American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-04-16


portable lunch at his club, he had
started about 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 a gentle warmth, n balm.
iness In the day that made II good to
be alive. and once or twice he sang
under his breath through sheer light.
heartedness OF spirit. Surrounded by
the peaceful beauty Of the fields, with
an occasional village half hidden BY
great trees from under which the tiny
houses peeped out, II seemed impos-
sible that crime could exist-laugl,.
able. OF course the thing was hoax,
nm elaborate leg.pull, but being not
guilty of any mental subterfuge. Hugh
Drummond admitted to himself quite
truly that he didn't care d--n II
II was. Phyllis Benton was at liberty
to continue the jest wherever and
whenever she liked. Phyllis Benton
was very nice girl. and very nice
girls are permitted n lot OF latitude.
A persistent honking behind aroused
him from his reyerie. and he pulled
into the side of the road.
An open crenm.colored ROlls-Royce
drew level, with five people on board.
and he looked up as II passed. There
were three people in the back-twO
men and a woman, and for u 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 n slight frown he stared ct
the retreating car; he saw the man
lean over and speak TO the other
man: he saw the other man look
around. Then n bend In the road hid
them from sight, and still frowning,
Drummond pulled out his case and
lit cigarette. For the man whose
| eye he had caught ms the Rolls went
| by was Henry darlington. There was
no mistaklng that hard.lipped, cruel
face.
I Presumably. thought Hugh, the
other two occupants were Mr.. Peter
son and the doubtful daughter, Trina I;
! Presumably they were returning ~ The
Films. And incidentally there seemed
no pronounced reason 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.
lie watched the white dust-cloud
rise over the hill In front as the car
topped Il; he watched II 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 II the latter was Mr.. Ben
| ton. lie accelerated up the hill and
| swung over the top: the next mo-
ment he braked hard and pulled up
iust In time. The Rolls, with the
| chauffeur peering into the bonnet, had
| stopped IN such position that II was
impossible for him 10 get by.
| The girl was still seated In the back
| Of the car, also tile passenger IN
| front. but the TWO other men were
standing IN the road apparently watch
| ing the chauffeur, aud after whlie
| the one whom Drummond had recos-
| nIzed as Lnklngton came toward him.
I'm sorry" he began-and then
paused IN surprise, why, surely its
| Captain Drummond !"
Drummond nodded pleasantly
"The occupant of II car II hardly ike
~ TO change In mile, Is hep he re-
marked. I'm afraid forgot to
wave ~ you went past, but ! got
your smile all right. Are you 'iReiy
to he long, because IL 50, I'll stop my
enginef"
The other man was now approach
Ing casually, and Drummond regarded
him casually. "a friend OF our little
Phyllis, Peterson" said darlington as
he came up.
"Any friend of Miss Bentons Is,
l hope, ours" said Peterson with a
smile. you've known her long
time, expectY'
"Ouite long time" returned Hugh.
1--WE have jazzed together on many
occasions"
(which makes It all the more I'M
fortunate that we should have de-
layed YOU" said Peterson. II cant
help thinking Lexington, that that
new chauffeur Is a bit OF fool"
81 hope he avoided the crash oil
right" murmured Drummond politely
Both men looked at him. The
crash 7" said Lexington. There was
no question OF crash. We Just
stopped" :,
"Really." remarked Drummond' i
think, sir, that you must be right III
your diagnosis OF your chauneurs
mentality" He turned courteously 10
Peterson. "When something goes
wrong, for fellah to stop bis car
by braklng so hard that he locks BON
hack wheels, Is no bon, as we used
TO say In France. thought, judging
by the tracks In the dust, that you
must have been In imminent danger
~ rammlng n traction engine. l-woh'