The Arizona copper camp., 1919-02-22
SYPHER WRITES LETTER
(continued from Page y

p1dtAOIul, L HOIlcoQ anOJnor party VINO
seemed to be in similar situation.
He was Scotch Highlander, kits and
all. At his feet was bundle of hav-
ersacks and bed-rolls, and it was plain
that he had just got in and did not
know where to go, or how to get
there. We looked at each other and
grinned, and pretty soon started to
talk. We agreed that the most de-
sirable thing in the world just then
was taxi, and q taxi we had to have
If we did not want to hang around
that cold, cheerless station until
daylight. I suggested that we join
forces, and while one of us watched
the baggage, the other could start out
on a searching expedition for the
needed vehicle.
"Right-O", said the Scot.
AS could speak little French and
he couldn't it was up to me to do the
search act. l had gone some two
blocks when I spied flock of taxis
drawn up on the corner, the drivers
standing in a group and holding a
confab, probably deciding the terms
of the peace conference, or some such
matter. l told one of them l wanted
taxi. He looked at me as though
had tried~to insult him, and told me
very shortly that no self-rsepecting
taxi ever operated in Paris before
$3.50 a. m. Argument was vain.
had to go back to the Highlander, and
we stood around and shivered some
more. Finally we decided to start
out afoot, Juggling our baggage, for
anything was better than that breezy
station platform. We started out,
and before we had gone block, ran
into gendarme. That French cop
turned out to be a mighty good fol
low. He listened politely to our tale
OF woe, and then went quietly after
those taxi drivers. What he said to
them | do not know, but pretty soon
one of them came over and took off
his hat to us. His taxi, he said, as
well as himself, were ours, to do with
as we would. We told him we wanted
to go to hotel, "toute de suite" as
they say over here.
Then the question came up what
; hotel to so to. This driver knew
them all like a book, and every one
we named he said was full Finally
I1n of A
club, where he said we might stand
a chance OF getting accommodations.
We told him to take us there
After driving through several miles
of dark, deserted streets, with here
and there some misty monument
showing through the gloom, we ar
rived before a tall building with a
splendid glass front protected by beau
tiful iron grill-work. Somewhat awed,
we went through an ornate vestibule,
and entered a beautifully furnished
lobby. A languid young man rose
from behind a mahogany counter to
greet us. l told him the story of the
windy platform, and the search for
rooms.
What university are you gradu-
ate of?' was his first question.
l told him the nearest 1 ever came
to a university was looking at one
through the fence. The young man
shuddered.
1--WE can't take you," he said severe.
E "We take none but college grad
uates."
1t was all off as far as was con-
'cerned, but 1 tried to get place for
the Scot, who by the way, was q
graduate of Edinburgh University, and
also, as 1 forgot to mention above,
lieutenant in the British army, and
just in from the fighting around Mes
sines, his voice still broken and
husky from the effects Of gas. "We
take no members of the Allied troops"
said the Pride of Yale coldIy, and
turned his back on us.
We faded out as quietly as VIC coGId
and went out to the taxi, which for
luIldISIy Hdu WstklSu tOl uo.
Nov we wull try the B. O. c."
said the Highlander. "B. o. c." it
seemed, meant British Officers club"
l thought of all the stories 1 had
ever read of the frigid Briton, but by
this time l was ready to try anything
once. Still l didn't expect much.
Lead on" 1 said.
We rode through several more miles
of streets, still dark, cold and empty
and finally drew up before a big build
ing with a front every whit as ornate
and imposing as the home oil learning
we had just left Here's where !
get mine once more" | thought.
But that's where I was wrong. We
got not only a hearty reception, a good
urocI on6 tonniOo 70 ct b11f