Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
Drawins by Howard Chandler Christy


other matter when take her Brighton for lunch
Sunday.
Dale said nothing. He had met his employer at Mar
settles in October when Lord Medenham landed from
Africa; during the preceding twelve months his license
had been Endorsed three times for exceeding the speed
limit on the Brighton Road. and he had paid forty
pounds in fines and costs to various petty seasonal
in Surrey and Sussex. Sunday therefore, prom
ised developments
Medenham seemed to think that his aunt Lady St.
Maur, would be waiting for him on the doorstep AS
matrony figure materialized in that locality, he
alighted and obeyed brass lettered injunction to
knock and ring" Then he disappeared inside the
house, and remained there long that Daes respect
for the law began weaken The chauffeur had been
given racing certainty for the first race the hour
nearing twelve and every road leading to EPSON Downs
would surely be congested.
His Lordship alone and it clear that the
unexpected had happened.
Nice thing!" he said with the closest semblance to
a growl that his good natured drawl capable of.
The whole show is busted Dale. Her Ladyship is in
bed with her annual bilious attack-comes of eating
forced strawberries, she SAYS. And she adores straw
berries So do There's pounds of EN- in that lunch
con basket. Who's going to eat em?"
Dale foreSaw difficulties in that respect; but he
did realize at once that his cared little about
racing, and, so far Epson concerned. would
abandon the day excursion without pang. He grew
desperate But being something of stole, he kept his
feelings in check and played card that could hardly
fail.
You will find plenty of youngsters the hill who
will be glad of them. my Lord" said he
You don't tell me so! Riddles at the Derby Well,
why not? 1t shows what a stranger l am in my own
land that should never have the blessed race.
Right ahead then Dale: must back the Kings horse
and arrange school treat. But I'll take the wheel.
Can you tuck your legs that basket? I'm not going
to sit alone in the tonneau. And-who knows?-we
pick up the road.
STARTING on the switch. the sprang off toward
Pccadily. Dale sighed in his relief. With ordinary
luck they ought to reach Epson before o'clock, and
racing did not begin till half hour later. He left
wholly out of reckoning the mysterious element IN
human affairs that alos adventures to the adventurous,
though close association with Viscount Medenham dur
ing the last nine months ought to have taught him the
wisdom of caution. Several chapters of very inter-
esng book might be supplied by his Lordshps motor
ing experiences the Continent and these would only
supplement the still checkeed biography of one
who the close of the Boer War elected to shoot his
way home through the mid African hauns OF big game
rather than by orthodox troopship On the face
of things it absurd to imagine that self confessed
wanderer should be permitted to his first Derby in
the Sacrosanct company OF stout aunt and well
filled luncheon basket. Even Medenhams recording
angel must have smiled at the concet though doubtless
shaking a grave head when the announcement of the
dowagers ndspostion revealed the first twist from the
path of good intent AS for Lady ST. Maur she declared
long afterward that the whole amazing ENHANCEMENT
could be traced distinctly to her ondness for the duca
fruit raised under glass. cherry stone lodged in the
vermorm appendix of Emperor has more than
played strange pranks with the map of Europe;
it is not surprising that strawberry subtly be-
slowed in place we'll adapted to the exercise of its fell
skill should be able to convuse section of the British
peerage.
Be that it may, the hap that put Medenham in
control of his Mercury unquestonably led to the next
turn in events A driving high powered
watches the incidents of the road more closely than the