The Bearcat felt no fear. He was only annoyed to think that they could bulldoze him. He felt like takin’ a poke at ’em. But, he had more than his fare, so why butt into their game?

“I ain’t interested in you,” said the Bearcat.

“Well, now, you’re bein’ smart,” said the man who held his hand in his pocket. “And don’t bother rememberin’ the number of that car over there, either.”

“Okay,” said the Bearcat.

The man ran across the road to the car which had its motor running. They jumped in and started off at a terrific clip.

And so the Bearcat found a taxi to be a cross section of humanity, a world in itself.

XIV BABE STEPS OUT

BABE kept her promise and met Lou and Harry at Toni’s the next morning at 10 o’clock. The three went from there to the Sugar Cane Club where they could discuss business without interruption during the morning hours. Lou explained that there was a sales-girl in the store where they wanted Babe to work who would let them know when a job was open, then the girl would take Babe to the manager and introduce her as a friend and room-mate. It would be up to Babe to get the job without arousing any suspicion. However, they particularly wanted Babe to be at the cosmetic counter, for there she could dispose of the dope-filled rouge compacts without attracting attention.

This meant that Babe might have to wait several weeks before she could begin work, but Lou and Harry were willing to wait until their agents could be planted right, for the dope racket brought in big profits.

While waiting for her new job Babe managed to have a good time even if the Bearcat did get on her nerves. She did a lot of stepping out at night, as the Bearcat had changed his working shift. He found it much more profitable to operate his cab in the evening, because more money could be made in the late hours from the theater crowds and night club rounders. He did not return home before five in the morning, and sometimes later when his last call was a long one.

Babe managed to get home regularly before Bearcat arrived but she knew sooner or later she was bound to overplay her hand. On a Sunday morning at the end of two weeks’ waiting for her job Babe was caught. When the Bearcat returned to the hotel at five o’clock in the morning he found Babe out and saw that the bed had not been slept in. That worried him. He did not undress but sat in a chair by the window. The cheap alarm-clock he had bought showed five-thirty when Babe opened the door of their room.

The Bearcat sprang out of his chair. His face flushed with anger.