The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-06-09

by was Henry Lexington. There was
no mistaking that hard-lipped, cruel
face.
Presumably, thought Hugh, the
other two occupants were Mr.. Peter
o and the doubtful daughter. Irma ;
Presumably they were returning to The
Films. And incidentally there seemed
no pronounced reason why they
shouldn't. But, somehow, the sudden
appearance of Lexington had upset
him he felt irritable and annoyed.
What little he had seen of The mar
he had not liked; he did not want
to be reminded Of him, especially just
as he was thinking Of Phyllis.
He watched the white dust-cloud
rise over the hill in front as the car
topped 1t; he watched 1t settle and
drift away In the faint breeze. Then
quite slowly in the big cars wake.
There had been two men in 'front.'
the driver and another, and he won
dered idly If the latter was Mr.. Ben
N'ils liz "N'tiNb oNNu w IN go N'a
swung over the top; the next mo-
ment he braked hard and pulled up
just in time. The Rolls, with the
chauffeur peerlng into the bonnet, had
stopped in such a position that 1t was
impossible for him to get by.
The girl was still seated In the back
of the car, also the passenger In
front, but the two other men were
standing In the road apparently watch
Ing the chauffeur, and after a while
the one whom Drummond had recOg-
nized as darlington came toward him.
I'm sorry" he began-and then
paused in surprise. why. surely It's
Captain Drummond!"
Drummond nodded pleasantly.
1.-The occupant Of d car Is hardly like
ly to change in a mile, Is hep he re-
marked. I'm afraid I forgot to
wave as you went past, but l got
your smile all right. Are you likely
to be long, because II 80, I'll stop my
engineer
The other nan was now approach
Ing casually, and Drummond regarded
him casually. "A friend Of our little
Phyllis, Peterson" said Lexington, as
he came up.
ANY friend Of Miss Benton's is,
I hope, ours" said Peterson with a
smile. you've known her a long
time, 7 expectT'
"Quite a long time" returned Hugh.
1--WE have jazzed together on many
occasions"
(Which makes 1t all the more I'M
fortunate that we should have de-
layed you," said Peterson. II can't
help thinking, Lexington, that that
new chauffeur Is a bit Of a fool"
II hope he avoided the crash all
right" murmured Drummond politely.
Both men looked at him. 1.-THE
crash !" said darlington. There was
stopped"
Really" remarked D%mmond. 81
think, sir, that you must be right in
your diagnosis Of your chauffeur's
mentality" He turned c~ourteously 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
to say in France. l thought, judging
by the tracks in the dust, that you
must have been in imminent danger
of ramming a traction engine. l wOn-
der If | could help your man." he
continued. I'm a bit of an expert with
a Rolls"
"How very kind of you," said Peter
son. "Ill go and see" He went over
to the man and spoke a few words.
isn't it 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 a second-all serene. And yet 1
dare say Mr.. Peterson knows nothing
about it really. Just the watching
eye, Mr.. darlington. Wonderful thing
the human optic"
He rambled on with q genial smile,
watching with apparent interest the
car In front. "WhO's the quaint bird
sitting beside the chauffeur? He ap-
peals to me immensely. Wish to
heaven I'd had a few mor like him
in France to turn into snipers."
MAY | ask why you think he would
have beer a success at the jobY" LAX
ington's voice expressed merely per
functory interest, but his cold, steely
eyes were fixed on Drummond.
Hes so motionless," answered
Hugh. 1.-The bally fellow hasn't
moved a muscle since I'VE been here.
/ believe he'd sit on a hornets nest,
and leave the inmates guessing. Great
gift, Mr.. darlington. Shows a strength
of will but rarely met with-a mind
which rises above mere vulgar ~
rioSity.'
at is undoubtedly a great gift to
have such a mind, Captain Drum
mond," said Lexington. "And If 1t
isn't born In a man, he should most
certainly try TO cultivate 1t. Shall
we be seeing you this eveningT'