At the ball we met a couple of young ladies, daughters of a gentleman I had become acquainted with; and as he and his wife were talking of going home early and taking the girls with them, we suggested that they leave them in our care and we would escort them home later.
This was agreed to all around, and about two o'clock, when ready to leave, I said to Albert:
"Let me have five dollars to pay for a carriage."
"I haven't got five dollars, nor even fifty cents."
"But you told me in your letter that you had seventy-five dollars."
"So I have, but it's in a draft."
"Well, what on earth are we to do? I have spent my last dollar. Guess we'll have to take them home in a street-car."
We started, and reached the corner of Randolph and Clark just as it set in to rain. Upon inquiry we learned to our dismay that all-night cars were not running on Randolph street, and that none would be running before daylight.
Just across the street, standing around the Court House as usual, were any number of hack-men.