The diamond drill., 1921-04-02

/
No sooner had he passed the test In
mental arithmetic than he drew up
little beyond the front door Of the Rock
I et club He started 10 leave his cab,
paused, considered. and then deliber-
/ ateiy lowered the flag Az he entered
I the lobby Of the club four scandalized
fronts leaped to bar his way. They
asked him variety OF biting ques-
tlons: Did he think IL was night
I lunchwagon? Which chambermaid
was he calling on? Was he looking for
/ Mills hOtelG
Herbert - roared Mr.. Randolph
The functionary named, head door
man for the Rocket club since first IL
started on It's appropriately meteoric
career. leaped from his dignifed seat
| on the somnolent side lines and stared
wide eyed at the servile apparitIon
| that had dared shout the open sesame
to that invlolate portal.
"Mr Randolph" he gasped at last.
and the stunned fronts started TO slink
away.
Hold on. there !" said Mr.. Randolph.
and divested himself OF cap TO one.
oyercoat 10 another, gloves TO the third.
and asked the fourth for light. Her
bert" he continued. In modulated
tones. "the cab outside Is waiting for
Mr.. X. ii. Randolph. II may be there
for some time. Have an eye kept on
IT,"
"Yess Mr.. Randolph. I'll see 10 II,
Mr.. Randolph. George, Mr.. Randolph's
| letters"
"Never mind the letters counter
manded the oft-named one, and pro-
ceeded 10 thread his way TO certain
small room strategically placed wen
within the depths of the edifice and
far from the maddenlng tumult Of the
streets. The said apartment at the
moment OF his arrival contained Ave
occupants seated round circular table
OF convenient height and clothed In
pale green, kindest of all shades TO the
eve of man. There were no mirrors
on the walls.
! Mr. Randolph's entry was greeted
| first with CONSERVATION and then with
shouts.
Bobby. you old scout"
"Herv, by great balls OF sweat"
Randy. from where the devilf'
The speakers arose and pump
handled Mr.. Randolph's arm.
"Ye gods. man. where you beenl
Strayed In from n fancy dressf"
"Never mind the glad rags, fellows"
said Mr. Randolph. II was just feel
ing lonely for the sound OF chips. Room
for anotherp
"The surest thing You don't know
! these two chaps. do your Mr.. Seegar,
/ passed on 10 us from Frisco, and Mr..
BowlIng.True. our latest new member.
Gentlemen. this is Mr.. Randy Ran
dolph OF New Haven and New York,
In disguise but still the best ever"
Table stakesf" murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he took his place, apparent
Iy at random. but at the left of the
two comparative strangers.
"Of course Same old ante Same
old game. You talk as though you'd
been away for a month"
For n moment but for moment
only. Mr.. Randolph was dazed Was
| IL possible that the last three weeks
hadn't been q year? He drew out his
slxty-eight dollars and fifty cents non
chalantly, as though they were merely
| the loose change he had on his per
son, bought fifty in chips and laid the
small heap OF what was left OF his
cash on the board. The strain on his
nerves during the next half-hour put
that OF the FIVE days wait for a hunch
on the Street 10 the blush There
came moment when all his chips
were gone. and he was forced TO see
with a full house for his small pile
Of change only.
Serves you right, Randy" said Mr..
| Mein. For forgetting 10 pile up the
ready A. a table-stake game; there are
two and a half million walking the
streets"
"oh. stow IT." murmured Mr. Ran
dolph, as he counted out his share,
amounting 10 ninety-two dollars and
| fifty cents. and pushed across the rest
OF the fat pot 20 the next best hand.
He looked up and smiled. Boys" he
remarked frankly. I'm riding hunch
with four legs. Watch me-"
Five spectators did, but got little
excitement Of their pains. Mr.. Ran
dolph was playing that most difficult
and uninteresting OF poker corollaries
"A tight game. Mr.. Seegar turned i'm
patient as the conviction grew upon
him that he had run up against the
| original hard-shell who never drew 90
| less than n nair ~ tens never hiuifed
and could surrender three kings with
out sigh to low straight unseen.
He began to make facetlous remarks
In connection with the safety.nrst cam
paign which was then at It's height.