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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10954-0.txt b/10954-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef26d4c --- /dev/null +++ b/10954-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5798 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10954 *** + +[Illustration: AT THE CORRECT MOMENT PEGGY DROPPED THE WEIGHTED BUNDLE +OVERBOARD.--Page 103.] + +THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE + +BY + +MARGARET BURNHAM + +AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC. + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +1911 + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH + II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF + III. A NAVAL VISITOR + IV. ALOFT IN A STORM + V. PEGGY A HEROINE + VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT" + VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES + VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS + IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB" + X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE + XI. THE MARKED BILL + XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY + XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT + XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT + XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID + XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB + XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED + XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS + XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE + XXII. THE WHITE PERIL + XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS + XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH. + + +"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?" + +Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road. + +About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation--a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily. + +"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie. + +"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken." + +"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels." + +"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy. + +"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert--there's a good fellow--and we'll soon find +out." + +"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands." + +"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy. + +"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you--just once." + +"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept. + +She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position. + +Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers. + +"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or----" + +"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting." + +"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses----" + +Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands. + +"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately. + +An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance. + +"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped. + +"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick." + +"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin." + +Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson: + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?" + +"Roy!" reproved Peggy. + +"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it." + +"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!" + +The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned. + +"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?" + +"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour." + +"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?" + +"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and--approved." + +Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses. + +"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant. + +Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit. + +Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business. + +From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman. + +His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before--Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF. + + +Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer. + +In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate. + +In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine--otherwise inaccessible--had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings." + +The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised--as has been said--to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed. + +"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice--not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see." + +The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof--there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive--the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country. + +"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?" + +Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there. + +When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke. + +"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap. + +"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments." + +"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it." + +Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously. + +"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?" + +"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was--well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy." + +"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of----" + +"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way." + +"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's--you know whom I mean?" + +The other nodded abstractedly. + +"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed--oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach--that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also." + +"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark. + +"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently." + +"You mean----" + +"That I intend to cinch that government business." + +"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?" + +"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact." + +With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NAVAL VISITOR + + +Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates. + +The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life. + +Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice--a remarkably +pleasant voice: + +"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?" + +"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face. + +At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn. + +"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came--er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service." + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we--I--that is----" + +"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me----" + +"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat--I mean a seat?" + +"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics. + +"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly. + +"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He--he will be +back shortly." + +"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the--the----" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it. + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded. + +"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away. + +"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?" + +"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish." + +"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration." + +"A flight?" + +"Yes, if it were possible." + +"I think it can be arranged." + +"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?" + +Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now. + +"No. I guess it's an aviatress--if there is such a word. You see I----" + +"You!" + +"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is." + +A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer. + +"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?" + +"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott." + +As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes. + +"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert." + +"Indeed! That is most interesting." + +Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes. + +[Illustration: When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the +place of the lounger in the hammock.] + +But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished. + +When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands. + +"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above." + +"Perhaps the lieutenant----" ventured Miss Prescott. + +"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there." + +"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion. + +By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the _Golden Butterfly_, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out--it moved easily on its landing wheels--stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces. + +A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel. + +"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller." + +The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least. + +"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working. + +"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated." + +Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well! + +"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury. + +"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her. + +Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring. + +With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier. + +In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating. + +Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock. + +The _Golden Butterfly_ had never done better. + +"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN A STORM + + +Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes. + +"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury. + +A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it--she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient _Golden Butterfly_ began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant. + +The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy. + +"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun." + +Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve--the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it--into its teeth, as it were. + +Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up--fifty, sixty, sixty-two--she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do. + +"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!" + +The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly. + +"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped. + +"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile. + +Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the _Golden +Butterfly_ swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp. + +So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance. + +"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer. + +"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the _Golden Butterfly_ through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet." + +If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake. + +Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp. + +"I say----" + +But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard. + +"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile. + +"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how----" + +"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy. + +The young officer bit his lip. + +"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?" + +Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin. + +"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?" + +"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness." + +Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation. + +The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds--squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with. + +"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up." + +"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over." + +"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?" + +"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls." + +"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the _Dixie_. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon." + +Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles. + +Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the _Golden Butterfly_ was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents. + +"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied. + +"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through." + +"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy--like ducks, you know." + +Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place. + +The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer. + +"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house." + +"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury. + +He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply. + +"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder. + +"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears." + +"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart. + +"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?" + +"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate." + +"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?" + +"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be." + +"It's worse than queer--it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?" + +"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled. + +"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose----Good heavens, what's that?" + +From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something--a huge, indefinite shadow--darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PEGGY A HEROINE. + + +"It's--it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement. + +"What!" + +Peggy sprang to her feet. + +"A large red one?" + +"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours--yours, I mean." + +The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +_Golden Butterfly_. + +"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped. + +"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side. + +"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane--the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!" + +Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations. + +"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?" + +"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and----" + +"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side. + +"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We----" + +"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother----" + +"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic." + +Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there. + +"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book." + +He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone. + +"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit--er--er--unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?" + +"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago." + +"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this--this----" + +"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy. + +"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?" + +"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit--no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day." + +"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it." + +"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale. + +"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?" + +"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently." + +"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close." + +"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire. + +"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way." + +"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government." + +"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any----" + +The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway. + +"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen. + +But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it. + +A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury. + +Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere. + +"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice. + +Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper. + +"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!" + +"Where?" demanded Peggy. + +"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting. + +"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me." + +"But the boys!" gasped Jess. + +"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing." + +With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions. + +"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm. + +"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway. + +In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm. + +Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard. + +Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task. + +"I must do it--I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child. + +But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared. + +But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily--and knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT." + + +When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house. + +"Is--is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings. + +"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames." + +"And Jess and Jimsy and----" + +"And that other young fellow? Why, they----" + +"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer. + +"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating." + +Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen." + +"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and----" + +"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto." + +"But what about the _Butterfly_?" asked Peggy. + +"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time." + +"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane--that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way." + +"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there. + +"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm. + +"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer." + +He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said: + +"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like----" + +"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again. + +"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess. + +"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife. + +"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day--two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out." + +"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy. + +"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do." + +Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance. + +Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane--the _Red Dragon Fly_, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off. + +They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction. + +Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake. + +"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed. + +"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there." + +"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road." + +"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe. + +Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train. + +"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors." + +"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was. + +Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The _Golden Butterfly_ had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device? + +There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm. + +"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet--and yet----" + +But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES. + + +It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows. + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man." + +"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the _Butterfly_ while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill. + +Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side. + +"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly. + +"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly. + +"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief." + +"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe. + +"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?" + +"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?" + +"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?" + +"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily." + +On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried. + +As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down. + +"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?" + +There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something. + +"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly. + +"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy----" + +Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears. + +"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff. + +"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came." + +"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery." + +"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details." + +"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?" + +"Why, Jimsy--I mean Mr. Bancroft--his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway." + +"What! Your brother was not there?" + +"Certainly not. He didn't come till later." + +"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?" + +"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand." + +"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here----" + +"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone. + +The sheriff went on: + +"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that----" + +But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short. + +"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake. + +"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now." + +"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother." + +"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now." + +"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do." + +"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first." + +"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer." + +"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely. + +"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised. + +In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy. + +For what object? + +"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough." + +They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?" + +"Because--forgive me Jimsy--you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless----" + +"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally. + +"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us." + +The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff. + +"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous." + +They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question: + +"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?" + +"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'----" + +"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially. + +Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +_Golden Butterfly_ at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her. + +"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'--why, what's the +trouble?" + +For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed. + +"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned. + +"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it." + +"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!" + +"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly." + +A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer. + +"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked. + +The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory. + +"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough." + +After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the _Golden Butterfly_ and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above. + +As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor: + +"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS. + + +Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine. + +Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops. + +All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car. + +"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped. + +"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes. + +In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band. + +"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess. + +"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else." + +She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry. + +"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!" + +"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or----" + +"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's--oh, Jess--it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away." + +"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess. + +"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant----" + +A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp. + +"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss." + +He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car. + +"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't." + +"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or----" + +"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?" + +Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing. + +"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece--the money don't mean much to folks like you--an' we'll let +yer go. If not----" + +A sudden inspiration came to Peggy--a flash of recollection. + +"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out." + +She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes. + +"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air----" + +He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it. + +"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back. + +The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when: + +"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!" + +From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly. + +The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid." + +"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective." + +Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part. + +"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!" + +"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?" + +"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane." + +"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped. + +"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks. + +"Well--well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?" + +"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust. + +The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement. + +"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?" + +"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out." + +"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down." + +In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off. + +"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them." + +The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime. + +"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago." + +"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or----" + +"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects. + +"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well. + +"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them." + +"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp. + +"Naw!" echoed the other. + +"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you." + +The warning came from old Mr. Harding. + +"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like." + +The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan. + +This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke. + +"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?" + +"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered: + +"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?" + +"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know." + +Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill. + +"Is this enough?" he asked. + +The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure. + +"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes. + +"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently. + +"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em." + +"What!" + +"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us." + +"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?" + +"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'" + +"Well, I may have some work for you to do----" + +"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen." + +"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you." + +"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey." + +The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug. + +"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful." + +"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB." + + +A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them. + +But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine. + +She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand. + +Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged. + +Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller. + +"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw. + +The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash. + +Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil--the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes. + +Then suddenly--as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him--Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed. + +"Let's get out the _Golden Butterfly_ and follow the----" + +"_Silver Cobweb!_" cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance. + +"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name." + +"Isn't it? But somehow, I like _Golden Butterfly_ best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service." + +Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the _Silver Cobweb_, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon. + +"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces. + +"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the _Butterfly_ against the _Cobweb_." + +But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the _Silver Cobweb_. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about. + +Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about. + +All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak. + +"The sea!" + +The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy. + +They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean. + +"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy. + +So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water. + +And still the _Silver Cobweb_ kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +_Golden Butterfly_ maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up. + +"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +_Cobweb_ can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much." + +"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy. + +And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea. + +That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie. + +"Are you going to keep on, Roy?" + +The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height. + +"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are." + +"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the _Butterfly_ above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for." + +"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair--a +very modern corsair--urging his craft above the ancient sea. + +The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait. + +Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the _Golden Butterfly_ descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant _Golden +Butterfly_. + +"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something----" + +"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want." + +Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the _Golden +Butterfly_ hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull. + +Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted. + +"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!" + +It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh. + +The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN AERIAL POST OFFICE. + + +Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq." + +It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read: + + TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE, + + Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air: + Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_. + + R. & M. PRESCOTT. + +That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose. + +All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights--spare bolts from the tool +locker--to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them. + +"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?" + +"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath. + +"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail." + +Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +_Golden Butterfly_ began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl--and a pretty one--was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly. + +And Peggy--what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later: + +"I was in an aeroplane, my dear--a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact." + +In the meantime, Mortlake, in the _Silver Cobweb_, had been duly mystified +as to what the _Golden Butterfly_ was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the _Golden +Butterfly_ were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine. + +But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the _Golden +Butterfly_, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction. + +"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine." + +And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes. + +"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant. + +"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?" + +The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck. + +"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible." + +"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore." + +"If you please." + +But what was the _Golden Butterfly_ doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the _Silver Cobweb_. + +As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The _Cobweb_ leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the _Golden Butterfly_ was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour. + +"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward. + +"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week." + +This seemed to be true. The _Golden Butterfly_, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind. + +"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant. + +Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for. + +Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more. + +All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake." + +Mortlake glanced back. The _Golden Butterfly_, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels. + +"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit--that and advanced spark." + +He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the _Silver Cobweb_ would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down. + +"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot." + +Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane--or glide--downward, without the +aid of the engine. + +"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or----" + +Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity. + +But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the _Silver Cobweb_ to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be--and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him--he was a master of +the aerial craft. + +Despite the mishap to the engine--caused by his own carelessness--Mortlake +managed to bring the _Silver Cobweb_ to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue. + +The instant the _Silver Cobweb_ came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the _Golden Butterfly_ +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the _Cobweb_, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do. + +"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident. + +"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right." + +"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table. + +"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that." + +"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola." + +Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests. + +"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively. + +"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here." + +"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled." + +A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the _Golden +Butterfly_, swooping and hovering above the disabled _Cobweb_. + +"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy. + +"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification. + +"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones. + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury. + +"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer. + +In five minutes the _Golden Butterfly_ was on the sward beside the +crippled _Cobweb_. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at--for him--such an +inopportune moment. + +"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?" + +"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated." + +"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man. + +"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy." + +"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly--"cattily," she said it was, afterward. + +Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed. + +"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand. + +The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful _Golden Butterfly_ was taking the air once +more. + +"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself. + +From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARKED BILL. + + +Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows: + +"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government." + +"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see--three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!" + +The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck. + +When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protegé, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it. + +"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island. + +By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be. + +In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine. + +They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent--too recent, in fact--style. + +"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes. + +"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place." + +The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily. + +"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you." + +"I beg your pardon----" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road. + +Later that day the _Silver Cobweb_ ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance. + +The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake. + +They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets. + +While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office. + +Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men. + +"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking. + +The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded. + +"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?" + +"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry." + +This Slim--or to give him his correct name--Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"--as +the tramp fraternity knew him--was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants. + +"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know--a +little more money--eh?" + +He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar. + +Mortlake made a gesture of impatience. + +"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?" + +"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out." + +Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads. + +He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table. + +"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done." + +"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and----" + +"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?" + +"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey. + +"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it." + +"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?" + +"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely. + +Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim. + +Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts. + +"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?" + +"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?" + +He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection. + +"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left." + +"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case--hullo!" + +"What's up?" asked Joey. + +For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side. + +It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink. + +"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?" + +"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. + + +It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane. + +"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded. + +Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office. + +"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you." + +Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview. + +"That message you sent me--what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe----" + +"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder." + +"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be. + +"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?" + +"No. Certainly not." + +"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming." + +"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story. + +"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself--loyal fellow--to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott." + +"Good heavens!" + +"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane." + +"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?" + +"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for." + +"Monstrous!" + +"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person." + +"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake." + +"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?" + +"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case." + +Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him. + +Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction. + +"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer. + +It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp: + +"Hist!" + +Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine. + +"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy. + +"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it." + +"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy. + +"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory." + +"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?" + +"I _was_ once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me." + +"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?" + +Roy looked curiously at the man. + +"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place." + +"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" + +"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot. + +"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?" + +"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy." + +"The--the--the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this." + +"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner--he was discharged +too--he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?" + +Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest. + +"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked. + +"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?" + +"Well, I--yes, I'll go. Come on, get in." + +The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards. + +"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare. + +"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it." + +"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here." + +The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions. + +"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!" + +Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection. + +They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm. + +"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up." + +Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp. + +At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand. + +"This is the young gentleman," he said. + +Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile. + +"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house." + +"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little. + +"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer. + +Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it. + +As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm. + +Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other. + +"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me----" +began Roy. "I--here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!" + +The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back. + +The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. + + +The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind. + +"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him. + +"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not----" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head. + +The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance. + +"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable. + +"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that." + +This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair. + +"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or--" + +"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?" + +Roy saw. + +"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track." + +"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking. + +"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move. + +"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way." + +He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them. + +"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question." + +Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years. + +The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place. + +Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice--otherwise Joey +Eccles--struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire. + +This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object? + +"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott." + +A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it. + +"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward. + +The boy shuddered. + +"Not in there?" he said. + +"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out." + +Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was--hopeless! + +He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder. + +The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash. + +Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit. + +But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then. + +But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly. + +"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started--looked before you leaped--this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!" + +The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it. + +The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder. + +"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice." + +He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket. + +"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches. + +"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape." + +There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too. + +"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say. + +"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!" + +These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly. + +"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this." + +At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night. + +But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it. + +"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere." + +He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move. + +"Queer," thought Roy. + +He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all. + +"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for." + +Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag. + +"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on. + +Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + +The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short. + +At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THEY WORKED OUT. + + +Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand. + +The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer. + +The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice--Lieut. Bradbury's +voice--said: + +"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?" + +"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and--." + +The officer's astonished voice interrupted him. + +"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?" + +Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might. + +"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this--a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is." + +"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather." + +The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him. + +But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself. + +"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy. + +"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation. + +But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track. + +All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest. + +The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved. + +"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and--oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too." + +As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side. + +Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen. + +"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill. + +"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to----" + +"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding." + +"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?" + +The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot. + +"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury. + +Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently. + +But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind. + +"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer. + +"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it." + +He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory. + +Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence. + +It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly. + +"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow." + +"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer. + +"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily. + +The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down. + +"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it." + +But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro. + +"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again. + +"Have you got der plans?" + +The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure. + +The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation. + +"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him." + +He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back. + +"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time." + +Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes. + +With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man. + +"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears. + +He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly. + +Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins. + +What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so. + +But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other. + +"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake. + +"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy." + +"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw. + +He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly: + +"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!" + +It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +WHAT MORTLAKE DID. + + +"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor." + +A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?" + +"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully. + +The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings." + +Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall. + +"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point." + +But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him. + +"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question. + +"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull--o--a!" + +"Hullo--a!" came back out of the night. + +"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant. + +"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work. + +"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But--great Christmas--you've had better luck, I see!" + +For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes. + +"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind. + +But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment. + +"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a----" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped." + +"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly. + +"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake." + +The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up. + +"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word. + +"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar." + +The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods. + +"You--you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?" + +"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished." + +Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten? + +But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself. + +"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend--I am proud to call him +so--my young friend, Prescott." + +For the first time, Roy was moved to speak. + +"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly. + +"You do not? Who, then?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that." + +"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?" + +"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?" + +"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us." + +"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police." + +"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go----" + +"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air----" + +"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?" + +"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return." + +Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders. + +"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed. + +"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers." + +"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake. + +They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted. + +"We're near to the place now," he said. + +"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first." + +In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape. + +All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night. + +Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north. + +"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger. + +"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying." + +"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know." + +"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply. + +Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants. + +There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain. + +On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight. + +"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it. + +"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MISSING SIDE-COMB. + + +Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,--half work-shop, half study,--in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the _Golden Butterfly_. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft. + +From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument. + +As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach. + +Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was. + +"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn." + +"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen--who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?" + +"Not the least idea. Who?" + +"Fanning Harding!" + +"Fan Harding! The dickens!" + +"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the _Cobweb_. And who do you think is to be his +companion?" + +"Give it up." + +"Regina Mortlake!" + +"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?" + +"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it." + +"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy. + +"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er--er--overweight isn't it +called? so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the _Cobweb_ at +the tests." + +"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning." + +"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the _Cobweb_ +now!" + +A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out. + +[Illustration: Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz +by at a fair height.] + +"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the _Cobweb_ through it like an old general of the upper regions." + +Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully. + +"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered. + +"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time." + +But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery. + +"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests." + +"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget." + +"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west." + +But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship. + +"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted. + +"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime. + +She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style. + +"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and--but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that--but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet--and yet--Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering--and wondering. + +The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car--the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type. + +Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car. + +"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy. + +"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car. + +"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race." + +"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy. + +"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;" + +Roy flushed angrily. + +"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply. + +Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes. + +"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything." + +Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation. + +"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road." + +"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and----." But Roy checked her impatiently. + +"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister. + +Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with. + +As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same. + +"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?" + +"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no." + +"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding. + +He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels. + +"A bolt had worked loose," he explained. + +"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right. + +"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird. + +"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple. + +"Then--go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird. + +Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur. + +"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud. + +Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting--dangerous! + +"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if----" + +But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air. + +The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED. + + +Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt. + +The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it. + +One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy. + +From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces. + +Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan. + +"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes." + +"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry." + +"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though." + +Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage. + +"Can I help. I'm so sorry." + +The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side. + +"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my--my +poor car." + +"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident." + +"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?" + +"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine." + +Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned. + +"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again." + +"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?" + +"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse." + +Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet. + +"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all." + +She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out. + +"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with----." + +She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek. + +"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill." + +Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture. + + +"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily. + +"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back." + +"Jove! So it is. But, what, how----" + +"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and--and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?" + +"No. I confess I'm stupid, but----" + +"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?" + +"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane." + +A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade. + +The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result. + +Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts. + +Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost. + +"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?" + +"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?" + +"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't." + +"How did it all happen?" + +Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled. + +"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked. + +"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder. + +"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless----," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with." + +"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and----." + +"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me." + +"Well I----," began Fanning. + +But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness. + +"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident." + +"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss----." + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft." + +"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions. + +"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way. + +"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience." + +"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once." + +"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but--hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!" + +He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle. + +"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively. + +"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining. + +"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long." + +"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone." + +"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly. + +"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down." + +"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning. + +A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face. + +"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then----." He stopped. + +"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +_Red Dragon Fly_ and break the news to Miss Prescott." + +Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed. + +Regina turned to Fanning. + +"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked. + +"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A BOLT PROM THE BLUE. + + +The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain--affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +_Golden Butterfly_ was controlled by foot pressure. + +A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but--where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges. + +"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them." + +"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?" + +Roy nodded. + +"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +_Golden Butterfly_ out on top." + +"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over." + +"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend. + +"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?" + +Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant. + +"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly: + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?" + +"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed: + +"Why--why, they're coming here!" + +"Here!" echoed the others. + +"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house. + +Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority--an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower. + +"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him. + +"Miss Prescott--I--that is--er--this is a very unpleasant business--I +hope----." + +It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him. + +"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please." + +"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly. + +"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him. + +"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and----," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest." + +"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?" + +"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?" + +"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and----." + +Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow. + +"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning. + +"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official. + +"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny." + +Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself. + +"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business." + +"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town." + +Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him. + +"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once." + +Mortlake stepped forward. + +"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I----." + +"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer." + +"But I--really, I'm sorry to--Bancroft you'll listen----" + +But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face. + +"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger. + +"Why, if I may ask?" + +Jimsy flashed round. + +"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes." + +Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again. + +Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage. + +"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out." + +The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe. + +Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road. + +"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill. + +"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice. + +"What! you did not drop it?" + +"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply. + +"Then what was it doing in your possession?" + +"Do I have to answer that question, now?" + +"It will be better to--yes." + +"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake." + +"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial." + +A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village. + +"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said. + +But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak. + +"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood." + +Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy. + +"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned. + +It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant. + +"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway." + +"Oh, Peg--gy!" gasped Jess, "you would----" + +"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes. + +"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!" + +The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious. + +"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we--we--I--that--is----" + +"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice. + +He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom. + +"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank. + +"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS. + + +The aeroplanes--a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type--were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts. + +Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it. + +There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The _Sky Pilot_, the _Cloud Chaser_, the _Star Bug_, the _Moon +Mounter_, the _Aerial Auto_, the _Heavenly Harvester_, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide. + +"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the _Motor Hornet_ has the contest cinched." + +The _Motor Hornet_ was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the _Silver Cobweb_. + +The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy. + +But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it. + +This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery. + +"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by. + +But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures--two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place. + +This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the _Golden Butterfly_, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the _Butterfly_ shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward. + +The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it. + +"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or--or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty. + +"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?" + +"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the _Golden Butterfly_." + +"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you." + +"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy." + +"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada." + +"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head." + +"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting." + +"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy. + +The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless. + +"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race." + +Accordingly, the _Butterfly_ had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far--very far from being out of the race. + +On and on through the night throbbed the _Golden Butterfly_, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat. + +Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?" + +"Um--well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her: + +"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can." + +"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy. + +Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears: + +"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!" + +"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice. + +"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!" + +But now another voice came through the darkness. + +"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?" + +"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains. + +"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or----" + +The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice: + +"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness." + +The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party--there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared. + +Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy. + +In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting. + +"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice. + +There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend. + +"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy. + +The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the _Golden Butterfly_. