Alexander W. Drake (1843-1916) was an American wood engraver and art collector and director of the art department for Scribner's and Century magazine. His weird tales were collected by friends to memorialize him following his death in 1916.

'The Curious Vehicle' (1893) is the story of a man who is intrigued by a strange carriage on the street and watches it curiously until one snowy Christmas Eve he is invited inside by the mysterious owner. The stranger tells him his sad love story and of his obsessive search to paint the perfect halo on an image of his lost love.