The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-08-18

wheel OF his car with Darrell ana the
millionaire behind. But Hugh seemed
In no great hurry to start. A whim-
steal smile was OF 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
car, which, after he manner Of the
brutes, had seized that moment to lib.
Still smiling, Hugh got out and
walked up to the perspiring driver.
"A warm day." he murmured.
"Don't hurry; We'll 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 Peter resignedly, as with a splut.
tering roar the other car started, but
Hugh still smiled. On the way to
the airdrome he stopped twice after a
block in the traffic to make quite SUR
that the pursuer should have ne
chance of losing him, and, by the time
they were clear of the 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 a 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 at the moment it seemed easy mon.
ey. Then, quite suddenly, the hum.
ming stopped and he frowned. The
car in front had swung of the road,
and turned through the entrance Of a
small airdrome. What the devil was
he to do now? Most assuredly he
could not pursue an airplane on a mo.
forever a racer. Blindly, without
thinking, he did the first thing that
came into his head. He left his cal
standing where 1t was, and followed
the others into the airdrome 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
a passing mechanic.
"Can you tell me where that air.
plane is going tot" he asked ingrati,
atingly.
1t was perhaps unfortunate that the
said mechanic had just had a large
spanner dropped on his toe, and his
answer was not helpful. It was an
education In one way, and at any 9th.
er time the pursuer would have treat
ed 1t with the respect 1t deserved.
But, as 1t was, 1t 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 1t over after, that un.
happy sleuth whose job had seemed 30
easy, found it difficult to say exactly
what happened. All of a sudden he
found himself surrounded by people
all very affable and most converse.
tional. 1t took him quite five minutes
to get back to his car, and by that
time the plane was a speck In the
west. Drummond was standing BY
the gates when he got there, with
look Of profound surprise on his face.
One I have seen often" remarked
the soldier; "two sometimes; three
rarely; fouG never. Fancy four pune
'ures-all at the same time! Dear,
dear! positively insist on giving
you a lift"
He felt himself irresistibly propelled
toward Drummond's car, with only
time for a fleeting 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.
us 1t all right, Peter7" Hugh asked.
"All safe," came q voice from be-
hind.
"Then dot him one!"
The sleuth had a 1eeting 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-then %blackness.
(TO be c%ontinued)
G