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol. + +"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous. + +The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently. + +"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm." + +"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued. + +"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?" + +Jimsy rummaged in the _Golden Butterfly's_ tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs. + +While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm. + +She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it. + +"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out." + +"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all." + +"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory." + +"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone. + +"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now." + +"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled. + +"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia." + +"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent. + +"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then--do you know a man +named Mortlake?" + +"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey. + +"Good. You came here with him?" + +"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him. + +"What did you come for?" + +Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent. + +"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell. + +No reply. + +"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you." + +The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure. + +"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out. + +"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?" + +"To disable one of them flying machines." + +"Which one?" + +"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while--and--no, you can't stop me, Slim--and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and----" + +"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair." + +"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?" + +"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?" + +"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply. + +"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more. + +"Yes, on a trip." + +The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed. + +"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious. + +"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?" + +"Why, of course," came in a chorus. + +"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody--are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?" + +"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent. + +"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through." + +"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?" + +"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?" + +"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy. + +"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly." + +With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off. + +"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream." + +"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and----" + +"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically. + +As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the _Golden Butterfly_ and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE. + + +"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests. + +A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts. + +"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the _Cobweb_ out already," he exclaimed presently. + +Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism. + +Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators. + +The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back. + +"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the _Golden Butterfly_ +before these tests are over." + +"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate." + +"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour." + +The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them. + +Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say: + +"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids." + +Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale. + +"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't." + +"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that----" + +"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing." + +"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night." + +"They decamped--as you call it--because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched." + +"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides----" + +But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack. + +"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked. + +"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet." + +The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott." + +Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury. + +"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out: + +"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest." + +"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets. + +"Here's a book of rules. Read it." + +"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I----" + +"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly. + +"But see here----" + +"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on. + +The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him. + +"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows. + +"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go." + +"No go. What do you mean?" + +"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to." + +"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans." + +"You'll have to change 'em to beat the _Golden Butterfly_," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles." + +"Why?" + +"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the _Golden Butterfly_, +we'd have a clean sweep." + +"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time." + +"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the _Silver Cobweb_, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow. + +Bang! + +A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air. + +"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?" + +"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire. + +The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour. + +Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The _Silver +Cobweb_ was among them. + +Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers. + +Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless. + +"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +_Cobweb_. + +"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing." + +"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all." + +"Why?" + +"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again----" + +"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves." + +"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and----" + +At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged _Butterfly_. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter. + +But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the _Golden Butterfly_ would never have flown on that day. + +B-o-o-m! + +The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly. + +"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it. + +Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd. + +Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether. + +"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished. + +The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough--too willing--to explain their remarkable points. + +It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed. + +"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE WHITE PERIL. + + +"What's that? No, not that schooner below there--I mean that sort of +whitish drift--it looks like cotton--on the horizon?" + +Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy. + +"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person. + +"Ask Peggy." + +"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy." + +The _Golden Butterfly_ was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish. + +Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess. + +Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the _Cobweb_. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity. + +On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the _Golden Butterfly_. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue. + +A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The _Cobweb_ was doing slightly +better. + +"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously. + +"Will they report us?" asked Jess. + +"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point." + +Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The _Golden Butterfly_ was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The _Cobweb_ had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes. + +"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck." + +"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him. + +"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously. + +"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it." + +"Are you going to try for it?" + +"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +_Golden Butterfly_ now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation. + +Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea. + +"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner." + +"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog." + +"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully. + +"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up." + +Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the _Golden Butterfly_ knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly. + +Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts. + +"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" + +"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!" + +The other shook her head. + +"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said. + +"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily. + +"Who?" asked Jess. + +"That bell boy." + +Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one. + +Presently he looked at his watch. + +"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time." + +"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy--but it doesn't." + +She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth. + +This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply--even with the use of the auxiliary tanks--would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were--or believed they +were, navigating above the sea. + +Had the _Golden Butterfly_ been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning. + +Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below. + +"It's thick as pea soup, captain!" + +"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog." + +"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers." + +The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the _Golden +Butterfly_ on an upward course. + +But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the _Golden +Butterfly_ to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast. + +The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure. + +"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?" + +A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it. + +"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought. + +"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length. + +"I--I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake." + +"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort." + +It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there. + +"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess. + +"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert." + +"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her. + +Jimsy looked at her sharply. + +"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the _Golden Butterfly_ swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost. + +Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them. + +"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and----." + +She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +OUT OF THE CLOUDS. + + +Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The _Golden Butterfly_, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made. + +Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils. + +"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils--dragons or something." + +"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again--even if it was only shifting sand--"we trust to +you." + +"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!" + +Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again. + +"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound. + +"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is--or ought to +be--food. How about it girls, are you hungry?" + +"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess. + +"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy. + +"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?" + +"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess. + +"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth. + +They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily. + +All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending. + +The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers. + +"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?" + +"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking. + +"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks." + +There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive. + +"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we--we came in an +aeroplane, you know." + +"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island." + +"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?" + +"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile. + +"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly. + +"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?" + +Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept. + +"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or----." + +The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement. + +"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have." + +"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish." + +"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it." + +So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence. + +Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed. + +"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island." + +"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference. + +The man's face underwent a transformation. + +"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it." + +"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy. + +"Because a wrong--a very great wrong--was done to me there," said the man +slowly. + +Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark. + +After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity. + +"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce." + +Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut. + +On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled. + +Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears. + +"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?" + +The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying: + +"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here." + +"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's. + +[Illustration: The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two +new guests.] + +"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel." + +The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers. + +Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests. + +"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed: + +"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island." + +"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone. + +Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush. + +"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister. + +"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically. + +The man of the island looked on wonderingly. + +"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels. + +"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone. + +"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left." + +"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food." + +But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts. + +"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina." + +The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?" + +The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama. + +"Yes," she said; "why?" + +"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me." + +"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back." + +The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone. + +"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour." + +"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer. + +"Do you mean Mortlake?" + +"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?" + +The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion. + +"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off." + +"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?" + +"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake." + +The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered. + +"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?" + +"He is in Hampton--why?" + +"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him." + +The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound. + +"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry." + +"Will you do something for me--will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them. + +"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy. + +"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so." + +In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor. + +"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till--till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds." + +"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!" + +Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton. + +"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The _Silver +Cobweb_), four persons on board." + +Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton. + +"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him. + +"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the _Mortlake_ is +leading. Now if only----" + +But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng. + +Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats. + +"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!" + +Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +_Golden Butterfly_. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft--its silvery sheen betrayed it--was the Mortlake _Cobweb_, as +Roy had called it. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?" + +But alas, the _Cobweb_ didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the _Golden Butterfly_ had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the _Cobweb_ fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +_Golden Butterfly's_ feat. + +Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION. + + +The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished. + +This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat. + +While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of: + +"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck. + +Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed. + +Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant. + +Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by: + +"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round. + +They all shook their heads. + +"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney--luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you." + +They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension. + +"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared. + +"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones. + +"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No--but, +yes, now I look again--it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?" + +"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already." + +"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal." + +"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life." + +"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand. + +"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you." + +With wondering looks, the young aviators--Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm--followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed. + + * * * * * + +In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes. + +"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?" + +He glanced up at his ill-favored son. + +"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?" + +"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?" + +A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make. + +"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear. + +"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window." + +"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake--no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it." + +Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there. + +"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?" + +"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something." + +He drew from his pocket a paper. + +"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer." + +Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand. + +"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach." + +Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks. + +"What do you want me to do?" he gasped. + +"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents." + +"And if not?" + +"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?" + +Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance. + +"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?" + +For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door. + +"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared. + +"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake. + +"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign." + +"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me." + +"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote: + +"All this is true.--Eugene Mortlake." + +"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly. + +In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace. + +"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing--he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry--a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me." + +"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all." + +His voice broke, and Regina--a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly. + +"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?" + +"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget." + +Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect. + +"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?" + +"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will--bad or good, we shall not interfere with you." + +Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way. + +"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home--Regina's and mine." + +"Oh, yes--always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice. + +"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't--I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps----" + +He strode abruptly through the door and was gone. + +Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet. + +"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out. + +"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways." + +"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning." + +Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused. + +"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out--at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night." + +He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip. + +"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?" + +"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke. + +"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on. + +"It--it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and--and +I'm awfully sorry." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!" + +In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling. + +"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good." + +"Who are they?" asked Roy. + +"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night." + + +How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the _Cobweb_ type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York. + +Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added. + +But, as the young officer says: + +"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts." + +And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid _au revoir_ to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in--The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10954 *** diff --git a/10954-8.txt b/10954-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..19e36c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10954-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6216 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: AT THE CORRECT MOMENT PEGGY DROPPED THE WEIGHTED BUNDLE +OVERBOARD.--Page 103.] + +THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE + +BY + +MARGARET BURNHAM + +AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC. + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +1911 + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH + II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF + III. A NAVAL VISITOR + IV. ALOFT IN A STORM + V. PEGGY A HEROINE + VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT" + VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES + VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS + IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB" + X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE + XI. THE MARKED BILL + XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY + XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT + XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT + XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID + XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB + XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED + XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS + XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE + XXII. THE WHITE PERIL + XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS + XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH. + + +"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?" + +Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road. + +About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation--a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily. + +"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie. + +"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken." + +"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels." + +"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy. + +"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert--there's a good fellow--and we'll soon find +out." + +"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands." + +"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy. + +"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you--just once." + +"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept. + +She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position. + +Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers. + +"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or----" + +"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting." + +"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses----" + +Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands. + +"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately. + +An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance. + +"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped. + +"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick." + +"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin." + +Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson: + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?" + +"Roy!" reproved Peggy. + +"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it." + +"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!" + +The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned. + +"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?" + +"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour." + +"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?" + +"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and--approved." + +Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses. + +"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant. + +Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit. + +Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business. + +From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman. + +His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before--Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF. + + +Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer. + +In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate. + +In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine--otherwise inaccessible--had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings." + +The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised--as has been said--to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed. + +"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice--not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see." + +The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof--there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive--the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country. + +"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?" + +Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there. + +When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke. + +"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap. + +"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments." + +"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it." + +Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously. + +"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?" + +"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was--well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy." + +"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of----" + +"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way." + +"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's--you know whom I mean?" + +The other nodded abstractedly. + +"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed--oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach--that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also." + +"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark. + +"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently." + +"You mean----" + +"That I intend to cinch that government business." + +"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?" + +"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact." + +With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NAVAL VISITOR + + +Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates. + +The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life. + +Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice--a remarkably +pleasant voice: + +"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?" + +"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face. + +At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn. + +"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came--er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service." + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we--I--that is----" + +"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me----" + +"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat--I mean a seat?" + +"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics. + +"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly. + +"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He--he will be +back shortly." + +"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the--the----" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it. + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded. + +"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away. + +"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?" + +"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish." + +"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration." + +"A flight?" + +"Yes, if it were possible." + +"I think it can be arranged." + +"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?" + +Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now. + +"No. I guess it's an aviatress--if there is such a word. You see I----" + +"You!" + +"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is." + +A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer. + +"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?" + +"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott." + +As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes. + +"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert." + +"Indeed! That is most interesting." + +Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes. + +[Illustration: When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the +place of the lounger in the hammock.] + +But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished. + +When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands. + +"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above." + +"Perhaps the lieutenant----" ventured Miss Prescott. + +"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there." + +"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion. + +By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the _Golden Butterfly_, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out--it moved easily on its landing wheels--stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces. + +A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel. + +"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller." + +The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least. + +"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working. + +"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated." + +Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well! + +"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury. + +"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her. + +Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring. + +With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier. + +In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating. + +Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock. + +The _Golden Butterfly_ had never done better. + +"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN A STORM + + +Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes. + +"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury. + +A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it--she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient _Golden Butterfly_ began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant. + +The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy. + +"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun." + +Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve--the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it--into its teeth, as it were. + +Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up--fifty, sixty, sixty-two--she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do. + +"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!" + +The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly. + +"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped. + +"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile. + +Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the _Golden +Butterfly_ swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp. + +So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance. + +"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer. + +"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the _Golden Butterfly_ through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet." + +If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake. + +Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp. + +"I say----" + +But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard. + +"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile. + +"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how----" + +"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy. + +The young officer bit his lip. + +"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?" + +Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin. + +"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?" + +"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness." + +Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation. + +The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds--squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with. + +"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up." + +"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over." + +"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?" + +"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls." + +"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the _Dixie_. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon." + +Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles. + +Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the _Golden Butterfly_ was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents. + +"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied. + +"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through." + +"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy--like ducks, you know." + +Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place. + +The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer. + +"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house." + +"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury. + +He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply. + +"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder. + +"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears." + +"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart. + +"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?" + +"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate." + +"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?" + +"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be." + +"It's worse than queer--it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?" + +"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled. + +"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose----Good heavens, what's that?" + +From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something--a huge, indefinite shadow--darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PEGGY A HEROINE. + + +"It's--it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement. + +"What!" + +Peggy sprang to her feet. + +"A large red one?" + +"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours--yours, I mean." + +The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +_Golden Butterfly_. + +"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped. + +"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side. + +"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane--the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!" + +Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations. + +"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?" + +"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and----" + +"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side. + +"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We----" + +"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother----" + +"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic." + +Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there. + +"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book." + +He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone. + +"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit--er--er--unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?" + +"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago." + +"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this--this----" + +"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy. + +"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?" + +"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit--no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day." + +"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it." + +"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale. + +"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?" + +"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently." + +"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close." + +"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire. + +"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way." + +"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government." + +"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any----" + +The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway. + +"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen. + +But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it. + +A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury. + +Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere. + +"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice. + +Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper. + +"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!" + +"Where?" demanded Peggy. + +"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting. + +"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me." + +"But the boys!" gasped Jess. + +"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing." + +With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions. + +"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm. + +"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway. + +In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm. + +Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard. + +Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task. + +"I must do it--I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child. + +But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared. + +But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily--and knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT." + + +When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house. + +"Is--is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings. + +"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames." + +"And Jess and Jimsy and----" + +"And that other young fellow? Why, they----" + +"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer. + +"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating." + +Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen." + +"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and----" + +"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto." + +"But what about the _Butterfly_?" asked Peggy. + +"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time." + +"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane--that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way." + +"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there. + +"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm. + +"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer." + +He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said: + +"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like----" + +"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again. + +"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess. + +"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife. + +"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day--two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out." + +"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy. + +"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do." + +Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance. + +Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane--the _Red Dragon Fly_, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off. + +They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction. + +Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake. + +"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed. + +"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there." + +"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road." + +"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe. + +Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train. + +"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors." + +"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was. + +Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The _Golden Butterfly_ had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device? + +There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm. + +"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet--and yet----" + +But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES. + + +It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows. + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man." + +"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the _Butterfly_ while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill. + +Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side. + +"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly. + +"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly. + +"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief." + +"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe. + +"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?" + +"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?" + +"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?" + +"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily." + +On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried. + +As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down. + +"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?" + +There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something. + +"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly. + +"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy----" + +Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears. + +"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff. + +"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came." + +"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery." + +"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details." + +"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?" + +"Why, Jimsy--I mean Mr. Bancroft--his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway." + +"What! Your brother was not there?" + +"Certainly not. He didn't come till later." + +"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?" + +"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand." + +"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here----" + +"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone. + +The sheriff went on: + +"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that----" + +But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short. + +"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake. + +"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now." + +"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother." + +"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now." + +"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do." + +"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first." + +"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer." + +"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely. + +"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised. + +In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy. + +For what object? + +"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough." + +They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?" + +"Because--forgive me Jimsy--you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless----" + +"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally. + +"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us." + +The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff. + +"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous." + +They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question: + +"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?" + +"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'----" + +"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially. + +Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +_Golden Butterfly_ at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her. + +"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'--why, what's the +trouble?" + +For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed. + +"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned. + +"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it." + +"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!" + +"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly." + +A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer. + +"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked. + +The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory. + +"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough." + +After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the _Golden Butterfly_ and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above. + +As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor: + +"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS. + + +Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine. + +Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops. + +All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car. + +"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped. + +"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes. + +In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band. + +"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess. + +"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else." + +She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry. + +"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!" + +"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or----" + +"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's--oh, Jess--it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away." + +"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess. + +"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant----" + +A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp. + +"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss." + +He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car. + +"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't." + +"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or----" + +"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?" + +Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing. + +"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece--the money don't mean much to folks like you--an' we'll let +yer go. If not----" + +A sudden inspiration came to Peggy--a flash of recollection. + +"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out." + +She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes. + +"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air----" + +He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it. + +"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back. + +The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when: + +"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!" + +From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly. + +The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid." + +"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective." + +Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part. + +"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!" + +"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?" + +"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane." + +"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped. + +"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks. + +"Well--well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?" + +"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust. + +The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement. + +"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?" + +"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out." + +"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down." + +In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off. + +"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them." + +The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime. + +"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago." + +"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or----" + +"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects. + +"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well. + +"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them." + +"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp. + +"Naw!" echoed the other. + +"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you." + +The warning came from old Mr. Harding. + +"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like." + +The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan. + +This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke. + +"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?" + +"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered: + +"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?" + +"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know." + +Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill. + +"Is this enough?" he asked. + +The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure. + +"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes. + +"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently. + +"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em." + +"What!" + +"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us." + +"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?" + +"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'" + +"Well, I may have some work for you to do----" + +"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen." + +"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you." + +"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey." + +The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug. + +"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful." + +"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB." + + +A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them. + +But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine. + +She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand. + +Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged. + +Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller. + +"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw. + +The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash. + +Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil--the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes. + +Then suddenly--as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him--Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed. + +"Let's get out the _Golden Butterfly_ and follow the----" + +"_Silver Cobweb!_" cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance. + +"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name." + +"Isn't it? But somehow, I like _Golden Butterfly_ best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service." + +Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the _Silver Cobweb_, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon. + +"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces. + +"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the _Butterfly_ against the _Cobweb_." + +But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the _Silver Cobweb_. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about. + +Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about. + +All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak. + +"The sea!" + +The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy. + +They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean. + +"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy. + +So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water. + +And still the _Silver Cobweb_ kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +_Golden Butterfly_ maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up. + +"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +_Cobweb_ can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much." + +"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy. + +And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea. + +That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie. + +"Are you going to keep on, Roy?" + +The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height. + +"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are." + +"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the _Butterfly_ above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for." + +"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair--a +very modern corsair--urging his craft above the ancient sea. + +The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait. + +Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the _Golden Butterfly_ descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant _Golden +Butterfly_. + +"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something----" + +"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want." + +Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the _Golden +Butterfly_ hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull. + +Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted. + +"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!" + +It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh. + +The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN AERIAL POST OFFICE. + + +Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq." + +It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read: + + TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE, + + Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air: + Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_. + + R. & M. PRESCOTT. + +That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose. + +All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights--spare bolts from the tool +locker--to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them. + +"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?" + +"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath. + +"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail." + +Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +_Golden Butterfly_ began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl--and a pretty one--was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly. + +And Peggy--what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later: + +"I was in an aeroplane, my dear--a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact." + +In the meantime, Mortlake, in the _Silver Cobweb_, had been duly mystified +as to what the _Golden Butterfly_ was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the _Golden +Butterfly_ were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine. + +But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the _Golden +Butterfly_, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction. + +"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine." + +And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes. + +"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant. + +"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?" + +The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck. + +"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible." + +"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore." + +"If you please." + +But what was the _Golden Butterfly_ doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the _Silver Cobweb_. + +As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The _Cobweb_ leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the _Golden Butterfly_ was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour. + +"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward. + +"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week." + +This seemed to be true. The _Golden Butterfly_, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind. + +"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant. + +Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for. + +Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more. + +All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake." + +Mortlake glanced back. The _Golden Butterfly_, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels. + +"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit--that and advanced spark." + +He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the _Silver Cobweb_ would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down. + +"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot." + +Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane--or glide--downward, without the +aid of the engine. + +"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or----" + +Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity. + +But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the _Silver Cobweb_ to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be--and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him--he was a master of +the aerial craft. + +Despite the mishap to the engine--caused by his own carelessness--Mortlake +managed to bring the _Silver Cobweb_ to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue. + +The instant the _Silver Cobweb_ came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the _Golden Butterfly_ +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the _Cobweb_, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do. + +"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident. + +"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right." + +"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table. + +"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that." + +"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola." + +Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests. + +"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively. + +"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here." + +"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled." + +A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the _Golden +Butterfly_, swooping and hovering above the disabled _Cobweb_. + +"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy. + +"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification. + +"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones. + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury. + +"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer. + +In five minutes the _Golden Butterfly_ was on the sward beside the +crippled _Cobweb_. