The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-02-17
PART II.

Mr.. Randolph spent the day getting
acquainted and proved himself a good
mixer. By telling a few stories that
had not yet sifted down from CluD-
land and by standing a few drinks he
500, found himself made free Of all
the technical Information he needed
and some more that was so ultrn-tech-
.nical that it could beat the brains that
Invented the delicate mechanism Of
the taximeter. He also established
part ownership in a comfortable room
in house very much on the wrong or
west side of Broadway, in fact within
smelling and almost splitting distance
of the North river.
While he was still in funds he
coat with one of those enormous col
lars which look like an Inverted
bucket when they are up and surpass
in efficiency the traditional black mask
so beloved by illustrators of the week
iy press He also had a speaking slot
cut In the glass of the cab window
Just behind his best ear and subse-
quently removed and lost the slide
that had been fitted over 1t with con-
siderable skill and trouble.
During the next few nights he pro-
ceeded to have the time OF his life; so
much so that he was constantly over
whelmed with wonder at his stupidity
In not having become a taxi-driver
years before 1t should be remem-
bered that Mr.. Randolph WAS of New
York Yorky; he knew everybody cas-
ually, from Mr.. Milyuns and his
daughter, Eileen. down to the latest
addition TO the pitiful ranks Of the
midinette. More than that. so broad
was his acquaintanceship that as a
sporting gent he had once or twice
been tipped of as to the where and
when of 3 proposed gun-play.
In addition to being by right Of birth
an integral part of all the social strata
of Manhattan, he knew the surface of
the island and of the adjacent COM
moner soil Of the mainland consid-
erably better than he knew the palm
Of his own hand. In fact, he could
scarcely ever have been conscious that
he had a palm, even rs a map Of per-
sOnal fortune: for he who is completes
ly satisfied with the present never
worries about the future and Mr.. Ran
dolph had been born content.
With such an equipment, is II to he
wondered at that he found the taxi
field rich with unexpected and sur
prising blooms? Fair flowers, he had
known heretofore TO nod only over tea
tables and solid silver appeared sud-
denly transplanted to his cab and
ready to nod on a stalwart shoulder.
Strong male tiger-lilies of the money
market, grated TO the cushions of a
taxi. became complacent pillars upon
which some clinging ivy twined.
In six nights he learned the sound
that banker makes when slender
fingers tickle him under the chin; the
gasp Of girl, first-kissed; the cry of
young man upon discovering the alb
sence Of grandfather's gold watch, his
since graduation day; the cluck of a
top-hat fairly sat upon in the excite
ment of moment that else would
have been tragic, the exasperating tap
tap, tap, of hen-pecking tongue that
explained and condoned a murder mys-
terry in the next mornings papers, and
the sob of ruined youngster who had
played with borrowed money.
All these incidents took place with
people whom Mr.. Randolph knew or
knew of and just to show what an ex-
tremely honest young man he was. let
1t be said that 1t did not once occur to
him that he need never be poor while
humanity. supposedly in good stand
ing. continued to lay itself open to
blackmail at the rate of case night
At the same time. he was not stupid
and occasionally tapped out missive