The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-01-13

whenever she liked. Phyllia kenton
was q very nice girl. and very ntcs
girls are permitted lot Of latitude.
A persistent honking behind aroused
him from his reverie, and he pulled
into the side Of the road.
An open cream-coIored Rolls-Royce
drew level, with i've people on board,
and he looked up as 1t passed. There
were three people In the back--two
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 a 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 frowning,
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 was
no mistaklng that hard-lipped, 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 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.
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.. Ben
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 peering into the bonnet, had
stopped In such a position that 1t was
impossible for him to get by.
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 Lexington came toward him.
I'm sorry" he began--and then
paused in surprise. why, surely it's
Captain Drummondp
Drummond nodded pleasantly.
1.-THE occupant of car is hardly like
ly to change in a mile, is he?" he re
marked. I'm afraid l forgot t.
wave as you went past. but l got
your smile all right. Are you likely
to be long, because II so, 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 Lexington, az
he came up.
ANY friend of Miss Benton's is
I hope, ours" said Peterson with
smile. you've known her a loni
time, expectT"
"Quite long time" returned Hugh
ave have jazzed together on many
occasions"
(Which makes 1t all the more I'M
fortunate that we should have de-
layed you" said Peterson. ~ can't
help thinking, Lexington, that that
new chauffeur Is a bit of fool"
81 hope he avoided the crash all
right" murmured Drummond politely.
Both men looked at him. 1.-THE
crash !" said Lexington. There was
no question of crash. We just
stopped"
Really" remarked Drummond. II
think, sir, that you must be right in
your diagnosis of your chauffeur's
mentality" He turned courteousIy to
Peterson. "When something goes
wrong, for fellah to stop his car,
ny DTuhluS 80 LdIu that uc lOCkS DOul
back wheels, is no bon, as we used
to say In France. l thought, judging
by the tracks in the dust, that you
must have been In imminent danger
of ramming a traction engine. won
der II l could help your man." he
continued. "Tm bit of an expert with
a Rolls"
"How very kind Of you" said Peter
son. "I'll go and see." He went over
to the man and spoke few words.
isn't 1t extraordinary" remarked
Hugh, show the eye Of the boss gal
vanizes the average man into activ-
ity. AS long, probably, as Mr.. Peter
son had remained here talking, that
chauffeur would have gone on tinker
ing with the engine. And now-look,
in a seeond-all serene. And yet l
dare say Mr.. Peterson knows nothing
about 1t really. Just the watching
eye Mr.. Lexington. Wonderful thing
the human optic"
He rambled on with genial smile,
watching with apparent interest the
car In front. who's the quaint bird
u.