It was a dark and stormy night in the little town of Olton.

World War II had just ended and a little rain wasn't enough to dampen the mood of the

people in town.

The cab driver was making his way along the wet streets just a few blocks from downtown.

He had been doing the job for a while and he knew the streets, even the shortcuts that

took him from one confusing one way street to another or down a brick alleyway from

one neighborhood to the next.

He just turned off 7th street and he spotted someone through his rain smeared windshield.

It was a young woman soaked from the storm.

She was wearing a white dress and her wet brown hair was plastered against her head.

She was on the sidewalk standing near the side gate to the Olton city cemetery.

When she lifted a hand at him the cabbie pulled over and asked her if she needed a ride.

She flashed a grateful smile and then hurried to his cab.

She climbed into the backseat of the taxi and apologized for getting the seat all wet.

While the driver laughed it off and he handed her a small towel that he had sitting next

to him in the passenger seat.

She took it gratefully and dried off her face and hair as best she could.

Where did she need to go the man asked and she offered her a dress?

It was a far away but the weather was too lousy to walk.

She didn't say much as they drove and in a few minutes they reached the address she had

given him.

The cabbie turned into the driveway and parked.

...