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at--for him--such an +inopportune moment. + +"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?" + +"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated." + +"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man. + +"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy." + +"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly--"cattily," she said it was, afterward. + +Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed. + +"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand. + +The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful _Golden Butterfly_ was taking the air once +more. + +"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself. + +From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARKED BILL. + + +Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows: + +"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government." + +"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see--three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!" + +The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck. + +When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protegé, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it. + +"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island. + +By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be. + +In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine. + +They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent--too recent, in fact--style. + +"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes. + +"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place." + +The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily. + +"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you." + +"I beg your pardon----" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road. + +Later that day the _Silver Cobweb_ ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance. + +The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake. + +They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets. + +While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office. + +Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men. + +"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking. + +The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded. + +"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?" + +"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry." + +This Slim--or to give him his correct name--Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"--as +the tramp fraternity knew him--was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants. + +"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know--a +little more money--eh?" + +He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar. + +Mortlake made a gesture of impatience. + +"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?" + +"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out." + +Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads. + +He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table. + +"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done." + +"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and----" + +"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?" + +"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey. + +"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it." + +"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?" + +"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely. + +Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim. + +Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts. + +"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?" + +"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?" + +He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection. + +"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left." + +"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case--hullo!" + +"What's up?" asked Joey. + +For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side. + +It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink. + +"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?" + +"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. + + +It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane. + +"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded. + +Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office. + +"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you." + +Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview. + +"That message you sent me--what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe----" + +"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder." + +"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be. + +"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?" + +"No. Certainly not." + +"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming." + +"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story. + +"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself--loyal fellow--to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott." + +"Good heavens!" + +"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane." + +"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?" + +"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for." + +"Monstrous!" + +"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person." + +"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake." + +"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?" + +"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case." + +Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him. + +Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction. + +"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer. + +It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp: + +"Hist!" + +Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine. + +"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy. + +"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it." + +"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy. + +"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory." + +"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?" + +"I _was_ once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me." + +"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?" + +Roy looked curiously at the man. + +"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place." + +"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" + +"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot. + +"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?" + +"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy." + +"The--the--the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this." + +"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner--he was discharged +too--he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?" + +Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest. + +"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked. + +"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?" + +"Well, I--yes, I'll go. Come on, get in." + +The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards. + +"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare. + +"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it." + +"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here." + +The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions. + +"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!" + +Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection. + +They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm. + +"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up." + +Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp. + +At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand. + +"This is the young gentleman," he said. + +Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile. + +"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house." + +"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little. + +"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer. + +Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it. + +As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm. + +Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other. + +"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me----" +began Roy. "I--here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!" + +The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back. + +The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. + + +The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind. + +"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him. + +"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not----" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head. + +The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance. + +"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable. + +"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that." + +This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair. + +"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or--" + +"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?" + +Roy saw. + +"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track." + +"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking. + +"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move. + +"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way." + +He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them. + +"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question." + +Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years. + +The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place. + +Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice--otherwise Joey +Eccles--struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire. + +This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object? + +"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott." + +A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it. + +"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward. + +The boy shuddered. + +"Not in there?" he said. + +"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out." + +Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was--hopeless! + +He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder. + +The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash. + +Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit. + +But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then. + +But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly. + +"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started--looked before you leaped--this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!" + +The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it. + +The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder. + +"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice." + +He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket. + +"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches. + +"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape." + +There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too. + +"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say. + +"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!" + +These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly. + +"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this." + +At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night. + +But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it. + +"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere." + +He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move. + +"Queer," thought Roy. + +He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all. + +"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for." + +Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag. + +"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on. + +Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + +The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short. + +At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THEY WORKED OUT. + + +Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand. + +The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer. + +The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice--Lieut. Bradbury's +voice--said: + +"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?" + +"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and--." + +The officer's astonished voice interrupted him. + +"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?" + +Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might. + +"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this--a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is." + +"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather." + +The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him. + +But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself. + +"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy. + +"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation. + +But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track. + +All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest. + +The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved. + +"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and--oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too." + +As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side. + +Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen. + +"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill. + +"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to----" + +"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding." + +"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?" + +The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot. + +"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury. + +Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently. + +But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind. + +"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer. + +"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it." + +He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory. + +Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence. + +It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly. + +"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow." + +"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer. + +"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily. + +The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down. + +"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it." + +But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro. + +"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again. + +"Have you got der plans?" + +The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure. + +The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation. + +"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him." + +He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back. + +"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time." + +Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes. + +With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man. + +"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears. + +He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly. + +Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins. + +What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so. + +But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other. + +"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake. + +"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy." + +"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw. + +He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly: + +"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!" + +It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +WHAT MORTLAKE DID. + + +"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor." + +A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?" + +"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully. + +The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings." + +Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall. + +"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point." + +But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him. + +"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question. + +"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull--o--a!" + +"Hullo--a!" came back out of the night. + +"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant. + +"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work. + +"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But--great Christmas--you've had better luck, I see!" + +For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes. + +"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind. + +But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment. + +"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a----" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped." + +"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly. + +"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake." + +The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up. + +"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word. + +"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar." + +The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods. + +"You--you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?" + +"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished." + +Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten? + +But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself. + +"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend--I am proud to call him +so--my young friend, Prescott." + +For the first time, Roy was moved to speak. + +"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly. + +"You do not? Who, then?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that." + +"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?" + +"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?" + +"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us." + +"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police." + +"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go----" + +"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air----" + +"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?" + +"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return." + +Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders. + +"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed. + +"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers." + +"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake. + +They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted. + +"We're near to the place now," he said. + +"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first." + +In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape. + +All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night. + +Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north. + +"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger. + +"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying." + +"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know." + +"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply. + +Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants. + +There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain. + +On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight. + +"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it. + +"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MISSING SIDE-COMB. + + +Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,--half work-shop, half study,--in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the _Golden Butterfly_. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft. + +From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument. + +As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach. + +Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was. + +"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn." + +"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen--who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?" + +"Not the least idea. Who?" + +"Fanning Harding!" + +"Fan Harding! The dickens!" + +"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the _Cobweb_. And who do you think is to be his +companion?" + +"Give it up." + +"Regina Mortlake!" + +"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?" + +"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it." + +"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy. + +"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er--er--overweight isn't it +called? so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the _Cobweb_ at +the tests." + +"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning." + +"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the _Cobweb_ +now!" + +A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out. + +[Illustration: Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz +by at a fair height.] + +"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the _Cobweb_ through it like an old general of the upper regions." + +Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully. + +"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered. + +"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time." + +But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery. + +"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests." + +"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget." + +"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west." + +But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship. + +"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted. + +"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime. + +She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style. + +"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and--but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that--but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet--and yet--Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering--and wondering. + +The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car--the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type. + +Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car. + +"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy. + +"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car. + +"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race." + +"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy. + +"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;" + +Roy flushed angrily. + +"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply. + +Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes. + +"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything." + +Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation. + +"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road." + +"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and----." But Roy checked her impatiently. + +"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister. + +Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with. + +As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same. + +"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?" + +"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no." + +"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding. + +He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels. + +"A bolt had worked loose," he explained. + +"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right. + +"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird. + +"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple. + +"Then--go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird. + +Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur. + +"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud. + +Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting--dangerous! + +"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if----" + +But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air. + +The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED. + + +Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt. + +The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it. + +One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy. + +From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces. + +Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan. + +"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes." + +"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry." + +"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though." + +Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage. + +"Can I help. I'm so sorry." + +The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side. + +"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my--my +poor car." + +"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident." + +"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?" + +"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine." + +Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned. + +"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again." + +"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?" + +"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse." + +Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet. + +"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all." + +She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out. + +"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with----." + +She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek. + +"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill." + +Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture. + + +"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily. + +"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back." + +"Jove! So it is. But, what, how----" + +"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and--and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?" + +"No. I confess I'm stupid, but----" + +"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?" + +"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane." + +A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade. + +The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result. + +Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts. + +Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost. + +"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?" + +"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?" + +"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't." + +"How did it all happen?" + +Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled. + +"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked. + +"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder. + +"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless----," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with." + +"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and----." + +"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me." + +"Well I----," began Fanning. + +But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness. + +"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident." + +"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss----." + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft." + +"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions. + +"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way. + +"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience." + +"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once." + +"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but--hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!" + +He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle. + +"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively. + +"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining. + +"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long." + +"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone." + +"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly. + +"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down." + +"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning. + +A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face. + +"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then----." He stopped. + +"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +_Red Dragon Fly_ and break the news to Miss Prescott." + +Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed. + +Regina turned to Fanning. + +"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked. + +"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A BOLT PROM THE BLUE. + + +The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain--affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +_Golden Butterfly_ was controlled by foot pressure. + +A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but--where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges. + +"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them." + +"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?" + +Roy nodded. + +"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +_Golden Butterfly_ out on top." + +"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over." + +"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend. + +"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?" + +Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant. + +"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly: + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?" + +"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed: + +"Why--why, they're coming here!" + +"Here!" echoed the others. + +"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house. + +Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority--an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower. + +"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him. + +"Miss Prescott--I--that is--er--this is a very unpleasant business--I +hope----." + +It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him. + +"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please." + +"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly. + +"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him. + +"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and----," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest." + +"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?" + +"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?" + +"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and----." + +Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow. + +"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning. + +"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official. + +"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny." + +Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself. + +"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business." + +"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town." + +Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him. + +"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once." + +Mortlake stepped forward. + +"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I----." + +"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer." + +"But I--really, I'm sorry to--Bancroft you'll listen----" + +But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face. + +"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger. + +"Why, if I may ask?" + +Jimsy flashed round. + +"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes." + +Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again. + +Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage. + +"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out." + +The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe. + +Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road. + +"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill. + +"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice. + +"What! you did not drop it?" + +"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply. + +"Then what was it doing in your possession?" + +"Do I have to answer that question, now?" + +"It will be better to--yes." + +"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake." + +"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial." + +A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village. + +"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said. + +But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak. + +"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood." + +Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy. + +"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned. + +It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant. + +"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway." + +"Oh, Peg--gy!" gasped Jess, "you would----" + +"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes. + +"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!" + +The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious. + +"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we--we--I--that--is----" + +"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice. + +He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom. + +"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank. + +"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS. + + +The aeroplanes--a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type--were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts. + +Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it. + +There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The _Sky Pilot_, the _Cloud Chaser_, the _Star Bug_, the _Moon +Mounter_, the _Aerial Auto_, the _Heavenly Harvester_, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide. + +"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the _Motor Hornet_ has the contest cinched." + +The _Motor Hornet_ was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the _Silver Cobweb_. + +The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy. + +But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it. + +This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery. + +"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by. + +But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures--two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place. + +This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the _Golden Butterfly_, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the _Butterfly_ shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward. + +The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it. + +"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or--or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty. + +"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?" + +"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the _Golden Butterfly_." + +"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you." + +"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy." + +"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada." + +"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head." + +"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting." + +"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy. + +The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless. + +"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race." + +Accordingly, the _Butterfly_ had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far--very far from being out of the race. + +On and on through the night throbbed the _Golden Butterfly_, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat. + +Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?" + +"Um--well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her: + +"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can." + +"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy. + +Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears: + +"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!" + +"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice. + +"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!" + +But now another voice came through the darkness. + +"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?" + +"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains. + +"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or----" + +The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice: + +"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness." + +The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party--there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared. + +Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy. + +In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting. + +"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice. + +There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend. + +"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy. + +The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the _Golden Butterfly_. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol. + +"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous. + +The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently. + +"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm." + +"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued. + +"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?" + +Jimsy rummaged in the _Golden Butterfly's_ tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs. + +While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm. + +She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it. + +"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out." + +"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all." + +"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory." + +"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone. + +"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now." + +"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled. + +"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia." + +"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent. + +"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then--do you know a man +named Mortlake?" + +"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey. + +"Good. You came here with him?" + +"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him. + +"What did you come for?" + +Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent. + +"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell. + +No reply. + +"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you." + +The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure. + +"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out. + +"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?" + +"To disable one of them flying machines." + +"Which one?" + +"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while--and--no, you can't stop me, Slim--and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and----" + +"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair." + +"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?" + +"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?" + +"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply. + +"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more. + +"Yes, on a trip." + +The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed. + +"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious. + +"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?" + +"Why, of course," came in a chorus. + +"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody--are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?" + +"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent. + +"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through." + +"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?" + +"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?" + +"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy. + +"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly." + +With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off. + +"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream." + +"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and----" + +"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically. + +As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the _Golden Butterfly_ and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE. + + +"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests. + +A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts. + +"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the _Cobweb_ out already," he exclaimed presently. + +Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism. + +Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators. + +The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back. + +"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the _Golden Butterfly_ +before these tests are over." + +"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate." + +"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour." + +The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them. + +Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say: + +"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids." + +Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale. + +"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't." + +"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that----" + +"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing." + +"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night." + +"They decamped--as you call it--because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched." + +"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides----" + +But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack. + +"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked. + +"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet." + +The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott." + +Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury. + +"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out: + +"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest." + +"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets. + +"Here's a book of rules. Read it." + +"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I----" + +"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly. + +"But see here----" + +"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on. + +The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him. + +"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows. + +"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go." + +"No go. What do you mean?" + +"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to." + +"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans." + +"You'll have to change 'em to beat the _Golden Butterfly_," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles." + +"Why?" + +"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the _Golden Butterfly_, +we'd have a clean sweep." + +"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time." + +"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the _Silver Cobweb_, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow. + +Bang! + +A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air. + +"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?" + +"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire. + +The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour. + +Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The _Silver +Cobweb_ was among them. + +Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers. + +Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless. + +"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +_Cobweb_. + +"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing." + +"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all." + +"Why?" + +"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again----" + +"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves." + +"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and----" + +At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged _Butterfly_. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter. + +But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the _Golden Butterfly_ would never have flown on that day. + +B-o-o-m! + +The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly. + +"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it. + +Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd. + +Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether. + +"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished. + +The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough--too willing--to explain their remarkable points. + +It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed. + +"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE WHITE PERIL. + + +"What's that? No, not that schooner below there--I mean that sort of +whitish drift--it looks like cotton--on the horizon?" + +Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy. + +"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person. + +"Ask Peggy." + +"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy." + +The _Golden Butterfly_ was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish. + +Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess. + +Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the _Cobweb_. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity. + +On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the _Golden Butterfly_. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue. + +A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The _Cobweb_ was doing slightly +better. + +"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously. + +"Will they report us?" asked Jess. + +"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point." + +Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The _Golden Butterfly_ was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The _Cobweb_ had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes. + +"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck." + +"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him. + +"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously. + +"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it." + +"Are you going to try for it?" + +"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +_Golden Butterfly_ now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation. + +Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea. + +"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner." + +"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog." + +"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully. + +"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up." + +Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the _Golden Butterfly_ knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly. + +Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts. + +"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" + +"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!" + +The other shook her head. + +"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said. + +"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily. + +"Who?" asked Jess. + +"That bell boy." + +Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one. + +Presently he looked at his watch. + +"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time." + +"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy--but it doesn't." + +She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth. + +This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply--even with the use of the auxiliary tanks--would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were--or believed they +were, navigating above the sea. + +Had the _Golden Butterfly_ been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning. + +Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below. + +"It's thick as pea soup, captain!" + +"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog." + +"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers." + +The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the _Golden +Butterfly_ on an upward course. + +But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the _Golden +Butterfly_ to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast. + +The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure. + +"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?" + +A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it. + +"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought. + +"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length. + +"I--I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake." + +"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort." + +It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there. + +"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess. + +"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert." + +"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her. + +Jimsy looked at her sharply. + +"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the _Golden Butterfly_ swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost. + +Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them. + +"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and----." + +She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +OUT OF THE CLOUDS. + + +Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The _Golden Butterfly_, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made. + +Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils. + +"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils--dragons or something." + +"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again--even if it was only shifting sand--"we trust to +you." + +"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!" + +Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again. + +"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound. + +"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is--or ought to +be--food. How about it girls, are you hungry?" + +"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess. + +"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy. + +"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?" + +"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess. + +"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth. + +They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily. + +All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending. + +The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers. + +"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?" + +"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking. + +"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks." + +There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive. + +"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we--we came in an +aeroplane, you know." + +"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island." + +"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?" + +"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile. + +"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly. + +"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?" + +Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept. + +"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or----." + +The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement. + +"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have." + +"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish." + +"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it." + +So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence. + +Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed. + +"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island." + +"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference. + +The man's face underwent a transformation. + +"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it." + +"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy. + +"Because a wrong--a very great wrong--was done to me there," said the man +slowly. + +Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark. + +After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity. + +"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce." + +Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut. + +On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled. + +Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears. + +"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?" + +The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying: + +"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here." + +"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's. + +[Illustration: The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two +new guests.] + +"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel." + +The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers. + +Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests. + +"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed: + +"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island." + +"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone. + +Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush. + +"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister. + +"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically. + +The man of the island looked on wonderingly. + +"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels. + +"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone. + +"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left." + +"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food." + +But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts. + +"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina." + +The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?" + +The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama. + +"Yes," she said; "why?" + +"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me." + +"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back." + +The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone. + +"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour." + +"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer. + +"Do you mean Mortlake?" + +"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?" + +The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion. + +"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off." + +"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?" + +"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake." + +The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered. + +"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?" + +"He is in Hampton--why?" + +"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him." + +The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound. + +"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry." + +"Will you do something for me--will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them. + +"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy. + +"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so." + +In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor. + +"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till--till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds." + +"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!" + +Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton. + +"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The _Silver +Cobweb_), four persons on board." + +Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton. + +"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him. + +"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the _Mortlake_ is +leading. Now if only----" + +But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng. + +Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats. + +"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!" + +Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +_Golden Butterfly_. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft--its silvery sheen betrayed it--was the Mortlake _Cobweb_, as +Roy had called it. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?" + +But alas, the _Cobweb_ didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the _Golden Butterfly_ had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the _Cobweb_ fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +_Golden Butterfly's_ feat. + +Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION. + + +The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished. + +This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat. + +While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of: + +"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck. + +Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed. + +Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant. + +Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by: + +"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round. + +They all shook their heads. + +"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney--luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you." + +They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension. + +"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared. + +"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones. + +"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No--but, +yes, now I look again--it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?" + +"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already." + +"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal." + +"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life." + +"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand. + +"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you." + +With wondering looks, the young aviators--Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm--followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed. + + * * * * * + +In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes. + +"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?" + +He glanced up at his ill-favored son. + +"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?" + +"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?" + +A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make. + +"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear. + +"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window." + +"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake--no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it." + +Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there. + +"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?" + +"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something." + +He drew from his pocket a paper. + +"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer." + +Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand. + +"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach." + +Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks. + +"What do you want me to do?" he gasped. + +"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents." + +"And if not?" + +"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?" + +Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance. + +"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?" + +For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door. + +"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared. + +"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake. + +"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign." + +"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me." + +"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote: + +"All this is true.--Eugene Mortlake." + +"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly. + +In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace. + +"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing--he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry--a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me." + +"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all." + +His voice broke, and Regina--a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly. + +"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?" + +"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget." + +Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect. + +"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?" + +"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will--bad or good, we shall not interfere with you." + +Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way. + +"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home--Regina's and mine." + +"Oh, yes--always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice. + +"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't--I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps----" + +He strode abruptly through the door and was gone. + +Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet. + +"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out. + +"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways." + +"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning." + +Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused. + +"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out--at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night." + +He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip. + +"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?" + +"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke. + +"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on. + +"It--it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and--and +I'm awfully sorry." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!" + +In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling. + +"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good." + +"Who are they?" asked Roy. + +"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night." + + +How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the _Cobweb_ type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York. + +Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added. + +But, as the young officer says: + +"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts." + +And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid _au revoir_ to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in--The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954-8.txt or 10954-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> + +<h1>THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>MARGARET BURNHAM</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC.</h4> + +<h5>NEW YORK</h5> + +<h5>HURST & COMPANY</h5> + +<h5>1911</h5> + +<hr> + +<b>CONTENTS</b> + +<br> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III. A NAVAL VISITOR.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV. ALOFT IN A STORM.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V. PEGGY A HEROINE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT".</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB".</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI. THE MARKED BILL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII. THE WHITE PERIL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>CHAPTER XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>CHAPTER XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES—CONCLUSION.</b></a><br> + +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?"</p> + +<p>Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation—a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily.</p> + +<p>"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie.</p> + +<p>"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken."</p> + +<p>"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels."</p> + +<p>"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert—there's a good fellow—and we'll soon find +out."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands."</p> + +<p>"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you—just once."</p> + +<p>"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept.</p> + +<p>She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or——"</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting."</p> + +<p>"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses——"</p> + +<p>Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands.</p> + +<p>"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately.</p> + +<p>An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance.</p> + +<p>"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped.</p> + +<p>"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick."</p> + +<p>"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin."</p> + +<p>Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson:</p> + +<p>"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?"</p> + +<p>"Roy!" reproved Peggy.</p> + +<p>"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it."</p> + +<p>"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned.</p> + +<p>"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?"</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and—approved."</p> + +<p>Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant.</p> + +<p>Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit.</p> + +<p>Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business.</p> + +<p>From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman.</p> + +<p>His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before—Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a><h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer.</p> + +<p>In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate.</p> + +<p>In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine—otherwise inaccessible—had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings."</p> + +<p>The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised—as has been said—to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice—not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see."</p> + +<p>The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof—there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive—the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?"</p> + +<p>Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there.</p> + +<p>When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke.</p> + +<p>"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap.</p> + +<p>"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments."</p> + +<p>"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it."</p> + +<p>Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously.</p> + +<p>"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?"</p> + +<p>"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was—well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy."</p> + +<p>"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's—you know whom I mean?"</p> + +<p>The other nodded abstractedly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed—oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach—that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also."</p> + +<p>"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark.</p> + +<p>"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently."</p> + +<p>"You mean——"</p> + +<p>"That I intend to cinch that government business."</p> + +<p>"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact."</p> + +<p>With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a><h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A NAVAL VISITOR.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates.</p> + +<p>The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice—a remarkably +pleasant voice:</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face.</p> + +<p>At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn.</p> + +<p>"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came—er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we—I—that is——"</p> + +<p>"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat—I mean a seat?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics.</p> + +<p>"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He—he will be +back shortly."</p> + +<p>"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the—the——" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it.</p> + +<p>"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away.</p> + +<p>"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?"</p> + +<p>"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration."</p> + +<p>"A flight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if it were possible."</p> + +<p>"I think it can be arranged."</p> + +<p>"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?"</p> + +<p>Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now.</p> + +<p>"No. I guess it's an aviatress—if there is such a word. You see I——"</p> + +<p>"You!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is."</p> + +<p>A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer.</p> + +<p>"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?"</p> + +<p>"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! That is most interesting."</p> + +<p>Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes.</p> + +<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> +<center> +<img src="002.jpg" height="451" width="300" +alt="When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the lounger in the hammock."> +</center> + +<h5>"When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the lounger in the hammock."</h5> + +<p>But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished.</p> + +<p>When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands.</p> + +<p>"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the lieutenant——" ventured Miss Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there."</p> + +<p>"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion.</p> + +<p>By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out—it moved easily on its landing wheels—stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces.</p> + +<p>A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel.</p> + +<p>"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller."</p> + +<p>The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least.</p> + +<p>"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working.</p> + +<p>"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated."</p> + +<p>Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well!</p> + +<p>"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her.</p> + +<p>Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring.</p> + +<p>With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier.</p> + +<p>In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating.</p> + +<p>Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock.</p> + +<p>The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had never done better.</p> + +<p>"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a><h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>IN A STORM.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it—she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient <i>Golden Butterfly</i> began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant.</p> + +<p>The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy.</p> + +<p>"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun."</p> + +<p>Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve—the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it—into its teeth, as it were.</p> + +<p>Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up—fifty, sixty, sixty-two—she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do.</p> + +<p>"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped.</p> + +<p>"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile.</p> + +<p>Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp.</p> + +<p>So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance.</p> + +<p>"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer.</p> + +<p>"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet."</p> + +<p>If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp.</p> + +<p>"I say——"</p> + +<p>But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard.</p> + +<p>"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how——"</p> + +<p>"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy.</p> + +<p>The young officer bit his lip.</p> + +<p>"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?"</p> + +<p>Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin.</p> + +<p>"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness."</p> + +<p>Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation.</p> + +<p>The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds—squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with.</p> + +<p>"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up."</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over."</p> + +<p>"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?"</p> + +<p>"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the <i>Dixie</i>. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon."</p> + +<p>Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles.</p> + +<p>Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents.</p> + +<p>"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied.</p> + +<p>"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through."</p> + +<p>"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy—like ducks, you know."</p> + +<p>Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer.</p> + +<p>"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply.</p> + +<p>"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder.</p> + +<p>"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears."</p> + +<p>"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart.</p> + +<p>"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate."</p> + +<p>"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?"</p> + +<p>"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be."</p> + +<p>"It's worse than queer—it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?"</p> + +<p>"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose——Good heavens, what's that?"</p> + +<p>From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something—a huge, indefinite shadow—darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a><h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>PEGGY A HEROINE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"It's—it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement.</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>Peggy sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"A large red one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours—yours, I mean."</p> + +<p>The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side.</p> + +<p>"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane—the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!"</p> + +<p>Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations.</p> + +<p>"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and——"</p> + +<p>"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We——"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother——"</p> + +<p>"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic."</p> + +<p>Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there.</p> + +<p>"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book."</p> + +<p>He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone.</p> + +<p>"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit—er—er—unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago."</p> + +<p>"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this—this——"</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit—no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day."</p> + +<p>"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it."</p> + +<p>"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale.</p> + +<p>"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently."</p> + +<p>"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close."</p> + +<p>"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire.</p> + +<p>"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way."</p> + +<p>"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any——"</p> + +<p>The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen.</p> + +<p>But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it.</p> + +<p>A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice.</p> + +<p>Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper.</p> + +<p>"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" demanded Peggy.</p> + +<p>"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting.</p> + +<p>"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me."</p> + +<p>"But the boys!" gasped Jess.</p> + +<p>"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing."</p> + +<p>With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm.</p> + +<p>"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway.</p> + +<p>In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm.</p> + +<p>Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard.</p> + +<p>Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task.</p> + +<p>"I must do it—I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child.</p> + +<p>But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared.</p> + +<p>But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily—and knew no more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a><h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT."</h3> +<br> + +<p>When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house.</p> + +<p>"Is—is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames."</p> + +<p>"And Jess and Jimsy and——"</p> + +<p>"And that other young fellow? Why, they——"</p> + +<p>"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer.</p> + +<p>"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating."</p> + +<p>Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen."</p> + +<p>"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and——"</p> + +<p>"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto."