But as he bent toward her eagerly, she smiled and quickly closed the door. He stood for a moment, wondering if there really was a deep significance in her last remarks. Then, head up, he walked quickly down the street. In the tiny room where he boarded, he took off his torn best suit and changed into a worn but whole one. He surveyed the ruins of his garments as they lay over the end of his iron bed and shook his head as he realized how much it would cost to have them repaired. Then he put on his hat, left the room and hurried down the front stairs. He increased his speed, fairly dashing down the first floor hall to the front door as he heard his landlady coming out of the kitchen and her harsh voice calling, "Is that you, Mr. Swift?" He did not relish the prospect of a conversation with her regarding his room rent at the present moment.
A car drew up at the curb in front of Danny Ryan's house just as Speedy reached there.
"Hello, Speedy. How's the boy?" a cheery voice greeted him from the seat of the car, a taxi bearing the legend Only One Taxi Co. on both its yellow sides. It was Danny Ryan, just in from a trip. Dan had explained previously and jestingly to Speedy that the taxi company got its name from the fact that only one passenger could safely be carried in the rickety cars furnished by his boss and then the cars were liable to fall apart. This was naturally not quite accurate, though certainly the fleet of vehicles sponsored by the concern were disreputable looking enough.
