The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-10-20

the man who had been busy doing
nothing feverishly trying to crank his
car. which, after the manner OF the
brutes, had seized that moment to jib.
Still smiling. Hugh got out and
walked up 10 the perspiring driver.
"a warm day" he Inurmured.
Don't hurry; wen visit for YOU
Then. while the man, utterly taken
aback. stared at him speechlessly, he
strOlled back to his own car
'Hugh-yOu're mad. quite mad.
said rcter resignedly, as with splut
teriRg roar the other car started, but
Hugh still smiled. On the way to
the alrdrome he stopped twice after a
block in the traffic to make quite sure
that the pursuer should have no
chance of losing him. and, by the time
they were clear of the traffic and spin
ming toward their destination, the gen
tleman in the car behind fully agreed
with Darrell.
At first he had expected some trick
being d person of tOrtuouS brain; but
as time went ON, and nothing mex-
pected happened. he became assured
His orders were TO follow the mil
Iionaire. and inform headquarters
where he was taken TO. And assured
~ at the moment il seemed easy mon
ey. Then. quite suddenly. the hum
ming stopped and he frOwned. The
car i'm front had swung or the road.
and turned through the entrance of
small airdrOme What the devil was
hc To do now? Most assuredly he
could not pursue an airplane on a mo-
tOr-even a racer Blindly. without
thinking. he did the first thing that
came into his head. He left his car
standing where il was, and followed
the others into the airdrome Un foot
Perhaps he could find OUT something
from one OF the mechanics: someone
might be able to tell him where the
plane was going.
There she was with the car beside
her. and already the millionaire was
being strapped into his seat. Drum
mOnd was talking to the pilot. and
the sleuth, full of eagerness. accosted
a passing mechanic.
Can YOU tell me where that air.
plane is going toy he asked ingrati-
atingly.
It was perhaps unfortunate that the
said mechanic had just had a large
spanner dropped on his toe, and his
answer was not helpful. 1t was an
education in one way, and at any 9th
er time the pursuer would have treat
ed it with the respect It deserved.
But, as it was, 1t was unfortunate
that Peter Darrell should have chosen
that moment to look round. And all
he saw was the mechanic talking ear
upon he talked earnestly to Drum
mOnd.
In thinking it over after, that IN
happy sleuth whose job had seemed so
easy, found it difficult to say exactly
what happened. All OF a sudden he
found himself surrounded by people
all very afrable and most converse
tiOnal. 1t took him quite FIVE minutes
10 get back to his car, and by that
time the plane was a speck in the
west. DrummOnd was standing by
the gates when he got there, with a
look OF profound surprise on his face.
"One have seen Often,' remarked
the soldier; two sometimes; three
rarely; four never. Fancy four pune
fures-all at the same time Dear,
ONNA pOSttlFcIy lHSiSl on ElFIGE
| YOU q. lift
He felt himself irresiStibly propelled
| toward Drummond's car, with only
time for fleeing glimpse at his own
four fiat tires, and almost before he
realized it they were away. And it
was then that the man he had thought
! mad laughed gently.
rs it all right, Peter2' Hugh asked.
'All safe" came q voice from he
hind.
Then dot him Onew
The sleuth had a fieeting vision OF
stars OF all colOrs which danced be-
fore his eyes, coupled with a stun
ing blow on the back of the head.
Vaguely he realized the car was pull
ing up-then blackneSS
FOUR.
My dear fellow. I told YOU we'd
get here somehow" Hugh Drummond
stretched his legs luxuriOusly. The