The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-02-24

recollections and will also place the
chronology Of this yarn, for the
said abode Of revelry was too good to
last very long; it choked to death on
Its own popularity and consequent pub
licity. From the outside. even in its
hey-day, it presented. most innocu-
Gus appearance, just a renovated farm
house standing under clump of veil
ing sugar-maples on the top of hili
whence the nearest neighbor was oui
of sight.
But once within its modest portal
Its habitues found themselves in the
cleverest fake atmosphere of pleas
ure-loving decade. An organizing gen
ius, sensitive to all those cheap a,i-
juncts which usually CRATE on the soul
lowering at the edge of the decline
to Avernus, had .pandered effectively
to an ignoble end and made of each
small room an isle of forgetfulness :;
price, twenty-five bucks in advance
supper and drinks extra.
For the benefit of those who do not
remember the epoch Of the Green
wood hostelry and are consequently
@Ne0AA6 oA anu Oh VI
the paragraph that will introduce the
War, let it be said at once, Forget it,
Stake out the beginning of the inter-
national mix-up. hurl another bound
ary mark into November of 1918, and
the time left outside of those limits
will be found entirely sufficient to the
needs of this chronicle. Let 1t further
be noted that it is inconceivable that
single drop of the kind of blood
which flowed in the veins of Mr.. Rob-
ert Hervey Randolph could ever an
swer to the name of Stacker, proof
positive in itself that the events herein
set forth happened when the War
didn't.
Mr.. Slim Hervey, chauffeur. was
Still plunged in reverie when his senses
were assailed by a Whit of lilac, a
mere nuance of perfume, that pro-
claimed the approach of Miss Madge
Van Teller. He jumped out just in
time to throw open the door of his
cab for the couple and take the muir
INJURED order of Mr.. Beacher fremont
"Ali right. Hit it up for Greenwood
Luckily for the cabman's entertain
ment, his engine was working in 81
lent perfection that night. The late
hour gave him almost undisputed right
of way so that driving became an
automatic adjustment of his course in
line with the curb and released his
attention to gorge itself at leisure
with >eaves-dropping. BY squirming
his shoulders he managed to cock one
ear over the top of his high overcoat
collar; 1t was the ear next to the open
speaking-slot.
what dream of a night" said
the clear voice of Miss Van Teller
"Shall be traitor to my sex and
betray one of its secrets to you?"
"Please do" murmured Mr.. Ire
mont. From the very tone of his voice
one could divine that he had slipped
an arm around her and was holding
her close.
"Well. it's this" she continued
women are not conquered by man
alone. but by man and atmosphere.
We never rush at the precipice; we
fiutter toward 1t with many stops and
pauses. The silliest breezes of i'm
pulse may carry us on or a puff of
unkind aid hold us back. 1t all really
depends on the man imposing his at
mosphere so steadily that the drifting
soul of woman forgets its inborn title
to vagrancy and sleepily assumes its
enemy's goal.'
"Madge," said Mr. fremont almost
earnestly, "you frighten me. never
knew you could talk like that. You
frighten me because have terror
of analyzed personal relations"
Randolph could hear faint rustling
of her robe as though she had nestled
closer to her escort 81 never meant
to startle you, Beacher," her voice
continued. not quite so clear. Into its
tone had crept. hesitatingly, trace
of unaccustomed emotion. II was only
warning you. Every man can make n
world Of his arms for one woman !.
not all can hold the illusion to be
yond possession"
II can. II you will only help me-"
whispered fremont, and paused as
though his own earnestness were TAX
ing him by surprise.
~ wonder" said Miss Van Teller.
''You have played the right game.
You have never said vulgar thing
to me or stopped to the usual hypo
crisies; those are compliments by in
ference that have flattered the hest
that Is In me- You have set the play
In high plane that winning. wins
all of me; but"
But what?" asked fremont
"But there is danger in the high
flight" finished Miss Van Teller "An
air-pocket in your atmosphere and.
pouf all is lost-the good in me that
you will have missed as well as the
bad that you could have won by a
baser effort"
what do you mean?" asked Ire
mont, no longer making the slightest
effort TO hide his awakened interest.
,,.a. tbipE Einfr Ia Nff., Ua,, U-aI