Into the grounds of one of the finest homes on "Fourth Lake Ridge," otherwise known as "Aristocracy Hill," Matt backed the little runabout. A brick-paved roadway, overarched with trees, led from the front of the premises to the neat garage in the rear.
A middle-aged gentleman, stout of build and with a florid face, was sitting on the veranda of the house. The runabout, worrying backward up the street and into the yard, was an astonishing sight. The middle-aged gentleman leaned against the rail and stared; then, waving a newspaper which he held in his hand, he shouted something and hurried down the steps and toward the driveway.
"Dad!" murmured Miss Lorry, with an apprehensive glance at Matt.
A man--probably the Lorry chauffeur--appeared in the open door of the garage and stared at the runabout in open-mouthed amazement.
Matt brought the car to a stop, and Mr. Lorry came puffing up alongside.
"What in the world's the matter, Ethel?" he demanded, his eyes swerving from his daughter to Matt.
"I smashed the low gear, dad, and had to come in on the reverse," Miss Lorry answered. "I was just coming into the Waunakee road, two or three miles the other side of Maple Bluff, when the gear went wrong."
Mr. Lorry's eyes continued to rest on Matt, and they were becoming uncomfortably inquisitive. He was wondering, no doubt, who Matt was, how he came to be in the car, and why his daughter did not introduce him.
"Call Gus," went on Miss Lorry, jumping lightly out of the car, "and have him run _Dandy_ into the garage. Gus will know what to send for in order to make the runabout as good as new again."
Without waiting to speak further, the girl whirled about and ran into the house. Mr. Lorry stared after her, and then turned to give Matt another look.
"I have been--a racing chauffeur," Matt answered, springing to the ground, "but I haven't been driving a car for some time."
"You helped my daughter--that much is plain, even though I _have_ been left in the dark on several other points."
"I was coming into town along the Waunakee road," Matt went on, "to see you."
"To see me?" Mr. Lorry's interest visibly increased.
"Yes, sir, on very important business. I happened to meet Miss Lorry and she kindly gave me a ride into town. The least I could do was to run her machine for her."