</p> + +<p>"But what about the <i>Butterfly</i>?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane—that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way."</p> + +<p>"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there.</p> + +<p>"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm.</p> + +<p>"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer."</p> + +<p>He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said:</p> + +<p>"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again.</p> + +<p>"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess.</p> + +<p>"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife.</p> + +<p>"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day—two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do."</p> + +<p>Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance.</p> + +<p>Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane—the <i>Red Dragon Fly</i>, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off.</p> + +<p>They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed.</p> + +<p>"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there."</p> + +<p>"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road."</p> + +<p>"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe.</p> + +<p>Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train.</p> + +<p>"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device?</p> + +<p>There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet—and yet——"</p> + +<p>But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES.</h3> +<br> + +<p>It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the <i>Butterfly</i> while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill.</p> + +<p>Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side.</p> + +<p>"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief."</p> + +<p>"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe.</p> + +<p>"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?"</p> + +<p>"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?"</p> + +<p>"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily."</p> + +<p>On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried.</p> + +<p>As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?"</p> + +<p>There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something.</p> + +<p>"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy——"</p> + +<p>Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears.</p> + +<p>"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came."</p> + +<p>"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery."</p> + +<p>"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details."</p> + +<p>"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Jimsy—I mean Mr. Bancroft—his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway."</p> + +<p>"What! Your brother was not there?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. He didn't come till later."</p> + +<p>"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here——"</p> + +<p>"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone.</p> + +<p>The sheriff went on:</p> + +<p>"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that——"</p> + +<p>But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short.</p> + +<p>"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now."</p> + +<p>"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother."</p> + +<p>"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer."</p> + +<p>"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely.</p> + +<p>"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy.</p> + +<p>For what object?</p> + +<p>"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough."</p> + +<p>They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?"</p> + +<p>"Because—forgive me Jimsy—you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless——"</p> + +<p>"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally.</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us."</p> + +<p>The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous."</p> + +<p>They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question:</p> + +<p>"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'——"</p> + +<p>"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially.</p> + +<p>Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her.</p> + +<p>"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'—why, what's the +trouble?"</p> + +<p>For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed.</p> + +<p>"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it."</p> + +<p>"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!"</p> + +<p>"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly."</p> + +<p>A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough."</p> + +<p>After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above.</p> + +<p>As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor:</p> + +<p>"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine.</p> + +<p>Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops.</p> + +<p>All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes.</p> + +<p>In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band.</p> + +<p>"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess.</p> + +<p>"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else."</p> + +<p>She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or——"</p> + +<p>"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's—oh, Jess—it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away."</p> + +<p>"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess.</p> + +<p>"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant——"</p> + +<p>A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp.</p> + +<p>"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss."</p> + +<p>He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car.</p> + +<p>"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't."</p> + +<p>"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or——"</p> + +<p>"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?"</p> + +<p>Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece—the money don't mean much to folks like you—an' we'll let +yer go. If not——"</p> + +<p>A sudden inspiration came to Peggy—a flash of recollection.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out."</p> + +<p>She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air——"</p> + +<p>He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back.</p> + +<p>The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when:</p> + +<p>"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!"</p> + +<p>From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly.</p> + +<p>The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid."</p> + +<p>"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part.</p> + +<p>"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!"</p> + +<p>"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane."</p> + +<p>"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped.</p> + +<p>"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Well—well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust.</p> + +<p>The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out."</p> + +<p>"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down."</p> + +<p>In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off.</p> + +<p>"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them."</p> + +<p>The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime.</p> + +<p>"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago."</p> + +<p>"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or——"</p> + +<p>"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects.</p> + +<p>"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well.</p> + +<p>"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them."</p> + +<p>"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp.</p> + +<p>"Naw!" echoed the other.</p> + +<p>"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you."</p> + +<p>The warning came from old Mr. Harding.</p> + +<p>"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like."</p> + +<p>The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan.</p> + +<p>This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke.</p> + +<p>"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?"</p> + +<p>"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered:</p> + +<p>"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know."</p> + +<p>Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill.</p> + +<p>"Is this enough?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure.</p> + +<p>"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us."</p> + +<p>"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, I may have some work for you to do——"</p> + +<p>"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen."</p> + +<p>"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you."</p> + +<p>"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey."</p> + +<p>The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug.</p> + +<p>"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a><h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."</h3> +<br> + +<p>A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them.</p> + +<p>But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine.</p> + +<p>She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand.</p> + +<p>Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged.</p> + +<p>Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller.</p> + +<p>"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw.</p> + +<p>The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash.</p> + +<p>Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil—the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly—as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him—Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed.</p> + +<p>"Let's get out the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and follow the——"</p> + +<p><i>"Silver Cobweb!"</i> cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it? But somehow, I like <i>Golden Butterfly</i> best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service."</p> + +<p>Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces.</p> + +<p>"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the <i>Butterfly</i> against the <i>Cobweb</i>."</p> + +<p>But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about.</p> + +<p>Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about.</p> + +<p>All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak.</p> + +<p>"The sea!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy.</p> + +<p>They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean.</p> + +<p>"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy.</p> + +<p>So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water.</p> + +<p>And still the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up.</p> + +<p>"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +<i>Cobweb</i> can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much."</p> + +<p>"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy.</p> + +<p>And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea.</p> + +<p>That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to keep on, Roy?"</p> + +<p>The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the <i>Butterfly</i> above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for."</p> + +<p>"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair—a +very modern corsair—urging his craft above the ancient sea.</p> + +<p>The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait.</p> + +<p>Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something——"</p> + +<p>"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want."</p> + +<p>Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted.</p> + +<p>"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!"</p> + +<p>It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh.</p> + +<p>The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the <i>Ruritania</i>, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a><h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AN AERIAL POST OFFICE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +<i>Ruritania</i>, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq."</p> + +<p>It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read:</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"></span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Per Steamer <i>Ruritania</i>—in Mid-air:</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Greetings from aeroplane <i>Golden Butterfly</i>.</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"></span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;">R. & M. PRESCOTT.</span><br> + +<p>That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose.</p> + +<p>All this time the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights—spare bolts from the tool +locker—to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them.</p> + +<p>"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?"</p> + +<p>"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath.</p> + +<p>"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail."</p> + +<p>Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl—and a pretty one—was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly.</p> + +<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> +<center> +<img src="001.jpg" height="453" width="300" +alt="At the correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard."> +</center> + +<h5>"At the correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard."</h5> + +<p>And Peggy—what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later:</p> + +<p>"I was in an aeroplane, my dear—a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Mortlake, in the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, had been duly mystified +as to what the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine.</p> + +<p>But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine."</p> + +<p>And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes.</p> + +<p>"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?"</p> + +<p>The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck.</p> + +<p>"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore."</p> + +<p>"If you please."</p> + +<p>But what was the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The <i>Cobweb</i> leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour.</p> + +<p>"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week."</p> + +<p>This seemed to be true. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind.</p> + +<p>"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for.</p> + +<p>Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more.</p> + +<p>All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake."</p> + +<p>Mortlake glanced back. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels.</p> + +<p>"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit—that and advanced spark."</p> + +<p>He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot."</p> + +<p>Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane—or glide—downward, without the +aid of the engine.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or——"</p> + +<p>Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity.</p> + +<p>But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be—and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him—he was a master of +the aerial craft.</p> + +<p>Despite the mishap to the engine—caused by his own carelessness—Mortlake +managed to bring the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue.</p> + +<p>The instant the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the <i>Cobweb</i>, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do.</p> + +<p>"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident.</p> + +<p>"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table.</p> + +<p>"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that."</p> + +<p>"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests.</p> + +<p>"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively.</p> + +<p>"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here."</p> + +<p>"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled."</p> + +<p>A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>, swooping and hovering above the disabled <i>Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy.</p> + +<p>"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification.</p> + +<p>"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones.</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer.</p> + +<p>In five minutes the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was on the sward beside the +crippled <i>Cobweb</i>. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at—for him—such an +inopportune moment.</p> + +<p>"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated."</p> + +<p>"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man.</p> + +<p>"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy."</p> + +<p>"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly—"cattily," she said it was, afterward.</p> + +<p>Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand.</p> + +<p>The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was taking the air once +more.</p> + +<p>"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself.</p> + +<p>From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE MARKED BILL.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows:</p> + +<p>"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government."</p> + +<p>"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see—three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!"</p> + +<p>The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck.</p> + +<p>When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protegé, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it.</p> + +<p>"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island.</p> + +<p>By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine.</p> + +<p>They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent—too recent, in fact—style.</p> + +<p>"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place."</p> + +<p>The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily.</p> + +<p>"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon——" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road.</p> + +<p>Later that day the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance.</p> + +<p>The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake.</p> + +<p>They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets.</p> + +<p>While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office.</p> + +<p>Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men.</p> + +<p>"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking.</p> + +<p>The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded.</p> + +<p>"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?"</p> + +<p>"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry."</p> + +<p>This Slim—or to give him his correct name—Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"—as +the tramp fraternity knew him—was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants.</p> + +<p>"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know—a +little more money—eh?"</p> + +<p>He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar.</p> + +<p>Mortlake made a gesture of impatience.</p> + +<p>"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?"</p> + +<p>"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads.</p> + +<p>He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done."</p> + +<p>"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and——"</p> + +<p>"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?"</p> + +<p>"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?"</p> + +<p>"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely.</p> + +<p>Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim.</p> + +<p>Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts.</p> + +<p>"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?"</p> + +<p>"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?"</p> + +<p>He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection.</p> + +<p>"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left."</p> + +<p>"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case—hullo!"</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Joey.</p> + +<p>For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side.</p> + +<p>It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink.</p> + +<p>"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?"</p> + +<p>"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY.</h3> +<br> + +<p>It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane.</p> + +<p>"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you."</p> + +<p>Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview.</p> + +<p>"That message you sent me—what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe——"</p> + +<p>"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder."</p> + +<p>"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be.</p> + +<p>"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?"</p> + +<p>"No. Certainly not."</p> + +<p>"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming."</p> + +<p>"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story.</p> + +<p>"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself—loyal fellow—to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!"</p> + +<p>"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane."</p> + +<p>"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?"</p> + +<p>"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for."</p> + +<p>"Monstrous!"</p> + +<p>"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person."</p> + +<p>"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?"</p> + +<p>"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case."</p> + +<p>Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer.</p> + +<p>It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp:</p> + +<p>"Hist!"</p> + +<p>Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy.</p> + +<p>"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it."</p> + +<p>"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory."</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>was</i> once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me."</p> + +<p>"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?"</p> + +<p>Roy looked curiously at the man.</p> + +<p>"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot.</p> + +<p>"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?"</p> + +<p>"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy."</p> + +<p>"The—the—the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this."</p> + +<p>"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner—he was discharged +too—he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?"</p> + +<p>Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest.</p> + +<p>"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I—yes, I'll go. Come on, get in."</p> + +<p>The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards.</p> + +<p>"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare.</p> + +<p>"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it."</p> + +<p>"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here."</p> + +<p>The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions.</p> + +<p>"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!"</p> + +<p>Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection.</p> + +<p>They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm.</p> + +<p>"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up."</p> + +<p>Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp.</p> + +<p>At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand.</p> + +<p>"This is the young gentleman," he said.</p> + +<p>Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile.</p> + +<p>"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house."</p> + +<p>"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little.</p> + +<p>"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer.</p> + +<p>Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it.</p> + +<p>As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm.</p> + +<p>Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other.</p> + +<p>"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me——" +began Roy. "I—here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!"</p> + +<p>The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back.</p> + +<p>The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind.</p> + +<p>"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him.</p> + +<p>"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not——" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head.</p> + +<p>The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable.</p> + +<p>"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that."</p> + +<p>This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair.</p> + +<p>"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or—"</p> + +<p>"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?"</p> + +<p>Roy saw.</p> + +<p>"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track."</p> + +<p>"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking.</p> + +<p>"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move.</p> + +<p>"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way."</p> + +<p>He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years.</p> + +<p>The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place.</p> + +<p>Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice—otherwise Joey +Eccles—struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire.</p> + +<p>This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object?</p> + +<p>"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott."</p> + +<p>A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it.</p> + +<p>"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward.</p> + +<p>The boy shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Not in there?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out."</p> + +<p>Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was—hopeless!</p> + +<p>He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder.</p> + +<p>The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash.</p> + +<p>Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit.</p> + +<p>But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then.</p> + +<p>But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started—looked before you leaped—this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!"</p> + +<p>The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it.</p> + +<p>The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder.</p> + +<p>"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice."</p> + +<p>He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches.</p> + +<p>"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape."</p> + +<p>There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say.</p> + +<p>"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!"</p> + +<p>These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly.</p> + +<p>"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this."</p> + +<p>At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night.</p> + +<p>But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it.</p> + +<p>"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere."</p> + +<p>He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move.</p> + +<p>"Queer," thought Roy.</p> + +<p>He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for."</p> + +<p>Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag.</p> + +<p>"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened.</p> + +<p>There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out:</p> + +<p>"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!"</p> + +<p>The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short.</p> + +<p>At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THEY WORKED OUT.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand.</p> + +<p>The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer.</p> + +<p>The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice—Lieut. Bradbury's +voice—said:</p> + +<p>"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and—."</p> + +<p>The officer's astonished voice interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?"</p> + +<p>Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this—a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather."</p> + +<p>The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him.</p> + +<p>But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself.</p> + +<p>"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy.</p> + +<p>"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation.</p> + +<p>But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track.</p> + +<p>All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest.</p> + +<p>The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved.</p> + +<p>"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and—oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too."</p> + +<p>As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen.</p> + +<p>"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill.</p> + +<p>"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?"</p> + +<p>The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot.</p> + +<p>"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently.</p> + +<p>But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind.</p> + +<p>"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it."</p> + +<p>He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence.</p> + +<p>It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer.</p> + +<p>"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily.</p> + +<p>The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down.</p> + +<p>"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it."</p> + +<p>But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro.</p> + +<p>"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again.</p> + +<p>"Have you got der plans?"</p> + +<p>The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure.</p> + +<p>The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation.</p> + +<p>"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him."</p> + +<p>He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back.</p> + +<p>"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time."</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes.</p> + +<p>With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man.</p> + +<p>"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears.</p> + +<p>He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins.</p> + +<p>What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so.</p> + +<p>But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other.</p> + +<p>"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy."</p> + +<p>"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw.</p> + +<p>He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly:</p> + +<p>"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!"</p> + +<p>It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge:</p> + +<p>"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT MORTLAKE DID.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor."</p> + +<p>A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully.</p> + +<p>The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material.</p> + +<p>"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings."</p> + +<p>Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall.</p> + +<p>"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point."</p> + +<p>But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him.</p> + +<p>"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question.</p> + +<p>"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull—o—a!"</p> + +<p>"Hullo—a!" came back out of the night.</p> + +<p>"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But—great Christmas—you've had better luck, I see!"</p> + +<p>For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes.</p> + +<p>"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind.</p> + +<p>But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a——"</p> + +<p>"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped."</p> + +<p>"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake."</p> + +<p>The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word.</p> + +<p>"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods.</p> + +<p>"You—you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?"</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished."</p> + +<p>Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten?</p> + +<p>But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend—I am proud to call him +so—my young friend, Prescott."</p> + +<p>For the first time, Roy was moved to speak.</p> + +<p>"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly.</p> + +<p>"You do not? Who, then?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that."</p> + +<p>"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?"</p> + +<p>"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us."</p> + +<p>"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return."</p> + +<p>Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders.</p> + +<p>"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed.</p> + +<p>"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers."</p> + +<p>"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake.</p> + +<p>They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted.</p> + +<p>"We're near to the place now," he said.</p> + +<p>"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first."</p> + +<p>In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape.</p> + +<p>All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night.</p> + +<p>Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north.</p> + +<p>"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger.</p> + +<p>"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply.</p> + +<p>Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain.</p> + +<p>On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight.</p> + +<p>"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it.</p> + +<p>"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>MISSING SIDE-COMB.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,—half work-shop, half study,—in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft.</p> + +<p>From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument.</p> + +<p>As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach.</p> + +<p>Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen—who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?"</p> + +<p>"Not the least idea. Who?"</p> + +<p>"Fanning Harding!"</p> + +<p>"Fan Harding! The dickens!"</p> + +<p>"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the <i>Cobweb</i>. And who do you think is to be his +companion?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up."</p> + +<p>"Regina Mortlake!"</p> + +<p>"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy.</p> + +<p>"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er—er—overweight isn't it called? +so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the <i>Cobweb</i> at the +tests."</p> + +<p>"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning."</p> + +<p>"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the <i>Cobweb</i> +now!"</p> + +<p>A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out.</p> + +<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> +<center> +<img src="003.jpg" height="453" width="300" +alt=" Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height."> +</center> + +<h5>" Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height."</h5> + + +<p>"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the <i>Cobweb</i> through it like an old general of the upper regions."</p> + +<p>Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully.</p> + +<p>"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time."</p> + +<p>But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery.</p> + +<p>"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests."</p> + +<p>"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west."</p> + +<p>But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship.</p> + +<p>"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted.</p> + +<p>"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime.</p> + +<p>She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and—but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that—but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet—and yet—Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering—and wondering.</p> + +<p>The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car—the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type.</p> + +<p>Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car.</p> + +<p>"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car.</p> + +<p>"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy.</p> + +<p>"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;"</p> + +<p>Roy flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply.</p> + +<p>Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything."</p> + +<p>Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and——." But Roy checked her impatiently.</p> + +<p>"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister.</p> + +<p>Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with.</p> + +<p>As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?"</p> + +<p>"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no."</p> + +<p>"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding.</p> + +<p>He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels.</p> + +<p>"A bolt had worked loose," he explained.</p> + +<p>"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right.</p> + +<p>"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird.</p> + +<p>"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple.</p> + +<p>"Then—go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird.</p> + +<p>Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur.</p> + +<p>"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud.</p> + +<p>Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting—dangerous!</p> + +<p>"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if——"</p> + +<p>But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air.</p> + +<p>The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt.</p> + +<p>The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it.</p> + +<p>One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy.</p> + +<p>From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces.</p> + +<p>Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan.</p> + +<p>"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes."</p> + +<p>"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though."</p> + +<p>Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage.</p> + +<p>"Can I help. I'm so sorry."</p> + +<p>The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my—my +poor car."</p> + +<p>"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine."</p> + +<p>Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse."</p> + +<p>Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all."</p> + +<p>She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out.</p> + +<p>"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with——."</p> + +<p>She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek.</p> + +<p>"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill."</p> + +<p>Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture.</p> +<br> + +<p>"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily.</p> + +<p>"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back."</p> + +<p>"Jove! So it is. But, what, how——"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and—and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?"</p> + +<p>"No. I confess I'm stupid, but——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?"</p> + +<p>"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane."</p> + +<p>A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade.</p> + +<p>The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result.</p> + +<p>Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts.</p> + +<p>Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?"</p> + +<p>"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?"</p> + +<p>"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't."</p> + +<p>"How did it all happen?"</p> + +<p>Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled.</p> + +<p>"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless——," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with."</p> + +<p>"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and——."</p> + +<p>"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me."</p> + +<p>"Well I——," began Fanning.</p> + +<p>But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss——."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft."</p> + +<p>"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions.</p> + +<p>"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience."</p> + +<p>"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once."</p> + +<p>"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but—hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!"</p> + +<p>He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle.</p> + +<p>"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining.</p> + +<p>"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long."</p> + +<p>"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning.</p> + +<p>A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face.</p> + +<p>"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then——." He stopped.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +<i>Red Dragon Fly</i> and break the news to Miss Prescott."</p> + +<p>Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed.</p> + +<p>Regina turned to Fanning.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A BOLT PROM THE BLUE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain—affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> was controlled by foot pressure.</p> + +<p>A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but—where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges.</p> + +<p>"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?"</p> + +<p>Roy nodded.</p> + +<p>"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> out on top."</p> + +<p>"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over."</p> + +<p>"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend.</p> + +<p>"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant.</p> + +<p>"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?"</p> + +<p>"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why—why, they're coming here!"</p> + +<p>"Here!" echoed the others.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house.</p> + +<p>Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority—an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him.</p> + +<p>"Miss Prescott—I—that is—er—this is a very unpleasant business—I +hope——."</p> + +<p>It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please."</p> + +<p>"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and——," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest."</p> + +<p>"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?"</p> + +<p>"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and——."</p> + +<p>Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow.</p> + +<p>"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning.</p> + +<p>"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official.</p> + +<p>"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny."</p> + +<p>Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself.</p> + +<p>"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business."</p> + +<p>"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town."</p> + +<p>Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him.</p> + +<p>"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once."</p> + +<p>Mortlake stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I——."</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer."</p> + +<p>"But I—really, I'm sorry to—Bancroft you'll listen——"</p> + +<p>But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face.</p> + +<p>"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger.</p> + +<p>"Why, if I may ask?"</p> + +<p>Jimsy flashed round.</p> + +<p>"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes."</p> + +<p>Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again.</p> + +<p>Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage.</p> + +<p>"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out."</p> + +<p>The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe.</p> + +<p>Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road.</p> + +<p>"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill.</p> + +<p>"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice.</p> + +<p>"What! you did not drop it?"</p> + +<p>"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply.</p> + +<p>"Then what was it doing in your possession?"</p> + +<p>"Do I have to answer that question, now?"</p> + +<p>"It will be better to—yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial."</p> + +<p>A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village.</p> + +<p>"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said.</p> + +<p>But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood."</p> + +<p>Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy.</p> + +<p>"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned.</p> + +<p>It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant.</p> + +<p>"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peg—gy!" gasped Jess, "you would——"</p> + +<p>"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!"</p> + +<p>The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we—we—I—that—is——"</p> + +<p>"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice.</p> + +<p>He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The aeroplanes—a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type—were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts.</p> + +<p>Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it.</p> + +<p>There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The <i>Sky Pilot</i>, the <i>Cloud Chaser</i>, the <i>Star Bug</i>, the <i>Moon +Mounter</i>, the <i>Aerial Auto</i>, the <i>Heavenly Harvester</i>, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide.</p> + +<p>"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the <i>Motor Hornet</i> has the contest cinched."</p> + +<p>The <i>Motor Hornet</i> was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy.</p> + +<p>But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it.</p> + +<p>This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery.</p> + +<p>"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by.</p> + +<p>But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures—two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place.</p> + +<p>This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the <i>Butterfly</i> shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward.</p> + +<p>The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it.</p> + +<p>"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or—or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty.</p> + +<p>"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?"</p> + +<p>"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>."</p> + +<p>"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you."</p> + +<p>"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada."</p> + +<p>"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head."</p> + +<p>"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting."</p> + +<p>"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy.</p> + +<p>The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless.</p> + +<p>"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the <i>Butterfly</i> had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far—very far from being out of the race.</p> + +<p>On and on through the night throbbed the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?"</p> + +<p>"Um—well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her:</p> + +<p>"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can."</p> + +<p>"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy.</p> + +<p>Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears:</p> + +<p>"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!"</p> + +<p>But now another voice came through the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?"</p> + +<p>"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains.</p> + +<p>"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or——"</p> + +<p>The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice:</p> + +<p>"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness."</p> + +<p>The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party—there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared.</p> + +<p>Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting.</p> + +<p>"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice.</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</h3> +<br> + +<p>As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy.</p> + +<p>The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol.</p> + +<p>"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous.</p> + +<p>The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently.</p> + +<p>"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm."</p> + +<p>"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued.</p> + +<p>"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?"</p> + +<p>Jimsy rummaged in the <i>Golden Butterfly's</i> tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs.</p> + +<p>While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm.</p> + +<p>She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out."</p> + +<p>"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all."</p> + +<p>"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory."</p> + +<p>"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled.</p> + +<p>"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia."</p> + +<p>"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent.</p> + +<p>"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then—do you know a man +named Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey.</p> + +<p>"Good. You came here with him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him.</p> + +<p>"What did you come for?"</p> + +<p>Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent.</p> + +<p>"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell.</p> + +<p>No reply.</p> + +<p>"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you."</p> + +<p>The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure.</p> + +<p>"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?"</p> + +<p>"To disable one of them flying machines."</p> + +<p>"Which one?"</p> + +<p>"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while—and—no, you can't stop me, Slim—and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and——"</p> + +<p>"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair."</p> + +<p>"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?"</p> + +<p>"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply.</p> + +<p>"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more.</p> + +<p>"Yes, on a trip."</p> + +<p>The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious.</p> + +<p>"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," came in a chorus.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody—are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through."</p> + +<p>"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?"</p> + +<p>"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly."</p> + +<p>With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream."</p> + +<p>"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and——"</p> + +<p>"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests.</p> + +<p>A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts.</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the <i>Cobweb</i> out already," he exclaimed presently.</p> + +<p>Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism.</p> + +<p>Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators.</p> + +<p>The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> +before these tests are over."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour."</p> + +<p>The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them.</p> + +<p>Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say:</p> + +<p>"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids."</p> + +<p>Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale.</p> + +<p>"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't."</p> + +<p>"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that——"</p> + +<p>"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing."</p> + +<p>"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night."</p> + +<p>"They decamped—as you call it—because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched."</p> + +<p>"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides——"</p> + +<p>But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet."</p> + +<p>The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out:</p> + +<p>"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest."</p> + +<p>"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets.</p> + +<p>"Here's a book of rules. Read it."</p> + +<p>"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I——"</p> + +<p>"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly.</p> + +<p>"But see here——"</p> + +<p>"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on.</p> + +<p>The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him.</p> + +<p>"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go."</p> + +<p>"No go. What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to."</p> + +<p>"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to change 'em to beat the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, +we'd have a clean sweep."</p> + +<p>"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time."</p> + +<p>"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow.</p> + +<p>Bang!</p> + +<p>A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air.</p> + +<p>"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?"</p> + +<p>"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire.</p> + +<p>The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour.</p> + +<p>Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The <i>Silver +Cobweb</i> was among them.</p> + +<p>Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers.</p> + +<p>Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless.</p> + +<p>"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +<i>Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing."</p> + +<p>"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again——"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves."</p> + +<p>"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and——"</p> + +<p>At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged <i>Butterfly</i>. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter.</p> + +<p>But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> would never have flown on that day.</p> + +<p>B-o-o-m!</p> + +<p>The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly.</p> + +<p>"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it.</p> + +<p>Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd.</p> + +<p>Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether.</p> + +<p>"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished.</p> + +<p>The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough—too willing—to explain their remarkable points.</p> + +<p>It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed.</p> + +<p>"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHITE PERIL.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"What's that? No, not that schooner below there—I mean that sort of +whitish drift—it looks like cotton—on the horizon?"</p> + +<p>Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person.</p> + +<p>"Ask Peggy."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy."</p> + +<p>The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish.</p> + +<p>Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess.</p> + +<p>Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the <i>Cobweb</i>. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity.</p> + +<p>On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue.</p> + +<p>A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The <i>Cobweb</i> was doing slightly +better.</p> + +<p>"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Will they report us?" asked Jess.</p> + +<p>"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point."</p> + +<p>Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The <i>Cobweb</i> had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck."</p> + +<p>"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him.</p> + +<p>"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to try for it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation.</p> + +<p>Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea.</p> + +<p>"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner."</p> + +<p>"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up."</p> + +<p>Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly.</p> + +<p>Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts.</p> + +<p>"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"</p> + +<p>"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!"</p> + +<p>The other shook her head.</p> + +<p>"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said.</p> + +<p>"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Jess.</p> + +<p>"That bell boy."</p> + +<p>Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one.</p> + +<p>Presently he looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy—but it doesn't."</p> + +<p>She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth.</p> + +<p>This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply—even with the use of the auxiliary tanks—would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were—or believed they +were, navigating above the sea.</p> + +<p>Had the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning.</p> + +<p>Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below.</p> + +<p>"It's thick as pea soup, captain!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog."</p> + +<p>"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers."</p> + +<p>The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> on an upward course.</p> + +<p>But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast.</p> + +<p>The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure.</p> + +<p>"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?"</p> + +<p>A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it.</p> + +<p>"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought.</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length.</p> + +<p>"I—I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake."</p> + +<p>"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort."</p> + +<p>It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there.</p> + +<p>"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess.</p> + +<p>"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert."</p> + +<p>"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her.</p> + +<p>Jimsy looked at her sharply.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost.</p> + +<p>Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them.</p> + +<p>"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and——."</p> + +<p>She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>OUT OF THE CLOUDS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made.</p> + +<p>Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils—dragons or something."</p> + +<p>"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again—even if it was only shifting sand—"we trust to +you."</p> + +<p>"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!"</p> + +<p>Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again.</p> + +<p>"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound.</p> + +<p>"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is—or ought to +be—food. How about it girls, are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess.</p> + +<p>"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess.</p> + +<p>"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth.</p> + +<p>They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily.</p> + +<p>All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending.</p> + +<p>The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers.</p> + +<p>"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking.</p> + +<p>"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks."</p> + +<p>There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive.</p> + +<p>"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we—we came in an +aeroplane, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island."</p> + +<p>"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?"</p> + +<p>"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?"</p> + +<p>Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept.</p> + +<p>"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or——."</p> + +<p>The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish."</p> + +<p>"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it."</p> + +<p>So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence.</p> + +<p>Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island."</p> + +<p>"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference.</p> + +<p>The man's face underwent a transformation.</p> + +<p>"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Because a wrong—a very great wrong—was done to me there," said the man +slowly.</p> + +<p>Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark.</p> + +<p>After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce."</p> + +<p>Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut.</p> + +<p>On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled.</p> + +<p>Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?"</p> + +<p>The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying:</p> + +<p>"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here."</p> + +<p>"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's.</p> + +<a name="image-4"><!-- Image 4 --></a> +<center> +<img src="004.jpg" height="452" width="300" +alt="The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two new guests."> +</center> + +<h5>"The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two new guests."</h5> + +<p>"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers.</p> + +<p>Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests.</p> + +<p>"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone.</p> + +<p>Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush.</p> + +<p>"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically.</p> + +<p>The man of the island looked on wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels.</p> + +<p>"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone.</p> + +<p>"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left."</p> + +<p>"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food."</p> + +<p>But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina."</p> + +<p>The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?"</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; "why?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me."</p> + +<p>"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back."</p> + +<p>The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone.</p> + +<p>"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour."</p> + +<p>"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off."</p> + +<p>"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake."</p> + +<p>The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?"</p> + +<p>"He is in Hampton—why?"</p> + +<p>"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him."</p> + +<p>The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound.</p> + +<p>"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry."</p> + +<p>"Will you do something for me—will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them.</p> + +<p>"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so."</p> + +<p>In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till—till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds."</p> + +<p>"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!"</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton.</p> + +<p>"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The <i>Silver +Cobweb</i>), four persons on board."</p> + +<p>Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the <i>Mortlake</i> is +leading. Now if only——"</p> + +<p>But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng.</p> + +<p>Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats.</p> + +<p>"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!"</p> + +<p>Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i>. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft—its silvery sheen betrayed it—was the Mortlake <i>Cobweb</i>, as +Roy had called it.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?"</p> + +<p>But alas, the <i>Cobweb</i> didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the <i>Cobweb</i> fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +<i>Golden Butterfly's</i> feat.</p> + +<p>Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>FRIENDS AND FOES—CONCLUSION.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished.</p> + +<p>This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat.</p> + +<p>While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of:</p> + +<p>"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed.</p> + +<p>Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant.</p> + +<p>Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by:</p> + +<p>"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round.</p> + +<p>They all shook their heads.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney—luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you."</p> + +<p>They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension.</p> + +<p>"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared.</p> + +<p>"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones.</p> + +<p>"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No—but, +yes, now I look again—it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already."</p> + +<p>"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal."</p> + +<p>"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life."</p> + +<p>"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand.</p> + +<p>"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you."</p> + +<p>With wondering looks, the young aviators—Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm—followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes.</p> + +<p>"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?"</p> + +<p>He glanced up at his ill-favored son.</p> + +<p>"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?"</p> + +<p>A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make.</p> + +<p>"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window."</p> + +<p>"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake—no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there.</p> + +<p>"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket a paper.</p> + +<p>"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer."</p> + +<p>Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach."</p> + +<p>Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks.</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to do?" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents."</p> + +<p>"And if not?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?"</p> + +<p>Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance.</p> + +<p>"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?"</p> + +<p>For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared.</p> + +<p>"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign."</p> + +<p>"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me."</p> + +<p>"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote:</p> + +<p>"All this is true.—Eugene Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly.</p> + +<p>In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace.</p> + +<p>"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell.</p> + +<p>"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing—he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry—a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me."</p> + +<p>"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all."</p> + +<p>His voice broke, and Regina—a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly.</p> + +<p>"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget."</p> + +<p>Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?"</p> + +<p>"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will—bad or good, we shall not interfere with you."</p> + +<p>Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way.</p> + +<p>"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home—Regina's and mine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes—always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't—I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps——"</p> + +<p>He strode abruptly through the door and was gone.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways."</p> + +<p>"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning."</p> + +<p>Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out—at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night."</p> + +<p>He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?"</p> + +<p>"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on.</p> + +<p>"It—it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and—and +I'm awfully sorry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!"</p> + +<p>In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling.</p> + +<p>"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good."</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" asked Roy.</p> + +<p>"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night."</p> +<br> + +<p>How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the <i>Cobweb</i> type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York.</p> + +<p>Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added.</p> + +<p>But, as the young officer says:</p> + +<p>"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts."</p> + +<p>And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid <i>au revoir</i> to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in—<b>The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly.</b></p> +<br> + +<hr> + +<h4>The End.</h4> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954-h.htm or 10954-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: AT THE CORRECT MOMENT PEGGY DROPPED THE WEIGHTED BUNDLE +OVERBOARD.