The Lamar register., 1921-08-17

millionaire behind. But Hugh seemed
In no great hurry TO start. A whim-
steal smile was ON his face. as out
OF the corner of his eye he watched
the man who had. been busy doing
nothing feverishly trying to crank his
ear, which, after the manner of the
brutes, had seized that moment TO Jib.
Still smiling. Hugh got out and
walked up to the perspiring driver.
"A warm day" he murmured.
Don't hurry; well wait for you"
Then, while the man. utterly taken
aback, stared at him speechlessly. he
strolled back to his own car.
"Hugh-you're mad, quite mad"
said feter resignedly, AS with a splut-
tering roar the other car started, but
Hugh still smiled. On the way to
the airirome he stopped twice after
block in the traffic TO make quite sure
that the pursuer should have no
chance OF losing him, and, by the time
they were clear OF tis, traffic and spin
ming toward their destination. the gen
tleman in the car behind fully agreed
with Darrell.
At first he had expected some trick,
being person OF tortuous brain but
as time went on, and nothing unex-
pected happened. he became assured.
His orders were TO follow the mil
lionaire. and inform headquarters
where he was taken TO. And assured
ly Mt the moment II seemed easy mon
ey. Then, quite suddenly. the hum
- No.
car In front had swung on the road,
and turned through the entrance OF q
small airdrome What the devil was
he to do nowY Most assuredly he
could not pursue an airplane on a mo-
tor-eyen a racer Blindly. without
thinking. he did the nrst thing that
came into his head. He left his car
standing where II was, and followed
the others into the alrdrome on foot.
Perhaps he could find out something
from one Of the mechanics; someone
might be able to tell him where the
plane was going.
There she was with the car beside
her, and already the millionaire was
being strapped Into his seat. Drum
mond was talking to the pilot, and
the sleuth, full OF eagerness. accosted
u passing mechanic.
"Can you tell me where that air
plane Is going to- he asked ingrau-
atingly.
II was perhaps unfortunate that the
said mechanic had Just had a large
spanner dropped on his toe, and his
answer was not helpful. 1t was an
education in one way, and at any 9TH
er time the pursuer would have treat
ed II with the respect II deserved.
But. as II was. II was unfortunate
that Peter Darrell should have chosen
that moment to look round. And all
he saw was the mechanic talking ear
nestly to the sleuth Where
upon he talked earnestly to Drum
mond
In thinking II over after. that un-
happy sleuth whose job had seemed so
easy. found II difficult 10 say exactly
what happened. All of a sudden he
found himself surrounded by people
all very affable and most conversa-
tional 1t took him quite five minutes
to get back to his car, and by that
time the plane was speck IN the
west. Drummond was standing by
the gates when he got there, with a
lsok OF profound surprise on his face.
"One / have seen often" remarked
the soldier; two sometimes; three
rarely; four never Fancy four pune
tures--all at the same time! Dear.
desrl positively Insist on givips
rsu q lift"
He felt himself irresistibly propelled
toward Drummond's car with only
time for fieeting glimpse at his own
four fiat tires, and almost before he
realized 1t they were away. And II
was then that the man he had thought
mad laughed gently.
rs 1t all right. Peterr' Hugh asked.
IAN safe" came a voice from be
hind :.
Then dot him onel"
The sleuth had a feeting vision Of
| stars Of all colors which danced be-
fore his eyes, coupled with a stun
ing blow on the back Of the head.
Vaguely he realized the car was pull
ing up-thep blackness.
FOUR.
My dear fellow, l told you we'd
I get here somehow" Hugh Drummond