Evening star., 1921-04-19

around her.
"rli tell you when we get out on
the Hogs Back" he said. slipping
in his clutch. It's absolutely vital"
He stole a glance at her. but she
was looking straight in front of her.
and her face seemed pressionless.
You must stand Il long way off
when you do she said demurely. AT
least if it's the same thing as you
told me over the phone"
Hugh grinned sheepishly.
The exchange went wrong" he
remarked at length. astonishing
how rotten the telephones are in town
these days
Quite remarkable" she returned.
Il thought YOU weren't feeling very
well or something. OF course. if 1t
was the exchange
They sort of buzz and blow. don't
you know" he explained helpfully.
That must he most fcarfully jolly
for them" She agreed. And there
was silence for the next two
once or twice he looked at her out
of the corner of his eye. taking in
every detail of the sweet profile so
near to him. Except for their first
meeting at the Carlton. it was the
only time he had ever had her COM
pi"tely to himself, and Hugh was de-
termined to make the most of il. He
ever. Just he and she alone. He had
an overwhelming longing TO put out
ms hand and touch IL soft tendril of
hair which was blowing loose just be
hind her ear; he had an ov"rwhelm
ing longing to take her in his arms
ana II WAS then that the
girl turned and looked at him. The
car Swerved dangerously
Let's stop" she said. with the sus
picion of smile. Then you can tell
me-
Hugh drew into the side of the road,
and switched off the engine.
YOU'RE not fair hes remarked,
and if the girl saw his hand trembling
a little as he opened th. door she gave
no sign. Only her breath came a
shade faster, but Il mere man could
hardly be expected to notice such Il
tritle as that 5.
He came and stood beside her. and
his right arm lay along the seat just
behind her shoulders.
You're not fair ne repeated grave
ly. L haven't swerved like that since
l first started to drive"
Tell me about this important
thing" she said a little nervously.
He smiled. and no woman Yet born
could see Hugh Drummond smile
without smiling too.
You darling" he whispered. under
his breath-"you adorable darling"
His arm closed around her. and. al
most before she realized it. she felt
his lips on hers. For moment she
sat motionlesS. while the wonder of il
more gloriously blue, and the woods
richer green. Then. with a little
gasp. she pushed him away.
You mustn't oh. You mustn't,
Hugh. she whispered.
"And why not. little girlo' he said
ey IN OIL, L 7
YOU"
But look. there's man over there.
and he'll see"
Hugh glanced at the stolid laborer
in question and smiled.
GO an absolute mucker over the
cabbageS. what? Plant carrots by mis-
take" His face was still very close
to hers. "Well?'
Wei. what" she murmured.
It's your turn" he whispered Il
love you. Phyllis-just love you"
But it's only two or three days
since we met" she said feeb!y.
And phwat the divil has that go. to
do with it. at ALL" he dema nded.
Would I be wanting longer to de-
eide such an obxious fact? Tell me-
he went on. and she felt his arm
around her again forcing her to look
at him-"tell me don't you care
a lttle?"
Whats the use?' She still strug-
gled, hut. even to her. it wasn't very
convincing. We've got other thing 9
10 do We cant think o:
And then this very determined
young man settled matters in his usual
straightforward fashion. She felt
herself lifted bodily out of the car az
if she had been II child: she found her
self lying in his arms. with Hugh's
eyes loking Very tenderly into her
own. and whimsical grin round his
mouth.
great regularity. I know you'd hate
to be discovered in this position"
Would r. she whispered. Il
wonder :"
She felt his heart pound madly
against her; and with a sudden quick
movement she put both her arms
around his neck and kissed him on the
mouth.
rs that good enough she asked.
very low; and just for a few moments.
TIM. stood still Then. very
gently, he put her back in the car.
Il suppose" he remarked resgn"dly.
that We had better descend to
triviaiities. We've had lots of fun
and games since l last saw you i year
or two ago.
Idiot boy" she said happily. 1T
was yesterday morning."
The interruption is considered
trivial Mera>facts don't count when
it's you and me-" There was IA further
interlude of uncertain duration. fol-
lowed rapidly by another because the
first was so nice.
ITO resume" continued Hugh Il
regret to state that they've got Potts"
The girl sat up quickly and stared
at him.
Got him? Oh. Hugh. how did they
manage it,
I'm damned if know" he answer
ed grimly. They found out that he
was in by bungalow at Goring during
the afternoon by sending around a
man to sec about the water. Somehow
or other he must have doped the
drink or the fnd. because after dinner
we all fell asleep | can just remem-
her seeing Lakington's face outside in
the garden. pressed against the win
dow. and then everything went out. /
don't remember anything more till |
woke this morning with the most an
railing head. OF course, Potts had
gone"
Il heard the car drive up in the
m!ddl" of the night" said the girl
thouGhtfully. DO you think he's at
tn" Films now"
That is what I propose to find out
tonight answered Hugh.
(IO be continued tom 0rrow