--Page 103.] + +THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE + +BY + +MARGARET BURNHAM + +AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC. + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +1911 + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH + II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF + III. A NAVAL VISITOR + IV. ALOFT IN A STORM + V. PEGGY A HEROINE + VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT" + VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES + VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS + IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB" + X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE + XI. THE MARKED BILL + XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY + XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT + XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT + XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID + XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB + XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED + XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS + XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE + XXII. THE WHITE PERIL + XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS + XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH. + + +"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?" + +Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road. + +About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation--a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily. + +"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie. + +"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken." + +"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels." + +"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy. + +"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert--there's a good fellow--and we'll soon find +out." + +"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands." + +"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy. + +"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you--just once." + +"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept. + +She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position. + +Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers. + +"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or----" + +"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting." + +"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses----" + +Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands. + +"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately. + +An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance. + +"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped. + +"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick." + +"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin." + +Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson: + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?" + +"Roy!" reproved Peggy. + +"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it." + +"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!" + +The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned. + +"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?" + +"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour." + +"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?" + +"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and--approved." + +Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses. + +"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant. + +Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit. + +Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business. + +From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman. + +His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before--Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF. + + +Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer. + +In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate. + +In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine--otherwise inaccessible--had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings." + +The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised--as has been said--to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed. + +"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice--not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see." + +The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof--there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive--the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country. + +"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?" + +Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there. + +When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke. + +"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap. + +"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments." + +"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it." + +Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously. + +"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?" + +"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was--well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy." + +"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of----" + +"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way." + +"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's--you know whom I mean?" + +The other nodded abstractedly. + +"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed--oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach--that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also." + +"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark. + +"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently." + +"You mean----" + +"That I intend to cinch that government business." + +"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?" + +"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact." + +With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NAVAL VISITOR + + +Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates. + +The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life. + +Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice--a remarkably +pleasant voice: + +"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?" + +"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face. + +At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn. + +"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came--er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service." + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we--I--that is----" + +"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me----" + +"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat--I mean a seat?" + +"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics. + +"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly. + +"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He--he will be +back shortly." + +"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the--the----" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it. + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded. + +"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away. + +"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?" + +"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish." + +"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration." + +"A flight?" + +"Yes, if it were possible." + +"I think it can be arranged." + +"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?" + +Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now. + +"No. I guess it's an aviatress--if there is such a word. You see I----" + +"You!" + +"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is." + +A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer. + +"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?" + +"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott." + +As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes. + +"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert." + +"Indeed! That is most interesting." + +Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes. + +[Illustration: When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the +place of the lounger in the hammock.] + +But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished. + +When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands. + +"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above." + +"Perhaps the lieutenant----" ventured Miss Prescott. + +"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there." + +"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion. + +By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the _Golden Butterfly_, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out--it moved easily on its landing wheels--stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces. + +A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel. + +"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller." + +The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least. + +"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working. + +"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated." + +Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well! + +"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury. + +"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her. + +Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring. + +With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier. + +In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating. + +Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock. + +The _Golden Butterfly_ had never done better. + +"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN A STORM + + +Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes. + +"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury. + +A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it--she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient _Golden Butterfly_ began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant. + +The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy. + +"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun." + +Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve--the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it--into its teeth, as it were. + +Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up--fifty, sixty, sixty-two--she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do. + +"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!" + +The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly. + +"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped. + +"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile. + +Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the _Golden +Butterfly_ swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp. + +So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance. + +"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer. + +"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the _Golden Butterfly_ through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet." + +If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake. + +Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp. + +"I say----" + +But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard. + +"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile. + +"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how----" + +"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy. + +The young officer bit his lip. + +"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?" + +Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin. + +"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?" + +"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness." + +Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation. + +The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds--squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with. + +"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up." + +"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over." + +"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?" + +"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls." + +"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the _Dixie_. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon." + +Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles. + +Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the _Golden Butterfly_ was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents. + +"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied. + +"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through." + +"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy--like ducks, you know." + +Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place. + +The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer. + +"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house." + +"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury. + +He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply. + +"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder. + +"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears." + +"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart. + +"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?" + +"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate." + +"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?" + +"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be." + +"It's worse than queer--it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?" + +"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled. + +"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose----Good heavens, what's that?" + +From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something--a huge, indefinite shadow--darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PEGGY A HEROINE. + + +"It's--it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement. + +"What!" + +Peggy sprang to her feet. + +"A large red one?" + +"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours--yours, I mean." + +The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +_Golden Butterfly_. + +"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped. + +"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side. + +"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane--the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!" + +Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations. + +"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?" + +"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and----" + +"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side. + +"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We----" + +"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother----" + +"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic." + +Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there. + +"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book." + +He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone. + +"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit--er--er--unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?" + +"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago." + +"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this--this----" + +"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy. + +"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?" + +"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit--no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day." + +"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it." + +"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale. + +"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?" + +"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently." + +"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close." + +"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire. + +"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way." + +"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government." + +"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any----" + +The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway. + +"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen. + +But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it. + +A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury. + +Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere. + +"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice. + +Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper. + +"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!" + +"Where?" demanded Peggy. + +"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting. + +"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me." + +"But the boys!" gasped Jess. + +"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing." + +With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions. + +"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm. + +"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway. + +In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm. + +Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard. + +Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task. + +"I must do it--I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child. + +But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared. + +But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily--and knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT." + + +When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house. + +"Is--is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings. + +"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames." + +"And Jess and Jimsy and----" + +"And that other young fellow? Why, they----" + +"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer. + +"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating." + +Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen." + +"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and----" + +"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto." + +"But what about the _Butterfly_?" asked Peggy. + +"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time." + +"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane--that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way." + +"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there. + +"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm. + +"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer." + +He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said: + +"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like----" + +"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again. + +"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess. + +"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife. + +"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day--two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out." + +"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy. + +"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do." + +Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance. + +Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane--the _Red Dragon Fly_, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off. + +They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction. + +Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake. + +"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed. + +"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there." + +"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road." + +"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe. + +Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train. + +"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors." + +"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was. + +Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The _Golden Butterfly_ had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device? + +There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm. + +"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet--and yet----" + +But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES. + + +It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows. + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man." + +"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the _Butterfly_ while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill. + +Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side. + +"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly. + +"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly. + +"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief." + +"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe. + +"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?" + +"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?" + +"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?" + +"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily." + +On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried. + +As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down. + +"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?" + +There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something. + +"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly. + +"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy----" + +Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears. + +"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff. + +"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came." + +"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery." + +"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details." + +"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?" + +"Why, Jimsy--I mean Mr. Bancroft--his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway." + +"What! Your brother was not there?" + +"Certainly not. He didn't come till later." + +"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?" + +"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand." + +"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here----" + +"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone. + +The sheriff went on: + +"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that----" + +But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short. + +"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake. + +"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now." + +"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother." + +"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now." + +"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do." + +"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first." + +"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer." + +"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely. + +"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised. + +In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy. + +For what object? + +"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough." + +They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?" + +"Because--forgive me Jimsy--you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless----" + +"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally. + +"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us." + +The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff. + +"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous." + +They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question: + +"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?" + +"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'----" + +"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially. + +Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +_Golden Butterfly_ at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her. + +"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'--why, what's the +trouble?" + +For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed. + +"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned. + +"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it." + +"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!" + +"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly." + +A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer. + +"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked. + +The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory. + +"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough." + +After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the _Golden Butterfly_ and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above. + +As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor: + +"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS. + + +Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine. + +Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops. + +All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car. + +"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped. + +"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes. + +In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band. + +"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess. + +"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else." + +She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry. + +"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!" + +"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or----" + +"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's--oh, Jess--it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away." + +"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess. + +"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant----" + +A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp. + +"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss." + +He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car. + +"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't." + +"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or----" + +"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?" + +Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing. + +"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece--the money don't mean much to folks like you--an' we'll let +yer go. If not----" + +A sudden inspiration came to Peggy--a flash of recollection. + +"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out." + +She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes. + +"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air----" + +He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it. + +"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back. + +The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when: + +"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!" + +From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly. + +The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid." + +"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective." + +Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part. + +"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!" + +"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?" + +"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane." + +"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped. + +"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks. + +"Well--well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?" + +"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust. + +The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement. + +"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?" + +"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out." + +"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down." + +In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off. + +"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them." + +The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime. + +"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago." + +"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or----" + +"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects. + +"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well. + +"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them." + +"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp. + +"Naw!" echoed the other. + +"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you." + +The warning came from old Mr. Harding. + +"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like." + +The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan. + +This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke. + +"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?" + +"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered: + +"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?" + +"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know." + +Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill. + +"Is this enough?" he asked. + +The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure. + +"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes. + +"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently. + +"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em." + +"What!" + +"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us." + +"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?" + +"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'" + +"Well, I may have some work for you to do----" + +"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen." + +"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you." + +"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey." + +The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug. + +"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful." + +"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB." + + +A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them. + +But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine. + +She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand. + +Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged. + +Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller. + +"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw. + +The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash. + +Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil--the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes. + +Then suddenly--as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him--Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed. + +"Let's get out the _Golden Butterfly_ and follow the----" + +"_Silver Cobweb!_" cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance. + +"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name." + +"Isn't it? But somehow, I like _Golden Butterfly_ best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service." + +Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the _Silver Cobweb_, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon. + +"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces. + +"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the _Butterfly_ against the _Cobweb_." + +But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the _Silver Cobweb_. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about. + +Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about. + +All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak. + +"The sea!" + +The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy. + +They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean. + +"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy. + +So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water. + +And still the _Silver Cobweb_ kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +_Golden Butterfly_ maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up. + +"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +_Cobweb_ can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much." + +"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy. + +And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea. + +That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie. + +"Are you going to keep on, Roy?" + +The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height. + +"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are." + +"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the _Butterfly_ above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for." + +"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair--a +very modern corsair--urging his craft above the ancient sea. + +The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait. + +Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the _Golden Butterfly_ descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant _Golden +Butterfly_. + +"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something----" + +"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want." + +Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the _Golden +Butterfly_ hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull. + +Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted. + +"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!" + +It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh. + +The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN AERIAL POST OFFICE. + + +Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq." + +It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read: + + TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE, + + Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air: + Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_. + + R. & M. PRESCOTT. + +That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose. + +All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights--spare bolts from the tool +locker--to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them. + +"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?" + +"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath. + +"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail." + +Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +_Golden Butterfly_ began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl--and a pretty one--was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly. + +And Peggy--what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later: + +"I was in an aeroplane, my dear--a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact." + +In the meantime, Mortlake, in the _Silver Cobweb_, had been duly mystified +as to what the _Golden Butterfly_ was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the _Golden +Butterfly_ were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine. + +But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the _Golden +Butterfly_, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction. + +"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine." + +And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes. + +"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant. + +"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?" + +The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck. + +"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible." + +"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore." + +"If you please." + +But what was the _Golden Butterfly_ doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the _Silver Cobweb_. + +As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The _Cobweb_ leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the _Golden Butterfly_ was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour. + +"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward. + +"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week." + +This seemed to be true. The _Golden Butterfly_, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind. + +"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant. + +Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for. + +Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more. + +All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake." + +Mortlake glanced back. The _Golden Butterfly_, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels. + +"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit--that and advanced spark." + +He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the _Silver Cobweb_ would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down. + +"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot." + +Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane--or glide--downward, without the +aid of the engine. + +"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or----" + +Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity. + +But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the _Silver Cobweb_ to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be--and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him--he was a master of +the aerial craft. + +Despite the mishap to the engine--caused by his own carelessness--Mortlake +managed to bring the _Silver Cobweb_ to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue. + +The instant the _Silver Cobweb_ came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the _Golden Butterfly_ +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the _Cobweb_, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do. + +"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident. + +"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right." + +"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table. + +"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that." + +"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola." + +Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests. + +"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively. + +"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here." + +"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled." + +A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the _Golden +Butterfly_, swooping and hovering above the disabled _Cobweb_. + +"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy. + +"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification. + +"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones. + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury. + +"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer. + +In five minutes the _Golden Butterfly_ was on the sward beside the +crippled _Cobweb_. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at--for him--such an +inopportune moment. + +"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?" + +"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated." + +"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man. + +"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy." + +"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly--"cattily," she said it was, afterward. + +Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed. + +"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand. + +The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful _Golden Butterfly_ was taking the air once +more. + +"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself. + +From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARKED BILL. + + +Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows: + +"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government." + +"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see--three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!" + +The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck. + +When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protege, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it. + +"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island. + +By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be. + +In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine. + +They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent--too recent, in fact--style. + +"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes. + +"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place." + +The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily. + +"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you." + +"I beg your pardon----" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road. + +Later that day the _Silver Cobweb_ ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance. + +The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake. + +They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets. + +While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office. + +Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men. + +"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking. + +The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded. + +"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?" + +"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry." + +This Slim--or to give him his correct name--Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"--as +the tramp fraternity knew him--was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants. + +"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know--a +little more money--eh?" + +He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar. + +Mortlake made a gesture of impatience. + +"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?" + +"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out." + +Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads. + +He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table. + +"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done." + +"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and----" + +"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?" + +"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey. + +"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it." + +"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?" + +"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely. + +Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim. + +Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts. + +"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?" + +"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?" + +He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection. + +"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left." + +"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case--hullo!" + +"What's up?" asked Joey. + +For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side. + +It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink. + +"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?" + +"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. + + +It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane. + +"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded. + +Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office. + +"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you." + +Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview. + +"That message you sent me--what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe----" + +"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder." + +"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be. + +"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?" + +"No. Certainly not." + +"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming." + +"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story. + +"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself--loyal fellow--to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott." + +"Good heavens!" + +"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane." + +"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?" + +"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for." + +"Monstrous!" + +"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person." + +"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake." + +"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?" + +"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case." + +Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him. + +Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction. + +"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer. + +It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp: + +"Hist!" + +Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine. + +"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy. + +"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it." + +"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy. + +"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory." + +"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?" + +"I _was_ once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me." + +"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?" + +Roy looked curiously at the man. + +"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place." + +"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" + +"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot. + +"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?" + +"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy." + +"The--the--the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this." + +"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner--he was discharged +too--he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?" + +Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest. + +"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked. + +"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?" + +"Well, I--yes, I'll go. Come on, get in." + +The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards. + +"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare. + +"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it." + +"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here." + +The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions. + +"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!" + +Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection. + +They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm. + +"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up." + +Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp. + +At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand. + +"This is the young gentleman," he said. + +Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile. + +"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house." + +"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little. + +"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer. + +Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it. + +As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm. + +Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other. + +"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me----" +began Roy. "I--here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!" + +The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back. + +The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. + + +The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind. + +"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him. + +"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not----" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head. + +The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance. + +"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable. + +"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that." + +This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair. + +"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or--" + +"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?" + +Roy saw. + +"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track." + +"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking. + +"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move. + +"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way." + +He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them. + +"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question." + +Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years. + +The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place. + +Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice--otherwise Joey +Eccles--struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire. + +This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object? + +"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott." + +A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it. + +"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward. + +The boy shuddered. + +"Not in there?" he said. + +"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out." + +Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was--hopeless! + +He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder. + +The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash. + +Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit. + +But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then. + +But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly. + +"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started--looked before you leaped--this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!" + +The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it. + +The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder. + +"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice." + +He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket. + +"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches. + +"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape." + +There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too. + +"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say. + +"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!" + +These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly. + +"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this." + +At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night. + +But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it. + +"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere." + +He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move. + +"Queer," thought Roy. + +He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all. + +"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for." + +Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag. + +"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on. + +Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + +The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short. + +At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THEY WORKED OUT. + + +Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand. + +The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer. + +The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice--Lieut. Bradbury's +voice--said: + +"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?" + +"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and--." + +The officer's astonished voice interrupted him. + +"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?" + +Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might. + +"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this--a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is." + +"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather." + +The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him. + +But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself. + +"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy. + +"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation. + +But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track. + +All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest. + +The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved. + +"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and--oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too." + +As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side. + +Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen. + +"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill. + +"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to----" + +"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding." + +"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?" + +The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot. + +"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury. + +Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently. + +But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind. + +"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer. + +"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it." + +He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory. + +Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence. + +It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly. + +"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow." + +"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer. + +"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily. + +The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down. + +"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it." + +But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro. + +"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again. + +"Have you got der plans?" + +The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure. + +The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation. + +"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him." + +He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back. + +"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time." + +Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes. + +With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man. + +"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears. + +He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly. + +Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins. + +What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so. + +But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other. + +"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake. + +"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy." + +"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw. + +He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly: + +"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!" + +It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +WHAT MORTLAKE DID. + + +"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor." + +A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?" + +"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully. + +The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings." + +Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall. + +"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point." + +But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him. + +"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question. + +"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull--o--a!" + +"Hullo--a!" came back out of the night. + +"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant. + +"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work. + +"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But--great Christmas--you've had better luck, I see!" + +For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes. + +"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind. + +But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment. + +"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a----" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped." + +"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly. + +"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake." + +The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up. + +"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word. + +"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar." + +The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods. + +"You--you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?" + +"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished." + +Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten? + +But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself. + +"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend--I am proud to call him +so--my young friend, Prescott." + +For the first time, Roy was moved to speak. + +"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly. + +"You do not? Who, then?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that." + +"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?" + +"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?" + +"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us." + +"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police." + +"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go----" + +"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air----" + +"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?" + +"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return." + +Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders. + +"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed. + +"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers." + +"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake. + +They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted. + +"We're near to the place now," he said. + +"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first." + +In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape. + +All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night. + +Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north. + +"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger. + +"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying." + +"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know." + +"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply. + +Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants. + +There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain. + +On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight. + +"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it. + +"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MISSING SIDE-COMB. + + +Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,--half work-shop, half study,--in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the _Golden Butterfly_. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft. + +From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument. + +As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach. + +Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was. + +"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn." + +"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen--who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?" + +"Not the least idea. Who?" + +"Fanning Harding!" + +"Fan Harding! The dickens!" + +"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the _Cobweb_. And who do you think is to be his +companion?" + +"Give it up." + +"Regina Mortlake!" + +"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?" + +"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it." + +"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy. + +"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er--er--overweight isn't it +called? so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the _Cobweb_ at +the tests." + +"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning." + +"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the _Cobweb_ +now!" + +A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out. + +[Illustration: Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz +by at a fair height.] + +"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the _Cobweb_ through it like an old general of the upper regions." + +Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully. + +"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered. + +"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time." + +But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery. + +"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests." + +"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget." + +"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west." + +But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship. + +"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted. + +"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime. + +She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style. + +"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and--but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that--but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet--and yet--Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering--and wondering. + +The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car--the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type. + +Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car. + +"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy. + +"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car. + +"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race." + +"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy. + +"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;" + +Roy flushed angrily. + +"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply. + +Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes. + +"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything." + +Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation. + +"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road." + +"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and----." But Roy checked her impatiently. + +"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister. + +Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with. + +As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same. + +"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?" + +"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no." + +"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding. + +He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels. + +"A bolt had worked loose," he explained. + +"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right. + +"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird. + +"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple. + +"Then--go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird. + +Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur. + +"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud. + +Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting--dangerous! + +"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if----" + +But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air. + +The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED. + + +Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt. + +The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it. + +One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy. + +From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces. + +Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan. + +"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes." + +"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry." + +"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though." + +Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage. + +"Can I help. I'm so sorry." + +The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side. + +"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my--my +poor car." + +"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident." + +"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?" + +"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine." + +Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned. + +"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again." + +"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?" + +"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse." + +Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet. + +"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all." + +She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out. + +"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with----." + +She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek. + +"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill." + +Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture. + + +"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily. + +"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back." + +"Jove! So it is. But, what, how----" + +"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and--and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?" + +"No. I confess I'm stupid, but----" + +"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?" + +"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane." + +A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade. + +The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result. + +Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts. + +Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost. + +"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?" + +"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?" + +"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't." + +"How did it all happen?" + +Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled. + +"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked. + +"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder. + +"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless----," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with." + +"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and----." + +"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me." + +"Well I----," began Fanning. + +But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness. + +"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident." + +"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss----." + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft." + +"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions. + +"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way. + +"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience." + +"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once." + +"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but--hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!" + +He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle. + +"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively. + +"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining. + +"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long." + +"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone." + +"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly. + +"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down." + +"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning. + +A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face. + +"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then----." He stopped. + +"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +_Red Dragon Fly_ and break the news to Miss Prescott." + +Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed. + +Regina turned to Fanning. + +"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked. + +"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A BOLT PROM THE BLUE. + + +The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain--affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +_Golden Butterfly_ was controlled by foot pressure. + +A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but--where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges. + +"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them." + +"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?" + +Roy nodded. + +"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +_Golden Butterfly_ out on top." + +"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over." + +"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend. + +"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?" + +Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant. + +"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly: + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?" + +"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed: + +"Why--why, they're coming here!" + +"Here!" echoed the others. + +"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house. + +Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority--an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower. + +"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him. + +"Miss Prescott--I--that is--er--this is a very unpleasant business--I +hope----." + +It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him. + +"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please." + +"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly. + +"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him. + +"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and----," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest." + +"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?" + +"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?" + +"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and----." + +Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow. + +"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning. + +"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official. + +"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny." + +Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself. + +"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business." + +"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town." + +Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him. + +"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once." + +Mortlake stepped forward. + +"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I----." + +"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer." + +"But I--really, I'm sorry to--Bancroft you'll listen----" + +But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face. + +"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger. + +"Why, if I may ask?" + +Jimsy flashed round. + +"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes." + +Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again. + +Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage. + +"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out." + +The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe. + +Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road. + +"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill. + +"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice. + +"What! you did not drop it?" + +"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply. + +"Then what was it doing in your possession?" + +"Do I have to answer that question, now?" + +"It will be better to--yes." + +"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake." + +"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial." + +A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village. + +"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said. + +But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak. + +"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood." + +Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy. + +"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned. + +It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant. + +"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway." + +"Oh, Peg--gy!" gasped Jess, "you would----" + +"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes. + +"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!" + +The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious. + +"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we--we--I--that--is----" + +"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice. + +He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom. + +"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank. + +"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS. + + +The aeroplanes--a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type--were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts. + +Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it. + +There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The _Sky Pilot_, the _Cloud Chaser_, the _Star Bug_, the _Moon +Mounter_, the _Aerial Auto_, the _Heavenly Harvester_, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide. + +"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the _Motor Hornet_ has the contest cinched." + +The _Motor Hornet_ was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the _Silver Cobweb_. + +The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy. + +But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it. + +This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery. + +"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by. + +But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures--two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place. + +This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the _Golden Butterfly_, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the _Butterfly_ shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward. + +The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it. + +"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or--or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty. + +"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?" + +"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the _Golden Butterfly_." + +"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you." + +"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy." + +"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada." + +"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head." + +"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting." + +"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy. + +The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless. + +"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race." + +Accordingly, the _Butterfly_ had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far--very far from being out of the race. + +On and on through the night throbbed the _Golden Butterfly_, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat. + +Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?" + +"Um--well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her: + +"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can." + +"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy. + +Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears: + +"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!" + +"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice. + +"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!" + +But now another voice came through the darkness. + +"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?" + +"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains. + +"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or----" + +The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice: + +"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness." + +The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party--there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared. + +Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy. + +In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting. + +"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice. + +There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend. + +"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy. + +The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the _Golden Butterfly_. