The Hays free press., 1921-07-21

The other man was now approach
ing casually, and DrummOnd regarded
him casually "A friend of our little
Phyllis. Peterson" said Lakington, as
he came up.
"Any friend of Miss BentOn's is,
I hope, ours safd Peterson with
smile. You've known her long
time, l expectT'
"Quite long time," returned Hugh.
1--WE have jazzed together on many
occasions"
(Which makes II all the more un-
fortunate that we should have de-
layed YOU" said Peterson. II can't
help thinking. Lakington. that that
new chauffeur is bit of fool
'I hope he avoided the crash all
right" murmured Drummond politely.
Both men looked at him. The
crash - said Lakington. There was
no question Of a crash. We just
stopped"
Really" remarked DrummOnd II
think, sir, that you must be right in
your diagnosis OF your chauffeur's
mentality" He turned cOurteOusly to
Peterson. When something goes
wrong for "a fellah TO stop his car,
by braking so hard that he locks both
back wheels. is no bon, as we used
10 say i'm France. 1 thought. judging
by the tracks in the dust. that you
must have been in imminent danger
OF ramming a traction engine. / Won
der If l could help your man." he
continued. I'm a bit OF an expert with
q Rolls"
How very kind of you" said Peter
son III 90 and see" He went over
TO the man and spoke IA few words
isn't il extraordinary" remarked
Hugh. "how the eye of the boss gal
vaniZeS the average man into activ-
ity. AS long, probably, as Mr.. Peter
son had remained here talking, that
chauffeur would have gone on tinker
ing with the engine. And nOw-lOOk
in SecOnd-all serene And vet l
dare say Mr.. Peterson knows nothing
about it really. Just the watching
eye. Mr.. LakingtOn. Wonderful thing
the human optic"
He rambled on with Il genial smile.
watching with apparent interest the
car in front. Who's the quaint bird
sitting beside the chauffeur? He ap-
pealS 10 me immensely. Wish TO
heaven I'd had few more like him
in France To turn into snipers."
May l ask why you think he would
have been success at the jOb?' LAX
ington'S voice expressed merely per
.functory interest. but his Geld. steely
eyes were fixed on Drummond
He's So mOtiOnleSS." answered
Hugh. The bally fellow hasn't
moved muscle since I've been here.
I believe he'd sit on u hornets nest
and leave the inmates guessing. Great
gift, Mr.. Lakington. Shows strength
of will but rarely met with-a mind
which rises above mere vulgar Gu
riosity"
1T is undoubtedly a great gift to
have such a mind, Captain Drum
mond." said Lakington. And If 1t
isn't born in man, he should most
certainly try to cultivate it. Shall
We be seeing you this EVENING""
DrummOnd shrugged his shoulders.
I'm the vaguest man that ever lived"
he said lightly. "I might be listen
ing TO nightingales in the country;
or 1 might be consuming steak and
onions preparatory 10 going TO a night
club. So long. g. Hope you don't
break down again so suddenly"
He watched the ROlls-Royce start,
but seemed In no hurry to follow suit.
And his many friends, who were wont
10 regard Hugh Drummond as a mass
OF Drawn not too plentifully supplied
with brains. would have been puz-
zled had they seen the look Of keen
concentration on his face, as he stared
along the white dusty road. He could
not say Why. but suddenly and very