The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-11-10

my evening clothes and some more
KIT"
VERY good. sir. | viii clean your
small Colt revolver at once
Hugh Drummond paused IL the act
Of lighting his pipe and a grin read
slowly over his face "Exceliei hs
said. "And see II sou liu huI tAat
water squirt pistol used to hive
Son Of Gun, they called It. That
ought TO raise laugh. when ! arrest
the murderer with H."
TWO.
The 80 hip. twoseater made short
work OF the run To GOdnlming As
Drummond thought Of the two guns
rolled up carefully IN his paIamas
the harmless toy and the wicked little
automatic-he grinned gently to him
self The girl had not rung him up
during the morning. and after a com
Portable lunch al his club. he had
started ahOut three o'clock The
hedges. fresh with the glory Of spring
flashed past the smell OF the country
came sweet and fragrant on the air
There was gentle warmth balm
mess In the day that made It good 10
be alive. and once or twice he Rns
under his breath through sheer light
heartedness OF spirit Surrounded by
the peaceful beauty OF the fields Will
an occasional village half hidden b.
great trees from under which the tiny
houses peeped out. II seemed impos
sible that crime could exist--laugh
able. or course the thing was hoax
an elaborate leg-pull. but being not
guilty OF any mental subterfuge Hugh
Drummond admitted TO himself quite
truly that he didn't care a d-n II
II was Phyllis Pe7tin was al lihert
TO continue the est wherever nr
whenever she liked Phyllis BentG
was a very nice girl, and very nice
girls are permitted q lot Of latitude.
A persistent honking behind aroused
him from his reverie, and he pulled
into the side Of the road.
An open cresm-colored Rolls-Royce
drew level, with Eve people on board.
and he looked up as 1t passed. There
were three people In the back--two
men and a woman, and for moment
his eyes met those OF the man near
est him Then they drew ahead, and
Drummond pulled up to avoid the
thick cloud OF dust
With a slight frowp he stared at
the retreating car; he saw the man
lean over and speak TO the other
man; he saw the other man look
around. Then a bend in the road hid
them from sight, and still frowning'
Drummond pulled out his case and
III a cigarette. For the man whose
eye he had caught as the Rolls went
by was Henry Lexington. There was
no mistaking that hard-lipped, cruel
face.
Presumably, thought Hugh, the
other two occupants were Mr.. Peter
son 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 be had seen Of the man
he had not liked; he did not want
to be reminded OF him, especially just
81 Nrar - DbeltEg
He watched the white dust-cloud
rise over the hill In front as the car
topped a.; he watched IL settle ana
drift away In the faint breeze. Then
he let In his clutch and followed
quite slowly in the big cars wake.
There had been two men In front
the driver and another, and he won
dered idly II the latter was Mr.. Ben
ton. He accelerated up the hill and
swung over the top; the next mo
nent he braked hard and pulled M
tust in time. The Rolls, with the
chauffeur peering into the bonnet. had
stopped In such a position that II was
Impossible for him 70 get BY.
The girl was still seated In the back
Of the car, also the passenger 10
front. but the two other men we're
standing In the road apparently watch
ing the chauffeur. and after while
the one whom Drumm0nd had recog-
nlzed as LAkingtOn came toward him.
I'm sorTy." he begBn-and then
paused IN surprise Why. surely It's
Captain Drummond !"
Drummond nodded pleasantly.
The occupant Of car IL hardly Ike
" % change IA q nile, IL her he re