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol. + +"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous. + +The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently. + +"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm." + +"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued. + +"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?" + +Jimsy rummaged in the _Golden Butterfly's_ tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs. + +While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm. + +She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it. + +"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out." + +"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all." + +"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory." + +"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone. + +"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now." + +"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled. + +"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia." + +"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent. + +"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then--do you know a man +named Mortlake?" + +"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey. + +"Good. You came here with him?" + +"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him. + +"What did you come for?" + +Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent. + +"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell. + +No reply. + +"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you." + +The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure. + +"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out. + +"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?" + +"To disable one of them flying machines." + +"Which one?" + +"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while--and--no, you can't stop me, Slim--and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and----" + +"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair." + +"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?" + +"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?" + +"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply. + +"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more. + +"Yes, on a trip." + +The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed. + +"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious. + +"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?" + +"Why, of course," came in a chorus. + +"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody--are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?" + +"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent. + +"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through." + +"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?" + +"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?" + +"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy. + +"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly." + +With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off. + +"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream." + +"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and----" + +"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically. + +As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the _Golden Butterfly_ and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE. + + +"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests. + +A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts. + +"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the _Cobweb_ out already," he exclaimed presently. + +Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism. + +Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators. + +The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back. + +"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the _Golden Butterfly_ +before these tests are over." + +"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate." + +"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour." + +The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them. + +Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say: + +"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids." + +Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale. + +"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't." + +"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that----" + +"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing." + +"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night." + +"They decamped--as you call it--because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched." + +"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides----" + +But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack. + +"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked. + +"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet." + +The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott." + +Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury. + +"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out: + +"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest." + +"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets. + +"Here's a book of rules. Read it." + +"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I----" + +"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly. + +"But see here----" + +"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on. + +The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him. + +"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows. + +"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go." + +"No go. What do you mean?" + +"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to." + +"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans." + +"You'll have to change 'em to beat the _Golden Butterfly_," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles." + +"Why?" + +"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the _Golden Butterfly_, +we'd have a clean sweep." + +"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time." + +"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the _Silver Cobweb_, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow. + +Bang! + +A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air. + +"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?" + +"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire. + +The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour. + +Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The _Silver +Cobweb_ was among them. + +Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers. + +Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless. + +"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +_Cobweb_. + +"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing." + +"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all." + +"Why?" + +"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again----" + +"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves." + +"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and----" + +At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged _Butterfly_. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter. + +But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the _Golden Butterfly_ would never have flown on that day. + +B-o-o-m! + +The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly. + +"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it. + +Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd. + +Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether. + +"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished. + +The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough--too willing--to explain their remarkable points. + +It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed. + +"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE WHITE PERIL. + + +"What's that? No, not that schooner below there--I mean that sort of +whitish drift--it looks like cotton--on the horizon?" + +Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy. + +"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person. + +"Ask Peggy." + +"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy." + +The _Golden Butterfly_ was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish. + +Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess. + +Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the _Cobweb_. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity. + +On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the _Golden Butterfly_. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue. + +A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The _Cobweb_ was doing slightly +better. + +"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously. + +"Will they report us?" asked Jess. + +"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point." + +Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The _Golden Butterfly_ was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The _Cobweb_ had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes. + +"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck." + +"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him. + +"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously. + +"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it." + +"Are you going to try for it?" + +"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +_Golden Butterfly_ now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation. + +Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea. + +"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner." + +"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog." + +"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully. + +"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up." + +Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the _Golden Butterfly_ knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly. + +Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts. + +"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" + +"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!" + +The other shook her head. + +"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said. + +"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily. + +"Who?" asked Jess. + +"That bell boy." + +Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one. + +Presently he looked at his watch. + +"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time." + +"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy--but it doesn't." + +She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth. + +This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply--even with the use of the auxiliary tanks--would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were--or believed they +were, navigating above the sea. + +Had the _Golden Butterfly_ been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning. + +Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below. + +"It's thick as pea soup, captain!" + +"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog." + +"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers." + +The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the _Golden +Butterfly_ on an upward course. + +But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the _Golden +Butterfly_ to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast. + +The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure. + +"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?" + +A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it. + +"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought. + +"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length. + +"I--I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake." + +"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort." + +It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there. + +"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess. + +"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert." + +"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her. + +Jimsy looked at her sharply. + +"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the _Golden Butterfly_ swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost. + +Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them. + +"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and----." + +She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +OUT OF THE CLOUDS. + + +Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The _Golden Butterfly_, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made. + +Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils. + +"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils--dragons or something." + +"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again--even if it was only shifting sand--"we trust to +you." + +"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!" + +Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again. + +"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound. + +"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is--or ought to +be--food. How about it girls, are you hungry?" + +"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess. + +"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy. + +"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?" + +"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess. + +"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth. + +They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily. + +All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending. + +The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers. + +"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?" + +"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking. + +"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks." + +There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive. + +"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we--we came in an +aeroplane, you know." + +"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island." + +"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?" + +"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile. + +"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly. + +"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?" + +Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept. + +"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or----." + +The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement. + +"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have." + +"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish." + +"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it." + +So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence. + +Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed. + +"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island." + +"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference. + +The man's face underwent a transformation. + +"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it." + +"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy. + +"Because a wrong--a very great wrong--was done to me there," said the man +slowly. + +Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark. + +After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity. + +"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce." + +Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut. + +On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled. + +Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears. + +"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?" + +The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying: + +"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here." + +"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's. + +[Illustration: The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two +new guests.] + +"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel." + +The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers. + +Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests. + +"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed: + +"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island." + +"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone. + +Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush. + +"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister. + +"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically. + +The man of the island looked on wonderingly. + +"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels. + +"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone. + +"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left." + +"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food." + +But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts. + +"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina." + +The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?" + +The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama. + +"Yes," she said; "why?" + +"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me." + +"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back." + +The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone. + +"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour." + +"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer. + +"Do you mean Mortlake?" + +"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?" + +The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion. + +"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off." + +"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?" + +"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake." + +The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered. + +"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?" + +"He is in Hampton--why?" + +"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him." + +The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound. + +"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry." + +"Will you do something for me--will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them. + +"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy. + +"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so." + +In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor. + +"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till--till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds." + +"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!" + +Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton. + +"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The _Silver +Cobweb_), four persons on board." + +Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton. + +"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him. + +"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the _Mortlake_ is +leading. Now if only----" + +But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng. + +Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats. + +"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!" + +Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +_Golden Butterfly_. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft--its silvery sheen betrayed it--was the Mortlake _Cobweb_, as +Roy had called it. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?" + +But alas, the _Cobweb_ didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the _Golden Butterfly_ had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the _Cobweb_ fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +_Golden Butterfly's_ feat. + +Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION. + + +The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished. + +This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat. + +While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of: + +"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck. + +Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed. + +Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant. + +Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by: + +"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round. + +They all shook their heads. + +"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney--luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you." + +They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension. + +"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared. + +"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones. + +"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No--but, +yes, now I look again--it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?" + +"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already." + +"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal." + +"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life." + +"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand. + +"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you." + +With wondering looks, the young aviators--Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm--followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed. + + * * * * * + +In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes. + +"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?" + +He glanced up at his ill-favored son. + +"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?" + +"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?" + +A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make. + +"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear. + +"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window." + +"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake--no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it." + +Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there. + +"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?" + +"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something." + +He drew from his pocket a paper. + +"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer." + +Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand. + +"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach." + +Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks. + +"What do you want me to do?" he gasped. + +"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents." + +"And if not?" + +"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?" + +Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance. + +"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?" + +For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door. + +"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared. + +"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake. + +"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign." + +"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me." + +"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote: + +"All this is true.--Eugene Mortlake." + +"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly. + +In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace. + +"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing--he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry--a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me." + +"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all." + +His voice broke, and Regina--a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly. + +"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?" + +"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget." + +Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect. + +"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?" + +"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will--bad or good, we shall not interfere with you." + +Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way. + +"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home--Regina's and mine." + +"Oh, yes--always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice. + +"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't--I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps----" + +He strode abruptly through the door and was gone. + +Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet. + +"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out. + +"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways." + +"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning." + +Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused. + +"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out--at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night." + +He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip. + +"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?" + +"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke. + +"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on. + +"It--it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and--and +I'm awfully sorry." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!" + +In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling. + +"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good." + +"Who are they?" asked Roy. + +"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night." + + +How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the _Cobweb_ type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York. + +Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added. + +But, as the young officer says: + +"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts." + +And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid _au revoir_ to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in--The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954.txt or 10954.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..904d714 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10954 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10954) diff --git a/old/10954-8.txt b/old/10954-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..19e36c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10954-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6216 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: AT THE CORRECT MOMENT PEGGY DROPPED THE WEIGHTED BUNDLE +OVERBOARD.--Page 103.] + +THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE + +BY + +MARGARET BURNHAM + +AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC. + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +1911 + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH + II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF + III. A NAVAL VISITOR + IV. ALOFT IN A STORM + V. PEGGY A HEROINE + VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT" + VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES + VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS + IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB" + X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE + XI. THE MARKED BILL + XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY + XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT + XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT + XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID + XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB + XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED + XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS + XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE + XXII. THE WHITE PERIL + XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS + XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH. + + +"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?" + +Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road. + +About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation--a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily. + +"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie. + +"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken." + +"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels." + +"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy. + +"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert--there's a good fellow--and we'll soon find +out." + +"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands." + +"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy. + +"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you--just once." + +"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept. + +She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position. + +Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers. + +"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or----" + +"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting." + +"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses----" + +Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands. + +"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately. + +An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance. + +"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped. + +"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick." + +"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin." + +Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson: + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?" + +"Roy!" reproved Peggy. + +"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it." + +"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!" + +The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned. + +"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?" + +"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour." + +"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?" + +"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and--approved." + +Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses. + +"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant. + +Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit. + +Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business. + +From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman. + +His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before--Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF. + + +Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer. + +In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate. + +In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine--otherwise inaccessible--had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings." + +The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised--as has been said--to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed. + +"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice--not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see." + +The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof--there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive--the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country. + +"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?" + +Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there. + +When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke. + +"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap. + +"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments." + +"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it." + +Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously. + +"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?" + +"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was--well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy." + +"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of----" + +"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way." + +"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's--you know whom I mean?" + +The other nodded abstractedly. + +"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed--oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach--that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also." + +"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark. + +"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently." + +"You mean----" + +"That I intend to cinch that government business." + +"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?" + +"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact." + +With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NAVAL VISITOR + + +Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates. + +The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life. + +Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice--a remarkably +pleasant voice: + +"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?" + +"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face. + +At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn. + +"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came--er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service." + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we--I--that is----" + +"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me----" + +"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat--I mean a seat?" + +"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics. + +"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly. + +"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He--he will be +back shortly." + +"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the--the----" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it. + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded. + +"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away. + +"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?" + +"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish." + +"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration." + +"A flight?" + +"Yes, if it were possible." + +"I think it can be arranged." + +"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?" + +Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now. + +"No. I guess it's an aviatress--if there is such a word. You see I----" + +"You!" + +"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is." + +A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer. + +"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?" + +"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott." + +As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes. + +"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert." + +"Indeed! That is most interesting." + +Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes. + +[Illustration: When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the +place of the lounger in the hammock.] + +But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished. + +When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands. + +"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above." + +"Perhaps the lieutenant----" ventured Miss Prescott. + +"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there." + +"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion. + +By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the _Golden Butterfly_, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out--it moved easily on its landing wheels--stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces. + +A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel. + +"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller." + +The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least. + +"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working. + +"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated." + +Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well! + +"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury. + +"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her. + +Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring. + +With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier. + +In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating. + +Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock. + +The _Golden Butterfly_ had never done better. + +"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN A STORM + + +Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes. + +"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury. + +A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it--she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient _Golden Butterfly_ began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant. + +The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy. + +"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun." + +Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve--the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it--into its teeth, as it were. + +Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up--fifty, sixty, sixty-two--she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do. + +"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!" + +The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly. + +"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped. + +"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile. + +Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the _Golden +Butterfly_ swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp. + +So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance. + +"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer. + +"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the _Golden Butterfly_ through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet." + +If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake. + +Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp. + +"I say----" + +But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard. + +"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile. + +"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how----" + +"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy. + +The young officer bit his lip. + +"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?" + +Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin. + +"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?" + +"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness." + +Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation. + +The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds--squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with. + +"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up." + +"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over." + +"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?" + +"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls." + +"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the _Dixie_. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon." + +Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles. + +Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the _Golden Butterfly_ was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents. + +"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied. + +"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through." + +"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy--like ducks, you know." + +Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place. + +The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer. + +"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house." + +"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury. + +He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply. + +"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder. + +"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears." + +"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart. + +"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?" + +"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate." + +"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?" + +"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be." + +"It's worse than queer--it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?" + +"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled. + +"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose----Good heavens, what's that?" + +From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something--a huge, indefinite shadow--darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PEGGY A HEROINE. + + +"It's--it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement. + +"What!" + +Peggy sprang to her feet. + +"A large red one?" + +"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours--yours, I mean." + +The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +_Golden Butterfly_. + +"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped. + +"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side. + +"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane--the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!" + +Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations. + +"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?" + +"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and----" + +"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side. + +"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We----" + +"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother----" + +"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic." + +Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there. + +"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book." + +He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone. + +"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit--er--er--unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?" + +"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago." + +"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this--this----" + +"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy. + +"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?" + +"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit--no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day." + +"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it." + +"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale. + +"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?" + +"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently." + +"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close." + +"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire. + +"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way." + +"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government." + +"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any----" + +The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway. + +"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen. + +But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it. + +A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury. + +Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere. + +"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice. + +Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper. + +"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!" + +"Where?" demanded Peggy. + +"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting. + +"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me." + +"But the boys!" gasped Jess. + +"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing." + +With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions. + +"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm. + +"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway. + +In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm. + +Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard. + +Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task. + +"I must do it--I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child. + +But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared. + +But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily--and knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT." + + +When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house. + +"Is--is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings. + +"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames." + +"And Jess and Jimsy and----" + +"And that other young fellow? Why, they----" + +"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer. + +"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating." + +Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen." + +"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and----" + +"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto." + +"But what about the _Butterfly_?" asked Peggy. + +"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time." + +"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane--that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way." + +"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there. + +"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm. + +"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer." + +He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said: + +"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like----" + +"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again. + +"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess. + +"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife. + +"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day--two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out." + +"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy. + +"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do." + +Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance. + +Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane--the _Red Dragon Fly_, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off. + +They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction. + +Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake. + +"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed. + +"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there." + +"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road." + +"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe. + +Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train. + +"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors." + +"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was. + +Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The _Golden Butterfly_ had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device? + +There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm. + +"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet--and yet----" + +But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES. + + +It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows. + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man." + +"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the _Butterfly_ while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill. + +Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side. + +"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly. + +"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly. + +"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief." + +"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe. + +"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?" + +"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?" + +"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?" + +"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily." + +On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried. + +As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down. + +"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?" + +There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something. + +"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly. + +"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy----" + +Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears. + +"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff. + +"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came." + +"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery." + +"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details." + +"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?" + +"Why, Jimsy--I mean Mr. Bancroft--his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway." + +"What! Your brother was not there?" + +"Certainly not. He didn't come till later." + +"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?" + +"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand." + +"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here----" + +"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone. + +The sheriff went on: + +"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that----" + +But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short. + +"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake. + +"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now." + +"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother." + +"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now." + +"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do." + +"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first." + +"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer." + +"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely. + +"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised. + +In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy. + +For what object? + +"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough." + +They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?" + +"Because--forgive me Jimsy--you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless----" + +"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally. + +"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us." + +The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff. + +"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous." + +They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question: + +"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?" + +"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'----" + +"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially. + +Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +_Golden Butterfly_ at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her. + +"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'--why, what's the +trouble?" + +For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed. + +"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned. + +"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it." + +"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!" + +"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly." + +A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer. + +"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked. + +The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory. + +"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough." + +After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the _Golden Butterfly_ and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above. + +As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor: + +"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS. + + +Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine. + +Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops. + +All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car. + +"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped. + +"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes. + +In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band. + +"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess. + +"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else." + +She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry. + +"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!" + +"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or----" + +"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's--oh, Jess--it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away." + +"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess. + +"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant----" + +A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp. + +"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss." + +He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car. + +"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't." + +"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or----" + +"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?" + +Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing. + +"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece--the money don't mean much to folks like you--an' we'll let +yer go. If not----" + +A sudden inspiration came to Peggy--a flash of recollection. + +"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out." + +She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes. + +"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air----" + +He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it. + +"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back. + +The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when: + +"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!" + +From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly. + +The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid." + +"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective." + +Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part. + +"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!" + +"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?" + +"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane." + +"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped. + +"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks. + +"Well--well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?" + +"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust. + +The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement. + +"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?" + +"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out." + +"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down." + +In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off. + +"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them." + +The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime. + +"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago." + +"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or----" + +"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects. + +"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well. + +"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them." + +"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp. + +"Naw!" echoed the other. + +"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you." + +The warning came from old Mr. Harding. + +"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like." + +The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan. + +This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke. + +"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?" + +"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered: + +"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?" + +"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know." + +Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill. + +"Is this enough?" he asked. + +The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure. + +"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes. + +"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently. + +"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em." + +"What!" + +"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us." + +"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?" + +"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'" + +"Well, I may have some work for you to do----" + +"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen." + +"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you." + +"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey." + +The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug. + +"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful." + +"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB." + + +A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them. + +But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine. + +She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand. + +Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged. + +Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller. + +"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw. + +The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash. + +Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil--the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes. + +Then suddenly--as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him--Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed. + +"Let's get out the _Golden Butterfly_ and follow the----" + +"_Silver Cobweb!_" cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance. + +"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name." + +"Isn't it? But somehow, I like _Golden Butterfly_ best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service." + +Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the _Silver Cobweb_, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon. + +"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces. + +"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the _Butterfly_ against the _Cobweb_." + +But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the _Silver Cobweb_. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about. + +Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about. + +All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak. + +"The sea!" + +The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy. + +They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean. + +"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy. + +So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water. + +And still the _Silver Cobweb_ kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +_Golden Butterfly_ maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up. + +"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +_Cobweb_ can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much." + +"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy. + +And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea. + +That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie. + +"Are you going to keep on, Roy?" + +The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height. + +"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are." + +"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the _Butterfly_ above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for." + +"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair--a +very modern corsair--urging his craft above the ancient sea. + +The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait. + +Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the _Golden Butterfly_ descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant _Golden +Butterfly_. + +"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something----" + +"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want." + +Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the _Golden +Butterfly_ hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull. + +Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted. + +"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!" + +It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh. + +The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN AERIAL POST OFFICE. + + +Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq." + +It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read: + + TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE, + + Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air: + Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_. + + R. & M. PRESCOTT. + +That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose. + +All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights--spare bolts from the tool +locker--to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them. + +"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?" + +"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath. + +"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail." + +Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +_Golden Butterfly_ began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl--and a pretty one--was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly. + +And Peggy--what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later: + +"I was in an aeroplane, my dear--a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact." + +In the meantime, Mortlake, in the _Silver Cobweb_, had been duly mystified +as to what the _Golden Butterfly_ was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the _Golden +Butterfly_ were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine. + +But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the _Golden +Butterfly_, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction. + +"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine." + +And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes. + +"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant. + +"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?" + +The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck. + +"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible." + +"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore." + +"If you please." + +But what was the _Golden Butterfly_ doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the _Silver Cobweb_. + +As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The _Cobweb_ leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the _Golden Butterfly_ was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour. + +"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward. + +"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week." + +This seemed to be true. The _Golden Butterfly_, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind. + +"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant. + +Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for. + +Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more. + +All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake." + +Mortlake glanced back. The _Golden Butterfly_, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels. + +"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit--that and advanced spark." + +He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the _Silver Cobweb_ would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down. + +"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot." + +Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane--or glide--downward, without the +aid of the engine. + +"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or----" + +Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity. + +But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the _Silver Cobweb_ to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be--and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him--he was a master of +the aerial craft. + +Despite the mishap to the engine--caused by his own carelessness--Mortlake +managed to bring the _Silver Cobweb_ to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue. + +The instant the _Silver Cobweb_ came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the _Golden Butterfly_ +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the _Cobweb_, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do. + +"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident. + +"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right." + +"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table. + +"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that." + +"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola." + +Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests. + +"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively. + +"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here." + +"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled." + +A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the _Golden +Butterfly_, swooping and hovering above the disabled _Cobweb_. + +"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy. + +"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification. + +"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones. + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury. + +"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer. + +In five minutes the _Golden Butterfly_ was on the sward beside the +crippled _Cobweb_. