“I’m coming to see you,” she said, coloring. “I’m going home now. Good-bye.”
She hurriedly kissed him, and before he had time to speak she was half-way up the hill. At the rear gate she waved, then disappeared behind the mass of shrubbery that lined her father’s place.
Ten minutes later the Captain heard the roar of the open exhaust from the girl’s motor. Like a red streak the car shot down the hill of the Fox estate and into County Road. The Captain gasped as he watched a cloud of dust engulf the flying car.
CHAPTER XVI
All those who saw the flying car stood and stared after it. Hank Simpson, who was on his way over from the Little River railroad station with a load of merchandise, heard the roar, and sprang from his wagon-seat. He ran to his horses’ heads. But no sooner had he seized the bits of the frightened animals than he let go. He recognized the girl who sped past him. He clambered back into his wagon and whipped his team into a dead run. He drew rein on the racing horses before a group of gaping men in front of the general store.
“Did you see anything down yon way, Hank?” asked Jud Johnson.
“See!” exclaimed Hank, rubbing the dust from his eyes. “See! Good God! Boys, that damn thing was running away! Hear me? It was running like hell! What are you 309 gaping fools standing here for, looking like a passel of brainless idiots! ’Phone!” he screamed.
“’Phone what? Who to?” asked Jud with exasperating calm.