Middletown transcript., 1921-06-11
CHAPTER lI-Continued.

CHAPTER II-Cohtinueo.
N-
"He's so motionless,' answered
Hugh. s'The bally fellow hasn't
moved a muscle since I've been here.
l believe he'd sit on hornets nest,
and leave the inmates guessing. Great
gift, Mr.. Lakington. Shows a strength
Of will but rarely met with-a mind
which rises above mere vulgar Gu
riosity."
1T is undoubtedly a great gift to
have such a mind, Captain Drum
mond," said Lakington. "And if 1t
isn't born in a man, he should most
certainly try to cultivate it. Shall
we be seeing you this evening?'
Drummond shrugged his shoulders.
sI'm the vaguest man that ever lived," {"
he said lightly. II might be listen
ing to nightingales in the country ;
or I might be consuming steak and
onions preparatory to going to night
club. So long. Hope you don't
break down again so suddenly"
He watched the Rolls-Royce start,
but seemed in no hurry to follow suit.
And his many friends, who were wont
to regard Hugh Drummond as mass
of Drawn not too plentifully supplied
with brains, would have been puz-
zled had they seen the look of keen
concentration on his face, as he stared
along the white dusty road. He could
not say why, but suddenly and very
certainly the conviction had come tC
him that this was no hoax and no
leg-pull-but grim ana sober reality
In his Imagination he heard the SUD
den sharp order to stop the instant
they were over the hill, so that Peter
son might have a chance OF inspect
ing him; in a flash of intuition ne
knew that these two men were M
ordinary people, and that he was sus
| pect. Two thoughts were dOminan
| in his mind. The first was that there
was some mystery about the motion
less, unnatural man who had sat be
side the driver; the second was dis
tinct feeling Of relief that his auto
matte was fully loaded.
THREE.
At half-past five he stopped in from
of Godalming pOstOffice. To his sur
prise the girl handed him a wire, ant
Hugh tore the yellow envelope opel
quickly. 1t was from Denny, and
was brief and to the point:
"Phone message received. AAA
Must see you Carlton tea day afte
tomorrow. Going Godalming now
AAA. Message ends"
With a slight smile he noticed tn
military phraseOlogy- at on
time in his career had been signale
and then lie frowned. "Must Sc
you" She shouldn't once.
He turned to the girl and inquire
the way to The Larches. 1t wa
about two miles, he gathered, on tn
Guifdferd read, and impossible
miss. A biggish house standing we
back in its own grounds
SIS it anywhere near house calle
The Elms?" he asked.
"Next door, sir" said the girl. 9Th
gardens adjoin."
He thanked her. and having tor
up the telegram into small pieces, h
got into his car. There was nOthin
for it, he had decided. but to driy
boldly up to the house. and say thf
he had come to call on Miss Bentol
He had never been a man who be:
appealed to him-a trait in his cha
acter which many boxer, addicte
to tOrtuous cunning in the ring, ha
good cause to remember. What MOI
natural, he reflected. than to driN
over and see such an old friend?
He had no difficulty in finding ii
house, and a few minutes later
> was ringing the front-door bell.
was answered By a maidservant.
"Is Miss Benton in?" Hugh askt
, with a smile which at once won Il
girls heart.
, "She has only just come back fro
5 London, SIR" she answered doubtful
II don't know whether >"
"Would you tell her that CAPITA
Drummond called?" said Hugh as t
. maid hesitated. "That I happened
; find myself near here, and came
chance Of seeing her?'
Once again the smile was CALI
into play, and the girl hesitated
. longer. "Will you come inside. sir
she said. II will go and tell MI
Phyllis"
: She ushered him into the dra'
! ing-room and closed the door.
was charming room, just such as
, would have expected with Phyllis. b
windows, opening down to the groun
led out on to a lawn, which was