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at--for him--such an +inopportune moment. + +"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?" + +"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated." + +"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man. + +"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy." + +"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly--"cattily," she said it was, afterward. + +Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed. + +"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand. + +The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful _Golden Butterfly_ was taking the air once +more. + +"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself. + +From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARKED BILL. + + +Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows: + +"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government." + +"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see--three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!" + +The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck. + +When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protegé, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it. + +"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island. + +By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be. + +In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine. + +They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent--too recent, in fact--style. + +"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes. + +"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place." + +The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily. + +"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you." + +"I beg your pardon----" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road. + +Later that day the _Silver Cobweb_ ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance. + +The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake. + +They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets. + +While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office. + +Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men. + +"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking. + +The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded. + +"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?" + +"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry." + +This Slim--or to give him his correct name--Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"--as +the tramp fraternity knew him--was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants. + +"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know--a +little more money--eh?" + +He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar. + +Mortlake made a gesture of impatience. + +"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?" + +"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out." + +Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads. + +He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table. + +"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done." + +"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and----" + +"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?" + +"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey. + +"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it." + +"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?" + +"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely. + +Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim. + +Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts. + +"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?" + +"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?" + +He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection. + +"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left." + +"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case--hullo!" + +"What's up?" asked Joey. + +For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side. + +It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink. + +"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?" + +"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. + + +It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane. + +"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded. + +Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office. + +"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you." + +Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview. + +"That message you sent me--what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe----" + +"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder." + +"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be. + +"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?" + +"No. Certainly not." + +"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming." + +"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story. + +"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself--loyal fellow--to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott." + +"Good heavens!" + +"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane." + +"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?" + +"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for." + +"Monstrous!" + +"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person." + +"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake." + +"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?" + +"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case." + +Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him. + +Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction. + +"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer. + +It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp: + +"Hist!" + +Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine. + +"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy. + +"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it." + +"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy. + +"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory." + +"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?" + +"I _was_ once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me." + +"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?" + +Roy looked curiously at the man. + +"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place." + +"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" + +"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot. + +"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?" + +"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy." + +"The--the--the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this." + +"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner--he was discharged +too--he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?" + +Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest. + +"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked. + +"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?" + +"Well, I--yes, I'll go. Come on, get in." + +The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards. + +"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare. + +"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it." + +"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here." + +The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions. + +"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!" + +Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection. + +They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm. + +"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up." + +Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp. + +At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand. + +"This is the young gentleman," he said. + +Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile. + +"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house." + +"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little. + +"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer. + +Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it. + +As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm. + +Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other. + +"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me----" +began Roy. "I--here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!" + +The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back. + +The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. + + +The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind. + +"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him. + +"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not----" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head. + +The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance. + +"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable. + +"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that." + +This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair. + +"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or--" + +"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?" + +Roy saw. + +"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track." + +"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking. + +"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move. + +"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way." + +He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them. + +"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question." + +Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years. + +The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place. + +Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice--otherwise Joey +Eccles--struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire. + +This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object? + +"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott." + +A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it. + +"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward. + +The boy shuddered. + +"Not in there?" he said. + +"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out." + +Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was--hopeless! + +He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder. + +The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash. + +Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit. + +But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then. + +But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly. + +"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started--looked before you leaped--this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!" + +The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it. + +The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder. + +"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice." + +He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket. + +"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches. + +"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape." + +There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too. + +"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say. + +"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!" + +These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly. + +"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this." + +At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night. + +But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it. + +"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere." + +He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move. + +"Queer," thought Roy. + +He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all. + +"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for." + +Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag. + +"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on. + +Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + +The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short. + +At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THEY WORKED OUT. + + +Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand. + +The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer. + +The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice--Lieut. Bradbury's +voice--said: + +"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?" + +"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and--." + +The officer's astonished voice interrupted him. + +"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?" + +Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might. + +"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this--a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is." + +"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather." + +The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him. + +But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself. + +"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy. + +"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation. + +But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track. + +All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest. + +The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved. + +"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and--oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too." + +As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side. + +Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen. + +"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill. + +"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to----" + +"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding." + +"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?" + +The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot. + +"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury. + +Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently. + +But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind. + +"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer. + +"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it." + +He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory. + +Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence. + +It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly. + +"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow." + +"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer. + +"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily. + +The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down. + +"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it." + +But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro. + +"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again. + +"Have you got der plans?" + +The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure. + +The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation. + +"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him." + +He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back. + +"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time." + +Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes. + +With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man. + +"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears. + +He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly. + +Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins. + +What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so. + +But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other. + +"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake. + +"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy." + +"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw. + +He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly: + +"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!" + +It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +WHAT MORTLAKE DID. + + +"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor." + +A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?" + +"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully. + +The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings." + +Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall. + +"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point." + +But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him. + +"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question. + +"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull--o--a!" + +"Hullo--a!" came back out of the night. + +"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant. + +"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work. + +"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But--great Christmas--you've had better luck, I see!" + +For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes. + +"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind. + +But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment. + +"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a----" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped." + +"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly. + +"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake." + +The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up. + +"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word. + +"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar." + +The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods. + +"You--you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?" + +"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished." + +Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten? + +But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself. + +"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend--I am proud to call him +so--my young friend, Prescott." + +For the first time, Roy was moved to speak. + +"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly. + +"You do not? Who, then?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that." + +"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?" + +"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?" + +"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us." + +"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police." + +"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go----" + +"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air----" + +"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?" + +"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return." + +Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders. + +"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed. + +"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers." + +"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake. + +They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted. + +"We're near to the place now," he said. + +"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first." + +In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape. + +All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night. + +Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north. + +"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger. + +"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying." + +"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know." + +"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply. + +Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants. + +There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain. + +On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight. + +"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it. + +"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MISSING SIDE-COMB. + + +Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,--half work-shop, half study,--in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the _Golden Butterfly_. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft. + +From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument. + +As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach. + +Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was. + +"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn." + +"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen--who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?" + +"Not the least idea. Who?" + +"Fanning Harding!" + +"Fan Harding! The dickens!" + +"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the _Cobweb_. And who do you think is to be his +companion?" + +"Give it up." + +"Regina Mortlake!" + +"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?" + +"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it." + +"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy. + +"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er--er--overweight isn't it +called? so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the _Cobweb_ at +the tests." + +"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning." + +"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the _Cobweb_ +now!" + +A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out. + +[Illustration: Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz +by at a fair height.] + +"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the _Cobweb_ through it like an old general of the upper regions." + +Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully. + +"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered. + +"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time." + +But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery. + +"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests." + +"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget." + +"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west." + +But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship. + +"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted. + +"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime. + +She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style. + +"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and--but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that--but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet--and yet--Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering--and wondering. + +The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car--the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type. + +Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car. + +"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy. + +"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car. + +"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race." + +"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy. + +"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;" + +Roy flushed angrily. + +"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply. + +Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes. + +"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything." + +Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation. + +"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road." + +"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and----." But Roy checked her impatiently. + +"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister. + +Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with. + +As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same. + +"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?" + +"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no." + +"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding. + +He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels. + +"A bolt had worked loose," he explained. + +"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right. + +"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird. + +"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple. + +"Then--go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird. + +Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur. + +"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud. + +Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting--dangerous! + +"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if----" + +But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air. + +The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED. + + +Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt. + +The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it. + +One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy. + +From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces. + +Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan. + +"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes." + +"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry." + +"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though." + +Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage. + +"Can I help. I'm so sorry." + +The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side. + +"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my--my +poor car." + +"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident." + +"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?" + +"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine." + +Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned. + +"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again." + +"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?" + +"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse." + +Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet. + +"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all." + +She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out. + +"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with----." + +She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek. + +"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill." + +Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture. + + +"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily. + +"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back." + +"Jove! So it is. But, what, how----" + +"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and--and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?" + +"No. I confess I'm stupid, but----" + +"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?" + +"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane." + +A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade. + +The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result. + +Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts. + +Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost. + +"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?" + +"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?" + +"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't." + +"How did it all happen?" + +Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled. + +"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked. + +"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder. + +"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless----," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with." + +"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and----." + +"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me." + +"Well I----," began Fanning. + +But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness. + +"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident." + +"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss----." + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft." + +"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions. + +"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way. + +"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience." + +"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once." + +"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but--hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!" + +He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle. + +"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively. + +"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining. + +"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long." + +"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone." + +"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly. + +"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down." + +"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning. + +A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face. + +"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then----." He stopped. + +"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +_Red Dragon Fly_ and break the news to Miss Prescott." + +Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed. + +Regina turned to Fanning. + +"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked. + +"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A BOLT PROM THE BLUE. + + +The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain--affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +_Golden Butterfly_ was controlled by foot pressure. + +A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but--where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges. + +"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them." + +"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?" + +Roy nodded. + +"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +_Golden Butterfly_ out on top." + +"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over." + +"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend. + +"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?" + +Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant. + +"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly: + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?" + +"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed: + +"Why--why, they're coming here!" + +"Here!" echoed the others. + +"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house. + +Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority--an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower. + +"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him. + +"Miss Prescott--I--that is--er--this is a very unpleasant business--I +hope----." + +It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him. + +"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please." + +"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly. + +"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him. + +"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and----," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest." + +"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?" + +"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?" + +"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and----." + +Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow. + +"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning. + +"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official. + +"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny." + +Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself. + +"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business." + +"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town." + +Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him. + +"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once." + +Mortlake stepped forward. + +"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I----." + +"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer." + +"But I--really, I'm sorry to--Bancroft you'll listen----" + +But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face. + +"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger. + +"Why, if I may ask?" + +Jimsy flashed round. + +"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes." + +Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again. + +Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage. + +"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out." + +The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe. + +Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road. + +"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill. + +"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice. + +"What! you did not drop it?" + +"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply. + +"Then what was it doing in your possession?" + +"Do I have to answer that question, now?" + +"It will be better to--yes." + +"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake." + +"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial." + +A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village. + +"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said. + +But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak. + +"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood." + +Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy. + +"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned. + +It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant. + +"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway." + +"Oh, Peg--gy!" gasped Jess, "you would----" + +"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes. + +"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!" + +The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious. + +"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we--we--I--that--is----" + +"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice. + +He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom. + +"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank. + +"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS. + + +The aeroplanes--a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type--were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts. + +Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it. + +There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The _Sky Pilot_, the _Cloud Chaser_, the _Star Bug_, the _Moon +Mounter_, the _Aerial Auto_, the _Heavenly Harvester_, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide. + +"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the _Motor Hornet_ has the contest cinched." + +The _Motor Hornet_ was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the _Silver Cobweb_. + +The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy. + +But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it. + +This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery. + +"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by. + +But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures--two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place. + +This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the _Golden Butterfly_, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the _Butterfly_ shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward. + +The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it. + +"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or--or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty. + +"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?" + +"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the _Golden Butterfly_." + +"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you." + +"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy." + +"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada." + +"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head." + +"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting." + +"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy. + +The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless. + +"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race." + +Accordingly, the _Butterfly_ had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far--very far from being out of the race. + +On and on through the night throbbed the _Golden Butterfly_, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat. + +Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?" + +"Um--well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her: + +"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can." + +"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy. + +Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears: + +"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!" + +"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice. + +"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!" + +But now another voice came through the darkness. + +"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?" + +"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains. + +"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or----" + +The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice: + +"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness." + +The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party--there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared. + +Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy. + +In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting. + +"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice. + +There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend. + +"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy. + +The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the _Golden Butterfly_. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol. + +"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous. + +The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently. + +"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm." + +"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued. + +"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?" + +Jimsy rummaged in the _Golden Butterfly's_ tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs. + +While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm. + +She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it. + +"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out." + +"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all." + +"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory." + +"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone. + +"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now." + +"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled. + +"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia." + +"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent. + +"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then--do you know a man +named Mortlake?" + +"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey. + +"Good. You came here with him?" + +"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him. + +"What did you come for?" + +Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent. + +"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell. + +No reply. + +"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you." + +The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure. + +"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out. + +"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?" + +"To disable one of them flying machines." + +"Which one?" + +"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while--and--no, you can't stop me, Slim--and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and----" + +"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair." + +"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?" + +"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?" + +"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply. + +"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more. + +"Yes, on a trip." + +The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed. + +"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious. + +"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?" + +"Why, of course," came in a chorus. + +"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody--are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?" + +"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent. + +"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through." + +"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?" + +"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?" + +"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy. + +"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly." + +With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off. + +"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream." + +"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and----" + +"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically. + +As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the _Golden Butterfly_ and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE. + + +"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests. + +A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts. + +"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the _Cobweb_ out already," he exclaimed presently. + +Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism. + +Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators. + +The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back. + +"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the _Golden Butterfly_ +before these tests are over." + +"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate." + +"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour." + +The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them. + +Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say: + +"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids." + +Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale. + +"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't." + +"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that----" + +"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing." + +"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night." + +"They decamped--as you call it--because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched." + +"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides----" + +But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack. + +"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked. + +"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet." + +The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott." + +Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury. + +"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out: + +"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest." + +"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets. + +"Here's a book of rules. Read it." + +"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I----" + +"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly. + +"But see here----" + +"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on. + +The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him. + +"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows. + +"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go." + +"No go. What do you mean?" + +"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to." + +"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans." + +"You'll have to change 'em to beat the _Golden Butterfly_," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles." + +"Why?" + +"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the _Golden Butterfly_, +we'd have a clean sweep." + +"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time." + +"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the _Silver Cobweb_, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow. + +Bang! + +A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air. + +"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?" + +"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire. + +The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour. + +Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The _Silver +Cobweb_ was among them. + +Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers. + +Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless. + +"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +_Cobweb_. + +"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing." + +"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all." + +"Why?" + +"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again----" + +"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves." + +"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and----" + +At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged _Butterfly_. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter. + +But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the _Golden Butterfly_ would never have flown on that day. + +B-o-o-m! + +The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly. + +"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it. + +Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd. + +Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether. + +"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished. + +The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough--too willing--to explain their remarkable points. + +It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed. + +"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE WHITE PERIL. + + +"What's that? No, not that schooner below there--I mean that sort of +whitish drift--it looks like cotton--on the horizon?" + +Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy. + +"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person. + +"Ask Peggy." + +"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy." + +The _Golden Butterfly_ was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish. + +Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess. + +Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the _Cobweb_. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity. + +On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the _Golden Butterfly_. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue. + +A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The _Cobweb_ was doing slightly +better. + +"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously. + +"Will they report us?" asked Jess. + +"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point." + +Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The _Golden Butterfly_ was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The _Cobweb_ had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes. + +"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck." + +"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him. + +"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously. + +"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it." + +"Are you going to try for it?" + +"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +_Golden Butterfly_ now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation. + +Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea. + +"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner." + +"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog." + +"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully. + +"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up." + +Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the _Golden Butterfly_ knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly. + +Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts. + +"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" + +"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!" + +The other shook her head. + +"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said. + +"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily. + +"Who?" asked Jess. + +"That bell boy." + +Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one. + +Presently he looked at his watch. + +"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time." + +"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy--but it doesn't." + +She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth. + +This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply--even with the use of the auxiliary tanks--would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were--or believed they +were, navigating above the sea. + +Had the _Golden Butterfly_ been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning. + +Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below. + +"It's thick as pea soup, captain!" + +"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog." + +"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers." + +The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the _Golden +Butterfly_ on an upward course. + +But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the _Golden +Butterfly_ to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast. + +The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure. + +"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?" + +A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it. + +"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought. + +"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length. + +"I--I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake." + +"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort." + +It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there. + +"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess. + +"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert." + +"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her. + +Jimsy looked at her sharply. + +"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the _Golden Butterfly_ swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost. + +Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them. + +"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and----." + +She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +OUT OF THE CLOUDS. + + +Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The _Golden Butterfly_, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made. + +Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils. + +"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils--dragons or something." + +"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again--even if it was only shifting sand--"we trust to +you." + +"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!" + +Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again. + +"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound. + +"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is--or ought to +be--food. How about it girls, are you hungry?" + +"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess. + +"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy. + +"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?" + +"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess. + +"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth. + +They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily. + +All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending. + +The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers. + +"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?" + +"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking. + +"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks." + +There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive. + +"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we--we came in an +aeroplane, you know." + +"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island." + +"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?" + +"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile. + +"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly. + +"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?" + +Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept. + +"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or----." + +The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement. + +"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have." + +"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish." + +"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it." + +So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence. + +Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed. + +"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island." + +"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference. + +The man's face underwent a transformation. + +"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it." + +"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy. + +"Because a wrong--a very great wrong--was done to me there," said the man +slowly. + +Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark. + +After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity. + +"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce." + +Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut. + +On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled. + +Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears. + +"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?" + +The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying: + +"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here." + +"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's. + +[Illustration: The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two +new guests.] + +"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel." + +The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers. + +Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests. + +"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed: + +"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island." + +"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone. + +Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush. + +"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister. + +"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically. + +The man of the island looked on wonderingly. + +"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels. + +"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone. + +"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left." + +"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food." + +But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts. + +"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina." + +The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?" + +The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama. + +"Yes," she said; "why?" + +"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me." + +"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back." + +The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone. + +"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour." + +"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer. + +"Do you mean Mortlake?" + +"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?" + +The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion. + +"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off." + +"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?" + +"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake." + +The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered. + +"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?" + +"He is in Hampton--why?" + +"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him." + +The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound. + +"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry." + +"Will you do something for me--will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them. + +"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy. + +"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so." + +In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor. + +"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till--till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds." + +"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!" + +Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton. + +"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The _Silver +Cobweb_), four persons on board." + +Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton. + +"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him. + +"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the _Mortlake_ is +leading. Now if only----" + +But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng. + +Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats. + +"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!" + +Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +_Golden Butterfly_. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft--its silvery sheen betrayed it--was the Mortlake _Cobweb_, as +Roy had called it. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?" + +But alas, the _Cobweb_ didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the _Golden Butterfly_ had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the _Cobweb_ fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +_Golden Butterfly's_ feat. + +Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION. + + +The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished. + +This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat. + +While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of: + +"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck. + +Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed. + +Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant. + +Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by: + +"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round. + +They all shook their heads. + +"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney--luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you." + +They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension. + +"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared. + +"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones. + +"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No--but, +yes, now I look again--it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?" + +"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already." + +"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal." + +"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life." + +"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand. + +"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you." + +With wondering looks, the young aviators--Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm--followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed. + + * * * * * + +In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes. + +"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?" + +He glanced up at his ill-favored son. + +"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?" + +"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?" + +A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make. + +"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear. + +"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window." + +"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake--no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it." + +Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there. + +"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?" + +"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something." + +He drew from his pocket a paper. + +"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer." + +Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand. + +"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach." + +Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks. + +"What do you want me to do?" he gasped. + +"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents." + +"And if not?" + +"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?" + +Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance. + +"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?" + +For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door. + +"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared. + +"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake. + +"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign." + +"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me." + +"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote: + +"All this is true.--Eugene Mortlake." + +"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly. + +In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace. + +"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing--he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry--a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me." + +"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all." + +His voice broke, and Regina--a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly. + +"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?" + +"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget." + +Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect. + +"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?" + +"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will--bad or good, we shall not interfere with you." + +Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way. + +"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home--Regina's and mine." + +"Oh, yes--always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice. + +"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't--I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps----" + +He strode abruptly through the door and was gone. + +Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet. + +"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out. + +"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways." + +"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning." + +Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused. + +"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out--at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night." + +He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip. + +"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?" + +"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke. + +"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on. + +"It--it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and--and +I'm awfully sorry." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!" + +In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling. + +"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good." + +"Who are they?" asked Roy. + +"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night." + + +How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the _Cobweb_ type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York. + +Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added. + +But, as the young officer says: + +"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts." + +And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid _au revoir_ to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in--The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954-8.txt or 10954-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> + +<h1>THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>MARGARET BURNHAM</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC.</h4> + +<h5>NEW YORK</h5> + +<h5>HURST & COMPANY</h5> + +<h5>1911</h5> + +<hr> + +<b>CONTENTS</b> + +<br> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III. A NAVAL VISITOR.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV. ALOFT IN A STORM.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V. PEGGY A HEROINE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT".</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB".</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI. THE MARKED BILL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII. THE WHITE PERIL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>CHAPTER XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>CHAPTER XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES—CONCLUSION.</b></a><br> + +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?"</p> + +<p>Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation—a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily.</p> + +<p>"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie.</p> + +<p>"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken."</p> + +<p>"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels."</p> + +<p>"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert—there's a good fellow—and we'll soon find +out."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands."</p> + +<p>"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you—just once."</p> + +<p>"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept.</p> + +<p>She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or——"</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting."</p> + +<p>"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses——"</p> + +<p>Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands.</p> + +<p>"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately.</p> + +<p>An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance.</p> + +<p>"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped.</p> + +<p>"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick."</p> + +<p>"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin."</p> + +<p>Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson:</p> + +<p>"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?"</p> + +<p>"Roy!" reproved Peggy.</p> + +<p>"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it."</p> + +<p>"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned.</p> + +<p>"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?"</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and—approved."</p> + +<p>Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant.</p> + +<p>Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit.</p> + +<p>Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business.</p> + +<p>From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman.</p> + +<p>His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before—Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a><h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer.</p> + +<p>In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate.</p> + +<p>In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine—otherwise inaccessible—had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings."</p> + +<p>The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised—as has been said—to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice—not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see."</p> + +<p>The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof—there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive—the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?"</p> + +<p>Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there.</p> + +<p>When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke.</p> + +<p>"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap.</p> + +<p>"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments."</p> + +<p>"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it."</p> + +<p>Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously.</p> + +<p>"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?"</p> + +<p>"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was—well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy."</p> + +<p>"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's—you know whom I mean?"</p> + +<p>The other nodded abstractedly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed—oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach—that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also."</p> + +<p>"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark.</p> + +<p>"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently."</p> + +<p>"You mean——"</p> + +<p>"That I intend to cinch that government business."</p> + +<p>"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact."</p> + +<p>With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a><h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A NAVAL VISITOR.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates.</p> + +<p>The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice—a remarkably +pleasant voice:</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face.</p> + +<p>At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn.</p> + +<p>"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came—er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we—I—that is——"</p> + +<p>"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat—I mean a seat?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics.</p> + +<p>"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He—he will be +back shortly."</p> + +<p>"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the—the——" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it.</p> + +<p>"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away.</p> + +<p>"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?"</p> + +<p>"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration."</p> + +<p>"A flight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if it were possible."</p> + +<p>"I think it can be arranged."</p> + +<p>"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?"</p> + +<p>Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now.</p> + +<p>"No. I guess it's an aviatress—if there is such a word. You see I——"</p> + +<p>"You!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is."</p> + +<p>A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer.</p> + +<p>"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?"</p> + +<p>"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! That is most interesting."</p> + +<p>Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes.</p> + +<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> +<center> +<img src="002.jpg" height="451" width="300" +alt="When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the lounger in the hammock."> +</center> + +<h5>"When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the lounger in the hammock."</h5> + +<p>But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished.</p> + +<p>When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands.</p> + +<p>"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the lieutenant——" ventured Miss Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there."</p> + +<p>"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion.</p> + +<p>By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out—it moved easily on its landing wheels—stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces.</p> + +<p>A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel.</p> + +<p>"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller."</p> + +<p>The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least.</p> + +<p>"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working.</p> + +<p>"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated."</p> + +<p>Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well!</p> + +<p>"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her.</p> + +<p>Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring.</p> + +<p>With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier.</p> + +<p>In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating.</p> + +<p>Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock.</p> + +<p>The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had never done better.</p> + +<p>"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a><h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>IN A STORM.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it—she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient <i>Golden Butterfly</i> began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant.</p> + +<p>The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy.</p> + +<p>"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun."</p> + +<p>Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve—the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it—into its teeth, as it were.</p> + +<p>Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up—fifty, sixty, sixty-two—she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do.</p> + +<p>"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped.</p> + +<p>"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile.</p> + +<p>Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp.</p> + +<p>So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance.</p> + +<p>"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer.</p> + +<p>"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet."</p> + +<p>If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp.</p> + +<p>"I say——"</p> + +<p>But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard.</p> + +<p>"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how——"</p> + +<p>"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy.</p> + +<p>The young officer bit his lip.</p> + +<p>"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?"</p> + +<p>Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin.</p> + +<p>"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness."</p> + +<p>Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation.</p> + +<p>The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds—squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with.</p> + +<p>"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up."</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over."</p> + +<p>"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?"</p> + +<p>"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the <i>Dixie</i>. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon."</p> + +<p>Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles.</p> + +<p>Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents.</p> + +<p>"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied.</p> + +<p>"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through."</p> + +<p>"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy—like ducks, you know."</p> + +<p>Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer.</p> + +<p>"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply.</p> + +<p>"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder.</p> + +<p>"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears."</p> + +<p>"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart.</p> + +<p>"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate."</p> + +<p>"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?"</p> + +<p>"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be."</p> + +<p>"It's worse than queer—it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?"</p> + +<p>"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose——Good heavens, what's that?"</p> + +<p>From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something—a huge, indefinite shadow—darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a><h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>PEGGY A HEROINE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"It's—it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement.</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>Peggy sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"A large red one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours—yours, I mean."</p> + +<p>The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side.</p> + +<p>"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane—the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!"</p> + +<p>Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations.</p> + +<p>"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and——"</p> + +<p>"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We——"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother——"</p> + +<p>"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic."</p> + +<p>Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there.</p> + +<p>"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book."</p> + +<p>He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone.</p> + +<p>"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit—er—er—unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago."</p> + +<p>"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this—this——"</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit—no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day."</p> + +<p>"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it."</p> + +<p>"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale.</p> + +<p>"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently."</p> + +<p>"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close."</p> + +<p>"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire.</p> + +<p>"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way."</p> + +<p>"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any——"</p> + +<p>The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen.</p> + +<p>But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it.</p> + +<p>A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice.</p> + +<p>Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper.</p> + +<p>"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" demanded Peggy.</p> + +<p>"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting.</p> + +<p>"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me."</p> + +<p>"But the boys!" gasped Jess.</p> + +<p>"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing."</p> + +<p>With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm.</p> + +<p>"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway.</p> + +<p>In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm.</p> + +<p>Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard.</p> + +<p>Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task.</p> + +<p>"I must do it—I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child.</p> + +<p>But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared.</p> + +<p>But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily—and knew no more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a><h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT."</h3> +<br> + +<p>When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house.</p> + +<p>"Is—is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames."</p> + +<p>"And Jess and Jimsy and——"</p> + +<p>"And that other young fellow? Why, they——"</p> + +<p>"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer.</p> + +<p>"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating."</p> + +<p>Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen."</p> + +<p>"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and——"</p> + +<p>"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto."</p> + +<p>"But what about the <i>Butterfly</i>?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane—that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way."</p> + +<p>"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there.</p> + +<p>"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm.</p> + +<p>"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer."</p> + +<p>He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said:</p> + +<p>"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again.</p> + +<p>"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess.</p> + +<p>"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife.</p> + +<p>"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day—two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do."