New Britain herald., 1922-10-09
What Allen Drake Did As His
 Farewell

For a long minute after Lillian's explanation Allen Drake stood silent his long, thick eyelashes-the oddly effeminate note about him-conceal- ing the angry frown which l was sure was in his eyes, But when he finally threw up his head with q character istic gesture, there was nothing but his usual indolent, bored expression to be seen in either face or eyes.
 T will go at once, then he said decisively The chief is with Smith now, and, of course, will attend to all details of his being left to himself when the time comes"
 He paused, and Lillian struck in promptly:
 Which of course, will not be un- til your driver returns with the news that you are in the car at the other end of that road in which the limou- sine is hidden
 Naturally" he returned laconical' ly. Do you know how many miles it is?"
 Tom Chesters Reply
 He addressed Lillian directly, all though he must have known that only young Mir. Chester knew the answer to his question. She turned to Mir. Chester with a gesture, ana the tone in which his answer was voiced showed the hurt the boy was suffering at Allen Drake's unaccount- able rudeness
 Nineteen and half" he said with nrooiciap driver rnIll6 through the wood road where the car is hidden, the distance would be half that, but he, of course, cannot do that"
 ''Thirty-nine miles, Mir. Drake unused, as if he had not heard the others exclamation The chief can count on over an hour of Smiths company. Very we'll If you'll have my driver ready at the side entrance" he bowed to Lillian, "1ll just sep up and get my suit case, and then across for final word with the chief. "I'h communicate with you at the usual place, Good-by :"
 He crossed to her and held out his hand She took it, and looked at him closely, with anxiety inexplicable to me in her eyes.
 You're sure you're fit?" she asked.
 Absolutely" he returned.
 Her next question was meant to be inaudible. but I am able to read lips to some extent, and l was sure I saw hers frame the significant word "Heeled?"
 He tapped his coat with a careless, assenting gesture, and 1 felt myself grow cold with a sudden apprehension of the danger into which he was going so debonairly. I had forgotten that Smith and the men associated with him were desperate and would stop at nothing. To set about the tracking of them as Allen Drake was about to do. was a more dangerous undertaking than hunting a maneat- ing tiger in .he jungle.
 I had been so annoyed at his capti- c"s rudeness that l do not think I would have spoken to him a word be- side the conventional adieus, but the sudden revelation of his danger and of the fine brave spirit with which he was going into it, made me start to my feet abruptly, go over to him and hold out my hand"
 T did not know you were going away for more than a few hours I said breathlessy. T am so sorry"
 Sorry For What?"
 Into his eyes flashed the old ironi- cal look-the look which has always puzzled. annoyed and fascinated me, tempered as it is with something in- scrutable unfathomable, at least to me.
 Sorry, for what-your cruelty to me?" he said in a low-toned raillery Surely, not at the prospect of my absence"
 I tried nervously to draw away the hand I had held out to him, and which he still held. But instead Of releasing it he covered it with his other hand and smiled down at me tantalizingly.
 Don't be so miggardly' he said, and l nervously realized that whether purposely or not, his words must be perfectly audible both to Lillian and Tom Chester. You may never be compelled to endure my handclasp again"
 I acquitted him of my desire to trade on my sympathey-he was pstently burlesquing--but his words brought back the terror which had come to me.
 Tt is--awful-to have you go on this errand I said. "Please-you al ways treat danger so lightly-you will be careful, won't you?"