughter. He was immovable - as cold as the night and as hard
as the pavement. She passed on in a fury of impotence to the three policemen, who stood

like a group of statuary up the street watching the drama. Then she came back, imperiously
beckoned to her ‘young man’ who had sat a silent witness of her rage, and vanished. Others
followed. The bus was emptying. Even the dashing young fellow who had demanded the

number, and who had declared he would see this thing through if he sat there all night, had
taken an opportunity to slip away.

125 Arrow - English Plus-8