The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-07-01

was very nice girl, ana very nice
girls are permitted a lot of latitude.
A persistent henking behind aroused
him from his reverie. and he pulled
into the side Of the road.
An open cream-coIored Rolls Royce
drew level. with Eve people on board
and he looked up as 1t passed. There
were three people In the back--twc
men and 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 slight frown 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 bend In the road hid
them from sight. and still frownlng,
Drummond pulled out his case and
lit cigarette. For the man whose
eye he mad caught as the Rolls went
by was Henry darlington. There WINS
no mistaking that hard-llpped, cruel
face.
Presumably. thought Hugh, the
other two occupants were Mr. Peter
son and the doubtful daughter, Irma ;
Presumably they were returning to The
Elms. And Incidentally there seemed
no pronounced reasons why they
shouldn't. But, somehow, the sudden
appearance of darlington had upset
him; he felt irritable and annoyed.
What little he had seen of the man
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 It; he watched 1t settle and
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 IL the latter was Mr.. Benz
ton. He accelerated up the hill and
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 position that 1t was
impossible for him to get by.
I 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 while
the one whom Drummond had recog-
nized as Lakington came toward him.
"rm sorry" he began--and then
paused In surprise. "Why. surely It's
Captain Drummondi"
Drummond nodded pleasantly.
"The occupant Of a car is hardly like
ly to change In a mile. is hei" he re-
marked. "rm afraid / forgot to
wave as you went past. but got
your smile all right. Are. you likely
to be long. because If SO, I'll stop my
engineer
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" said Peterson with q
smile. you've. known her long
time. expectr
"Quite long time" returned Hugh.
ave have jazzed together on many
occasions"
(which makes II all the more un-
fortunate that we should have de-
layed you" said Peterson. Il can't
help thinking, Lexington. that that
new chauffeur Is bit OF fool"
Il hope he avoided the crash all
right" murmured Drummond politely.
Both men looked at him. THE
crashr' said darlington. "There was
no question Of a crash. We just
stopped"
Really remarked Drumm0nd. Il
think, sir. that you must be right In
your diagnosis Of your chaufreur's
mentality" He turned courteously to
Peterson. "wheIl something goes
wrong. for a fellah to stop his car.
BIZ braking 80 hard that he locks both
back wheels, Is no bon, as we used
to say In France. thought. judging
BY the tracks IN the dust, that you