The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-03-17

witnessed the very proper meeting
which took place between the two out
wardly cool young members of society
who were inwardly, nevertheless.
seething with more emotions than
there are fumes in line-kiln.
Miss Thornton ~ exclaimed Mr..
Randolph, as, from force of long
habit, he laid hat, stick and gloves
on side table and then advanced
with tentatively outstretched hand.
"Oh. how do you do?" asked Pa
mela. rising and offering her hand.
"Wo-wont you sit DOWN."
THANK you; WILL"
He took the other end of the couch.
crossed his legs in an effort to appear
thoroughly at home, and gazed almost
furtfvely at the apparition- before him.
Ye gods and heaps of daffodils ! What
a vision of loveliness, of charm,
grace, breeding, carriage and nur-.
tured beautyl What bubbhng well
of mirth; what source of the light
of youth that never fails; what an
armful of divine delight
"Er-I-er-told Mr.. Milyuns I'd
call.' said Mr.. Randolph.
"Yes?" eagerly countered Miss
Thornton.
"Er-I-said I'd be here at four"
supplemented Mr.. Randolph.
"Yes; he told me-" murmured Miss
Thornton. not quite SO ardently.
"Er-it's just four now" stated Mr..
Randolph.
$50 1t is" agreed Miss Thornton
quite coolly, glancing at the clock and
registering surprise-tone quite calm
and dignified.
A long silence intervenes. The lady
could easily break 1t. but won't. She
has gathered somewhere that silence
is often a club. Mr.. Randolph EVIL
IDENTIFY shares the intuition; he must
say something and does.
I've been very busy since I saw
you last"
How interesting"
YES; it has been-in spots. I've
er-been studying the under side Of
the upper world through hole in the
front glass of taxi. 1t has given me
great idea"
"Really3"
Eyes; I'm going to start the Man.
haitian Chaperoned Cab company"
1.-THE whatT asked Miss Thornton,
forced to show interest in the prepos-
ferrous project In spite of the fact that
her eyes were growing more and more
wounded and the corners of her trem-
ulous mouth were dropping farther
and farther south.
"Chaperoned Cab company" repeat
ed Mr. Randolph, his broad brows
puckering in serious thought over his
wide blue eyes. ut doesn't sound like
much of an idea until you follow it
out. Would you like to have me ex-
| plain it to you?"
"Oh, ce-certainly."
"well, it all hangs on an invention
of my own-an attachment to the or
| binary taximeter of miniature map
of New York and vicinity and sort
| of seismic-needle affair. You set the
needle on the point in the map CORE
spending to where the cab starts from
in-er-real life. Wherever the cab
goes. the needle shows the route In red
ink on the map, with time signal Of
how long 1t stopped at any given
house, park, store-er-et cetera.
Do you begin to get the idea?"
'N-no," said Miss Thornton.
'Just think a minute. Tired old
couple of conventional ideas and ac-
tually beyond the age of dancing are
in horror Of sitting up all night watch
ing daughter have good time. Send
her in one of my cabs; the ink-route
will show Just how straight she went
to the party, how long she stayed,
and how she came back. 1 forgot to
mention the dictograph attachment in
every vehicle. Take another case
Man married to a pretty and very
young wife Can't you hear him say.
'Yef, my d-d-dear; you can go any
where II you'll take Chaperoned
Cabr"
mo, i can't" said Miss Thornton
decisively, and stared meaningly at
the clock, a. though she were worry
| ing over her next engagement.
Mr.. Randolph flushed, rose hastily,
and possessed himself Of hat, stick and
| gloves
II mustn't keep you," he said. I've
got an appointment in about ive min
utes myself"
She rose, an absent-minded look in
her eyes. and accompanied him to the
door Of the room. He opened It and
took his hand from the knob to shake
good-by. Her hand reached out to-
ward his listlessly, as though 1t had
become. infected with the selfsame
droop that had assailed the corners
Of her lips.
MAY I-er-call again?"
'Now cried Pamela, natched back
her hand threw both arms up against
the doorjamb, dropped her curly head
upon them. and burst into tears.
Mr.. Randolph's platinum-headed
cane fell with clatter; his gloves
f1uttered to the floor and his new ton