</p> + +<p>Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance.</p> + +<p>Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane—the <i>Red Dragon Fly</i>, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off.</p> + +<p>They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed.</p> + +<p>"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there."</p> + +<p>"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road."</p> + +<p>"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe.</p> + +<p>Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train.</p> + +<p>"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device?</p> + +<p>There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet—and yet——"</p> + +<p>But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES.</h3> +<br> + +<p>It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the <i>Butterfly</i> while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill.</p> + +<p>Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side.</p> + +<p>"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief."</p> + +<p>"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe.</p> + +<p>"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?"</p> + +<p>"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?"</p> + +<p>"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily."</p> + +<p>On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried.</p> + +<p>As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?"</p> + +<p>There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something.</p> + +<p>"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy——"</p> + +<p>Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears.</p> + +<p>"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came."</p> + +<p>"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery."</p> + +<p>"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details."</p> + +<p>"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Jimsy—I mean Mr. Bancroft—his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway."</p> + +<p>"What! Your brother was not there?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. He didn't come till later."</p> + +<p>"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here——"</p> + +<p>"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone.</p> + +<p>The sheriff went on:</p> + +<p>"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that——"</p> + +<p>But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short.</p> + +<p>"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now."</p> + +<p>"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother."</p> + +<p>"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer."</p> + +<p>"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely.</p> + +<p>"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy.</p> + +<p>For what object?</p> + +<p>"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough."</p> + +<p>They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?"</p> + +<p>"Because—forgive me Jimsy—you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless——"</p> + +<p>"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally.</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us."</p> + +<p>The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous."</p> + +<p>They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question:</p> + +<p>"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'——"</p> + +<p>"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially.</p> + +<p>Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her.</p> + +<p>"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'—why, what's the +trouble?"</p> + +<p>For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed.</p> + +<p>"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it."</p> + +<p>"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!"</p> + +<p>"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly."</p> + +<p>A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough."</p> + +<p>After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above.</p> + +<p>As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor:</p> + +<p>"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine.</p> + +<p>Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops.</p> + +<p>All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes.</p> + +<p>In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band.</p> + +<p>"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess.</p> + +<p>"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else."</p> + +<p>She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or——"</p> + +<p>"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's—oh, Jess—it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away."</p> + +<p>"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess.</p> + +<p>"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant——"</p> + +<p>A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp.</p> + +<p>"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss."</p> + +<p>He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car.</p> + +<p>"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't."</p> + +<p>"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or——"</p> + +<p>"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?"</p> + +<p>Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece—the money don't mean much to folks like you—an' we'll let +yer go. If not——"</p> + +<p>A sudden inspiration came to Peggy—a flash of recollection.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out."</p> + +<p>She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air——"</p> + +<p>He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back.</p> + +<p>The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when:</p> + +<p>"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!"</p> + +<p>From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly.</p> + +<p>The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid."</p> + +<p>"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part.</p> + +<p>"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!"</p> + +<p>"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?"</p> + +<p>"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane."</p> + +<p>"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped.</p> + +<p>"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Well—well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust.</p> + +<p>The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out."</p> + +<p>"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down."</p> + +<p>In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off.</p> + +<p>"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them."</p> + +<p>The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime.</p> + +<p>"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago."</p> + +<p>"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or——"</p> + +<p>"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects.</p> + +<p>"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well.</p> + +<p>"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them."</p> + +<p>"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp.</p> + +<p>"Naw!" echoed the other.</p> + +<p>"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you."</p> + +<p>The warning came from old Mr. Harding.</p> + +<p>"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like."</p> + +<p>The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan.</p> + +<p>This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke.</p> + +<p>"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?"</p> + +<p>"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered:</p> + +<p>"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know."</p> + +<p>Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill.</p> + +<p>"Is this enough?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure.</p> + +<p>"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us."</p> + +<p>"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, I may have some work for you to do——"</p> + +<p>"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen."</p> + +<p>"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you."</p> + +<p>"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey."</p> + +<p>The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug.</p> + +<p>"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a><h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."</h3> +<br> + +<p>A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them.</p> + +<p>But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine.</p> + +<p>She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand.</p> + +<p>Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged.</p> + +<p>Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller.</p> + +<p>"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw.</p> + +<p>The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash.</p> + +<p>Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil—the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly—as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him—Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed.</p> + +<p>"Let's get out the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and follow the——"</p> + +<p><i>"Silver Cobweb!"</i> cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it? But somehow, I like <i>Golden Butterfly</i> best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service."</p> + +<p>Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces.</p> + +<p>"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the <i>Butterfly</i> against the <i>Cobweb</i>."</p> + +<p>But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about.</p> + +<p>Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about.</p> + +<p>All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak.</p> + +<p>"The sea!"</p> + +<p>The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy.</p> + +<p>They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean.</p> + +<p>"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy.</p> + +<p>So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water.</p> + +<p>And still the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up.</p> + +<p>"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +<i>Cobweb</i> can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much."</p> + +<p>"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy.</p> + +<p>And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea.</p> + +<p>That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to keep on, Roy?"</p> + +<p>The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the <i>Butterfly</i> above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for."</p> + +<p>"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair—a +very modern corsair—urging his craft above the ancient sea.</p> + +<p>The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait.</p> + +<p>Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something——"</p> + +<p>"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want."</p> + +<p>Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted.</p> + +<p>"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!"</p> + +<p>It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh.</p> + +<p>The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the <i>Ruritania</i>, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a><h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AN AERIAL POST OFFICE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +<i>Ruritania</i>, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq."</p> + +<p>It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read:</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"></span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Per Steamer <i>Ruritania</i>—in Mid-air:</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Greetings from aeroplane <i>Golden Butterfly</i>.</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"></span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;">R. & M. PRESCOTT.</span><br> + +<p>That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose.</p> + +<p>All this time the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights—spare bolts from the tool +locker—to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them.</p> + +<p>"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?"</p> + +<p>"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath.</p> + +<p>"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail."</p> + +<p>Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl—and a pretty one—was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly.</p> + +<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> +<center> +<img src="001.jpg" height="453" width="300" +alt="At the correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard."> +</center> + +<h5>"At the correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard."</h5> + +<p>And Peggy—what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later:</p> + +<p>"I was in an aeroplane, my dear—a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Mortlake, in the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, had been duly mystified +as to what the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine.</p> + +<p>But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine."</p> + +<p>And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes.</p> + +<p>"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?"</p> + +<p>The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck.</p> + +<p>"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore."</p> + +<p>"If you please."</p> + +<p>But what was the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The <i>Cobweb</i> leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour.</p> + +<p>"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week."</p> + +<p>This seemed to be true. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind.</p> + +<p>"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for.</p> + +<p>Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more.</p> + +<p>All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake."</p> + +<p>Mortlake glanced back. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels.</p> + +<p>"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit—that and advanced spark."</p> + +<p>He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot."</p> + +<p>Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane—or glide—downward, without the +aid of the engine.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or——"</p> + +<p>Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity.</p> + +<p>But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be—and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him—he was a master of +the aerial craft.</p> + +<p>Despite the mishap to the engine—caused by his own carelessness—Mortlake +managed to bring the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue.</p> + +<p>The instant the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the <i>Cobweb</i>, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do.</p> + +<p>"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident.</p> + +<p>"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table.</p> + +<p>"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that."</p> + +<p>"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests.</p> + +<p>"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively.</p> + +<p>"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here."</p> + +<p>"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled."</p> + +<p>A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i>, swooping and hovering above the disabled <i>Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy.</p> + +<p>"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification.</p> + +<p>"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones.</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer.</p> + +<p>In five minutes the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was on the sward beside the +crippled <i>Cobweb</i>. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at—for him—such an +inopportune moment.</p> + +<p>"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated."</p> + +<p>"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man.</p> + +<p>"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy."</p> + +<p>"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly—"cattily," she said it was, afterward.</p> + +<p>Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand.</p> + +<p>The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was taking the air once +more.</p> + +<p>"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself.</p> + +<p>From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE MARKED BILL.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows:</p> + +<p>"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government."</p> + +<p>"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see—three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!"</p> + +<p>The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck.</p> + +<p>When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protegé, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it.</p> + +<p>"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island.</p> + +<p>By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine.</p> + +<p>They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent—too recent, in fact—style.</p> + +<p>"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place."</p> + +<p>The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily.</p> + +<p>"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon——" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road.</p> + +<p>Later that day the <i>Silver Cobweb</i> ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance.</p> + +<p>The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake.</p> + +<p>They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets.</p> + +<p>While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office.</p> + +<p>Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men.</p> + +<p>"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking.</p> + +<p>The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded.</p> + +<p>"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?"</p> + +<p>"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry."</p> + +<p>This Slim—or to give him his correct name—Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"—as +the tramp fraternity knew him—was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants.</p> + +<p>"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know—a +little more money—eh?"</p> + +<p>He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar.</p> + +<p>Mortlake made a gesture of impatience.</p> + +<p>"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?"</p> + +<p>"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads.</p> + +<p>He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done."</p> + +<p>"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and——"</p> + +<p>"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?"</p> + +<p>"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?"</p> + +<p>"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely.</p> + +<p>Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim.</p> + +<p>Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts.</p> + +<p>"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?"</p> + +<p>"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?"</p> + +<p>He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection.</p> + +<p>"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left."</p> + +<p>"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case—hullo!"</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Joey.</p> + +<p>For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side.</p> + +<p>It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink.</p> + +<p>"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?"</p> + +<p>"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY.</h3> +<br> + +<p>It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane.</p> + +<p>"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you."</p> + +<p>Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview.</p> + +<p>"That message you sent me—what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe——"</p> + +<p>"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder."</p> + +<p>"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be.</p> + +<p>"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?"</p> + +<p>"No. Certainly not."</p> + +<p>"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming."</p> + +<p>"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story.</p> + +<p>"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself—loyal fellow—to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!"</p> + +<p>"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane."</p> + +<p>"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?"</p> + +<p>"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for."</p> + +<p>"Monstrous!"</p> + +<p>"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person."</p> + +<p>"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?"</p> + +<p>"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case."</p> + +<p>Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer.</p> + +<p>It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp:</p> + +<p>"Hist!"</p> + +<p>Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy.</p> + +<p>"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it."</p> + +<p>"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory."</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>was</i> once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me."</p> + +<p>"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?"</p> + +<p>Roy looked curiously at the man.</p> + +<p>"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot.</p> + +<p>"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?"</p> + +<p>"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy."</p> + +<p>"The—the—the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this."</p> + +<p>"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner—he was discharged +too—he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?"</p> + +<p>Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest.</p> + +<p>"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I—yes, I'll go. Come on, get in."</p> + +<p>The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards.</p> + +<p>"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare.</p> + +<p>"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it."</p> + +<p>"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here."</p> + +<p>The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions.</p> + +<p>"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!"</p> + +<p>Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection.</p> + +<p>They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm.</p> + +<p>"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up."</p> + +<p>Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp.</p> + +<p>At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand.</p> + +<p>"This is the young gentleman," he said.</p> + +<p>Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile.</p> + +<p>"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house."</p> + +<p>"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little.</p> + +<p>"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer.</p> + +<p>Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it.</p> + +<p>As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm.</p> + +<p>Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other.</p> + +<p>"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me——" +began Roy. "I—here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!"</p> + +<p>The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back.</p> + +<p>The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind.</p> + +<p>"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him.</p> + +<p>"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not——" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head.</p> + +<p>The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable.</p> + +<p>"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that."</p> + +<p>This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair.</p> + +<p>"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or—"</p> + +<p>"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?"</p> + +<p>Roy saw.</p> + +<p>"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track."</p> + +<p>"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking.</p> + +<p>"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move.</p> + +<p>"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way."</p> + +<p>He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years.</p> + +<p>The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place.</p> + +<p>Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice—otherwise Joey +Eccles—struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire.</p> + +<p>This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object?</p> + +<p>"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott."</p> + +<p>A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it.</p> + +<p>"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward.</p> + +<p>The boy shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Not in there?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out."</p> + +<p>Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was—hopeless!</p> + +<p>He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder.</p> + +<p>The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash.</p> + +<p>Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit.</p> + +<p>But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then.</p> + +<p>But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started—looked before you leaped—this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!"</p> + +<p>The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it.</p> + +<p>The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder.</p> + +<p>"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice."</p> + +<p>He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches.</p> + +<p>"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape."</p> + +<p>There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say.</p> + +<p>"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!"</p> + +<p>These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly.</p> + +<p>"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this."</p> + +<p>At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night.</p> + +<p>But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it.</p> + +<p>"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere."</p> + +<p>He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move.</p> + +<p>"Queer," thought Roy.</p> + +<p>He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for."</p> + +<p>Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag.</p> + +<p>"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened.</p> + +<p>There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out:</p> + +<p>"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!"</p> + +<p>The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short.</p> + +<p>At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THEY WORKED OUT.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand.</p> + +<p>The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer.</p> + +<p>The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice—Lieut. Bradbury's +voice—said:</p> + +<p>"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and—."</p> + +<p>The officer's astonished voice interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?"</p> + +<p>Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this—a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather."</p> + +<p>The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him.</p> + +<p>But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself.</p> + +<p>"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy.</p> + +<p>"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation.</p> + +<p>But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track.</p> + +<p>All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest.</p> + +<p>The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved.</p> + +<p>"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and—oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too."</p> + +<p>As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen.</p> + +<p>"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill.</p> + +<p>"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?"</p> + +<p>The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot.</p> + +<p>"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently.</p> + +<p>But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind.</p> + +<p>"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it."</p> + +<p>He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence.</p> + +<p>It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer.</p> + +<p>"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily.</p> + +<p>The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down.</p> + +<p>"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it."</p> + +<p>But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro.</p> + +<p>"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again.</p> + +<p>"Have you got der plans?"</p> + +<p>The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure.</p> + +<p>The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation.</p> + +<p>"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him."</p> + +<p>He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back.</p> + +<p>"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time."</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes.</p> + +<p>With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man.</p> + +<p>"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears.</p> + +<p>He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins.</p> + +<p>What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so.</p> + +<p>But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other.</p> + +<p>"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy."</p> + +<p>"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw.</p> + +<p>He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly:</p> + +<p>"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!"</p> + +<p>It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge:</p> + +<p>"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT MORTLAKE DID.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor."</p> + +<p>A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully.</p> + +<p>The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material.</p> + +<p>"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings."</p> + +<p>Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall.</p> + +<p>"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point."</p> + +<p>But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him.</p> + +<p>"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question.</p> + +<p>"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull—o—a!"</p> + +<p>"Hullo—a!" came back out of the night.</p> + +<p>"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But—great Christmas—you've had better luck, I see!"</p> + +<p>For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes.</p> + +<p>"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind.</p> + +<p>But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a——"</p> + +<p>"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped."</p> + +<p>"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake."</p> + +<p>The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word.</p> + +<p>"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods.</p> + +<p>"You—you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?"</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished."</p> + +<p>Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten?</p> + +<p>But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend—I am proud to call him +so—my young friend, Prescott."</p> + +<p>For the first time, Roy was moved to speak.</p> + +<p>"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly.</p> + +<p>"You do not? Who, then?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that."</p> + +<p>"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?"</p> + +<p>"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us."</p> + +<p>"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return."</p> + +<p>Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders.</p> + +<p>"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed.</p> + +<p>"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers."</p> + +<p>"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake.</p> + +<p>They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted.</p> + +<p>"We're near to the place now," he said.</p> + +<p>"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first."</p> + +<p>In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape.</p> + +<p>All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night.</p> + +<p>Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north.</p> + +<p>"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger.</p> + +<p>"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply.</p> + +<p>Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain.</p> + +<p>On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight.</p> + +<p>"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it.</p> + +<p>"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>MISSING SIDE-COMB.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,—half work-shop, half study,—in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft.</p> + +<p>From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument.</p> + +<p>As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach.</p> + +<p>Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen—who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?"</p> + +<p>"Not the least idea. Who?"</p> + +<p>"Fanning Harding!"</p> + +<p>"Fan Harding! The dickens!"</p> + +<p>"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the <i>Cobweb</i>. And who do you think is to be his +companion?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up."</p> + +<p>"Regina Mortlake!"</p> + +<p>"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy.</p> + +<p>"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er—er—overweight isn't it called? +so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the <i>Cobweb</i> at the +tests."</p> + +<p>"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning."</p> + +<p>"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the <i>Cobweb</i> +now!"</p> + +<p>A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out.</p> + +<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> +<center> +<img src="003.jpg" height="453" width="300" +alt=" Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height."> +</center> + +<h5>" Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height."</h5> + + +<p>"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the <i>Cobweb</i> through it like an old general of the upper regions."</p> + +<p>Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully.</p> + +<p>"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time."</p> + +<p>But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery.</p> + +<p>"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests."</p> + +<p>"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west."</p> + +<p>But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship.</p> + +<p>"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted.</p> + +<p>"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime.</p> + +<p>She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and—but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that—but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet—and yet—Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering—and wondering.</p> + +<p>The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car—the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type.</p> + +<p>Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car.</p> + +<p>"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car.</p> + +<p>"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy.</p> + +<p>"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;"</p> + +<p>Roy flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply.</p> + +<p>Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything."</p> + +<p>Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and——." But Roy checked her impatiently.</p> + +<p>"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister.</p> + +<p>Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with.</p> + +<p>As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?"</p> + +<p>"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no."</p> + +<p>"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding.</p> + +<p>He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels.</p> + +<p>"A bolt had worked loose," he explained.</p> + +<p>"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right.</p> + +<p>"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird.</p> + +<p>"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple.</p> + +<p>"Then—go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird.</p> + +<p>Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur.</p> + +<p>"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud.</p> + +<p>Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting—dangerous!</p> + +<p>"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if——"</p> + +<p>But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air.</p> + +<p>The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt.</p> + +<p>The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it.</p> + +<p>One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy.</p> + +<p>From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces.</p> + +<p>Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan.</p> + +<p>"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes."</p> + +<p>"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though."</p> + +<p>Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage.</p> + +<p>"Can I help. I'm so sorry."</p> + +<p>The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my—my +poor car."</p> + +<p>"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine."</p> + +<p>Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse."</p> + +<p>Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all."</p> + +<p>She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out.</p> + +<p>"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with——."</p> + +<p>She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek.</p> + +<p>"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill."</p> + +<p>Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture.</p> +<br> + +<p>"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily.</p> + +<p>"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back."</p> + +<p>"Jove! So it is. But, what, how——"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and—and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?"</p> + +<p>"No. I confess I'm stupid, but——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?"</p> + +<p>"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane."</p> + +<p>A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade.</p> + +<p>The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result.</p> + +<p>Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts.</p> + +<p>Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?"</p> + +<p>"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?"</p> + +<p>"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't."</p> + +<p>"How did it all happen?"</p> + +<p>Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled.</p> + +<p>"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless——," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with."</p> + +<p>"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and——."</p> + +<p>"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me."</p> + +<p>"Well I——," began Fanning.</p> + +<p>But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss——."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft."</p> + +<p>"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions.</p> + +<p>"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience."</p> + +<p>"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once."</p> + +<p>"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but—hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!"</p> + +<p>He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle.</p> + +<p>"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining.</p> + +<p>"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long."</p> + +<p>"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning.</p> + +<p>A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face.</p> + +<p>"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then——." He stopped.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +<i>Red Dragon Fly</i> and break the news to Miss Prescott."</p> + +<p>Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed.</p> + +<p>Regina turned to Fanning.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A BOLT PROM THE BLUE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain—affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> was controlled by foot pressure.</p> + +<p>A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but—where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges.</p> + +<p>"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?"</p> + +<p>Roy nodded.</p> + +<p>"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> out on top."</p> + +<p>"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over."</p> + +<p>"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend.</p> + +<p>"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant.</p> + +<p>"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?"</p> + +<p>"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why—why, they're coming here!"</p> + +<p>"Here!" echoed the others.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house.</p> + +<p>Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority—an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him.</p> + +<p>"Miss Prescott—I—that is—er—this is a very unpleasant business—I +hope——."</p> + +<p>It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please."</p> + +<p>"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and——," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest."</p> + +<p>"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?"</p> + +<p>"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and——."</p> + +<p>Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow.</p> + +<p>"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning.</p> + +<p>"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official.</p> + +<p>"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny."</p> + +<p>Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself.</p> + +<p>"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business."</p> + +<p>"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town."</p> + +<p>Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him.</p> + +<p>"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once."</p> + +<p>Mortlake stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I——."</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer."</p> + +<p>"But I—really, I'm sorry to—Bancroft you'll listen——"</p> + +<p>But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face.</p> + +<p>"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger.</p> + +<p>"Why, if I may ask?"</p> + +<p>Jimsy flashed round.</p> + +<p>"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes."</p> + +<p>Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again.</p> + +<p>Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage.</p> + +<p>"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out."</p> + +<p>The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe.</p> + +<p>Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road.</p> + +<p>"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill.</p> + +<p>"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice.</p> + +<p>"What! you did not drop it?"</p> + +<p>"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply.</p> + +<p>"Then what was it doing in your possession?"</p> + +<p>"Do I have to answer that question, now?"</p> + +<p>"It will be better to—yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial."</p> + +<p>A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village.</p> + +<p>"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said.</p> + +<p>But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood."</p> + +<p>Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy.</p> + +<p>"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned.</p> + +<p>It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant.</p> + +<p>"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peg—gy!" gasped Jess, "you would——"</p> + +<p>"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!"</p> + +<p>The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we—we—I—that—is——"</p> + +<p>"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice.</p> + +<p>He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The aeroplanes—a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type—were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts.</p> + +<p>Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it.</p> + +<p>There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The <i>Sky Pilot</i>, the <i>Cloud Chaser</i>, the <i>Star Bug</i>, the <i>Moon +Mounter</i>, the <i>Aerial Auto</i>, the <i>Heavenly Harvester</i>, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide.</p> + +<p>"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the <i>Motor Hornet</i> has the contest cinched."</p> + +<p>The <i>Motor Hornet</i> was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy.</p> + +<p>But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it.</p> + +<p>This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery.</p> + +<p>"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by.</p> + +<p>But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures—two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place.</p> + +<p>This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the <i>Butterfly</i> shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward.</p> + +<p>The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it.</p> + +<p>"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or—or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty.</p> + +<p>"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?"</p> + +<p>"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>."</p> + +<p>"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you."</p> + +<p>"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada."</p> + +<p>"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head."</p> + +<p>"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting."</p> + +<p>"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy.</p> + +<p>The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless.</p> + +<p>"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the <i>Butterfly</i> had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far—very far from being out of the race.</p> + +<p>On and on through the night throbbed the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?"</p> + +<p>"Um—well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her:</p> + +<p>"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can."</p> + +<p>"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy.</p> + +<p>Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears:</p> + +<p>"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!"</p> + +<p>But now another voice came through the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?"</p> + +<p>"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains.</p> + +<p>"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or——"</p> + +<p>The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice:</p> + +<p>"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness."</p> + +<p>The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party—there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared.</p> + +<p>Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting.</p> + +<p>"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice.</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</h3> +<br> + +<p>As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy.</p> + +<p>The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol.</p> + +<p>"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous.</p> + +<p>The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently.</p> + +<p>"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm."</p> + +<p>"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued.</p> + +<p>"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?"</p> + +<p>Jimsy rummaged in the <i>Golden Butterfly's</i> tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs.</p> + +<p>While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm.</p> + +<p>She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out."</p> + +<p>"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all."</p> + +<p>"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory."</p> + +<p>"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled.</p> + +<p>"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia."</p> + +<p>"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent.</p> + +<p>"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then—do you know a man +named Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey.</p> + +<p>"Good. You came here with him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him.</p> + +<p>"What did you come for?"</p> + +<p>Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent.</p> + +<p>"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell.</p> + +<p>No reply.</p> + +<p>"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you."</p> + +<p>The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure.</p> + +<p>"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?"</p> + +<p>"To disable one of them flying machines."</p> + +<p>"Which one?"</p> + +<p>"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while—and—no, you can't stop me, Slim—and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and——"</p> + +<p>"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair."</p> + +<p>"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?"</p> + +<p>"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply.</p> + +<p>"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more.</p> + +<p>"Yes, on a trip."</p> + +<p>The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious.</p> + +<p>"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," came in a chorus.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody—are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through."</p> + +<p>"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?"</p> + +<p>"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly."</p> + +<p>With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream."</p> + +<p>"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and——"</p> + +<p>"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests.</p> + +<p>A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts.</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the <i>Cobweb</i> out already," he exclaimed presently.</p> + +<p>Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism.</p> + +<p>Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators.</p> + +<p>The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> +before these tests are over."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour."</p> + +<p>The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them.</p> + +<p>Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say:</p> + +<p>"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids."</p> + +<p>Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale.</p> + +<p>"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't."</p> + +<p>"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that——"</p> + +<p>"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing."</p> + +<p>"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night."</p> + +<p>"They decamped—as you call it—because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched."</p> + +<p>"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides——"</p> + +<p>But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet."</p> + +<p>The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury.</p> + +<p>"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out:</p> + +<p>"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest."</p> + +<p>"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets.</p> + +<p>"Here's a book of rules. Read it."</p> + +<p>"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I——"</p> + +<p>"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly.</p> + +<p>"But see here——"</p> + +<p>"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on.</p> + +<p>The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him.</p> + +<p>"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go."</p> + +<p>"No go. What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to."</p> + +<p>"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to change 'em to beat the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, +we'd have a clean sweep."</p> + +<p>"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time."</p> + +<p>"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the <i>Silver Cobweb</i>, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow.</p> + +<p>Bang!</p> + +<p>A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air.</p> + +<p>"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?"</p> + +<p>"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire.</p> + +<p>The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour.</p> + +<p>Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The <i>Silver +Cobweb</i> was among them.</p> + +<p>Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers.</p> + +<p>Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless.</p> + +<p>"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +<i>Cobweb</i>.</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing."</p> + +<p>"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again——"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves."</p> + +<p>"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and——"</p> + +<p>At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged <i>Butterfly</i>. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter.</p> + +<p>But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> would never have flown on that day.</p> + +<p>B-o-o-m!</p> + +<p>The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly.</p> + +<p>"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it.</p> + +<p>Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd.</p> + +<p>Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether.</p> + +<p>"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished.</p> + +<p>The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough—too willing—to explain their remarkable points.</p> + +<p>It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed.</p> + +<p>"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHITE PERIL.</h3> +<br> + +<p>"What's that? No, not that schooner below there—I mean that sort of +whitish drift—it looks like cotton—on the horizon?"</p> + +<p>Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person.</p> + +<p>"Ask Peggy."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy."</p> + +<p>The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish.</p> + +<p>Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess.</p> + +<p>Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the <i>Cobweb</i>. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity.</p> + +<p>On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the <i>Golden Butterfly</i>. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue.</p> + +<p>A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The <i>Cobweb</i> was doing slightly +better.</p> + +<p>"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Will they report us?" asked Jess.</p> + +<p>"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point."</p> + +<p>Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i> was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The <i>Cobweb</i> had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck."</p> + +<p>"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him.</p> + +<p>"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to try for it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +<i>Golden Butterfly</i> now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation.</p> + +<p>Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea.</p> + +<p>"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner."</p> + +<p>"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up."</p> + +<p>Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly.</p> + +<p>Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts.</p> + +<p>"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"</p> + +<p>"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!"</p> + +<p>The other shook her head.</p> + +<p>"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said.</p> + +<p>"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Jess.</p> + +<p>"That bell boy."</p> + +<p>Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one.</p> + +<p>Presently he looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy—but it doesn't."</p> + +<p>She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth.</p> + +<p>This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply—even with the use of the auxiliary tanks—would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were—or believed they +were, navigating above the sea.</p> + +<p>Had the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning.</p> + +<p>Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below.</p> + +<p>"It's thick as pea soup, captain!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog."</p> + +<p>"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers."</p> + +<p>The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> on an upward course.</p> + +<p>But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the <i>Golden +Butterfly</i> to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast.</p> + +<p>The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure.</p> + +<p>"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?"</p> + +<p>A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it.</p> + +<p>"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought.</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length.</p> + +<p>"I—I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake."</p> + +<p>"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort."</p> + +<p>It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there.</p> + +<p>"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess.</p> + +<p>"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert."</p> + +<p>"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her.</p> + +<p>Jimsy looked at her sharply.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost.</p> + +<p>Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them.</p> + +<p>"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and——."</p> + +<p>She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>OUT OF THE CLOUDS.</h3> +<br> + +<p>Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The <i>Golden Butterfly</i>, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made.</p> + +<p>Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils—dragons or something."</p> + +<p>"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again—even if it was only shifting sand—"we trust to +you."</p> + +<p>"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!"</p> + +<p>Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again.</p> + +<p>"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound.</p> + +<p>"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is—or ought to +be—food. How about it girls, are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess.</p> + +<p>"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess.</p> + +<p>"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth.</p> + +<p>They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily.</p> + +<p>All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending.</p> + +<p>The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers.</p> + +<p>"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking.</p> + +<p>"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks."</p> + +<p>There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive.</p> + +<p>"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we—we came in an +aeroplane, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island."</p> + +<p>"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?"</p> + +<p>"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?"</p> + +<p>Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept.</p> + +<p>"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or——."</p> + +<p>The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish."</p> + +<p>"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it."</p> + +<p>So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence.</p> + +<p>Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island."</p> + +<p>"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference.</p> + +<p>The man's face underwent a transformation.</p> + +<p>"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Because a wrong—a very great wrong—was done to me there," said the man +slowly.</p> + +<p>Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark.</p> + +<p>After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce."</p> + +<p>Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut.</p> + +<p>On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled.</p> + +<p>Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?"</p> + +<p>The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying:</p> + +<p>"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here."</p> + +<p>"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's.</p> + +<a name="image-4"><!-- Image 4 --></a> +<center> +<img src="004.jpg" height="452" width="300" +alt="The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two new guests."> +</center> + +<h5>"The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two new guests."</h5> + +<p>"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers.</p> + +<p>Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests.</p> + +<p>"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone.</p> + +<p>Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush.</p> + +<p>"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically.</p> + +<p>The man of the island looked on wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels.</p> + +<p>"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone.</p> + +<p>"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left."</p> + +<p>"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food."</p> + +<p>But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina."</p> + +<p>The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?"</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; "why?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me."</p> + +<p>"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back."</p> + +<p>The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone.</p> + +<p>"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour."</p> + +<p>"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Mortlake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off."</p> + +<p>"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake."</p> + +<p>The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?"</p> + +<p>"He is in Hampton—why?"</p> + +<p>"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him."</p> + +<p>The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound.</p> + +<p>"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry."</p> + +<p>"Will you do something for me—will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them.</p> + +<p>"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy.</p> + +<p>"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so."</p> + +<p>In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till—till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds."</p> + +<p>"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!"</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton.</p> + +<p>"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The <i>Silver +Cobweb</i>), four persons on board."</p> + +<p>Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the <i>Mortlake</i> is +leading. Now if only——"</p> + +<p>But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng.</p> + +<p>Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats.</p> + +<p>"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!"</p> + +<p>Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +<i>Golden Butterfly</i>. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft—its silvery sheen betrayed it—was the Mortlake <i>Cobweb</i>, as +Roy had called it.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?"</p> + +<p>But alas, the <i>Cobweb</i> didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the <i>Golden Butterfly</i> had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the <i>Cobweb</i> fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +<i>Golden Butterfly's</i> feat.</p> + +<p>Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>FRIENDS AND FOES—CONCLUSION.</h3> +<br> + +<p>The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished.</p> + +<p>This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat.</p> + +<p>While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of:</p> + +<p>"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed.</p> + +<p>Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant.</p> + +<p>Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by:</p> + +<p>"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round.</p> + +<p>They all shook their heads.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney—luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you."</p> + +<p>They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension.</p> + +<p>"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared.</p> + +<p>"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones.</p> + +<p>"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No—but, +yes, now I look again—it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already."</p> + +<p>"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal."</p> + +<p>"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life."</p> + +<p>"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand.</p> + +<p>"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you."</p> + +<p>With wondering looks, the young aviators—Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm—followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes.</p> + +<p>"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?"</p> + +<p>He glanced up at his ill-favored son.</p> + +<p>"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?"</p> + +<p>A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make.</p> + +<p>"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window."</p> + +<p>"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake—no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it."</p> + +<p>Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there.</p> + +<p>"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket a paper.</p> + +<p>"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer."</p> + +<p>Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach."</p> + +<p>Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks.</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to do?" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents."</p> + +<p>"And if not?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?"</p> + +<p>Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance.</p> + +<p>"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?"</p> + +<p>For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared.</p> + +<p>"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign."</p> + +<p>"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me."</p> + +<p>"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote:</p> + +<p>"All this is true.—Eugene Mortlake."</p> + +<p>"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly.</p> + +<p>In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace.</p> + +<p>"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell.</p> + +<p>"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing—he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry—a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me."</p> + +<p>"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all."</p> + +<p>His voice broke, and Regina—a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly.</p> + +<p>"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget."</p> + +<p>Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?"</p> + +<p>"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will—bad or good, we shall not interfere with you."</p> + +<p>Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way.</p> + +<p>"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home—Regina's and mine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes—always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't—I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps——"</p> + +<p>He strode abruptly through the door and was gone.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways."</p> + +<p>"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning."</p> + +<p>Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused.</p> + +<p>"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out—at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night."</p> + +<p>He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?"</p> + +<p>"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on.</p> + +<p>"It—it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and—and +I'm awfully sorry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!"</p> + +<p>In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling.</p> + +<p>"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good."</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" asked Roy.</p> + +<p>"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night."</p> +<br> + +<p>How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the <i>Cobweb</i> type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York.</p> + +<p>Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added.</p> + +<p>But, as the young officer says:</p> + +<p>"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts."</p> + +<p>And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid <i>au revoir</i> to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in—<b>The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly.</b></p> +<br> + +<hr> + +<h4>The End.</h4> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954-h.htm or 10954-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise + +Author: Margaret Burnham + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: AT THE CORRECT MOMENT PEGGY DROPPED THE WEIGHTED BUNDLE +OVERBOARD.--Page 103.] + +THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE + +BY + +MARGARET BURNHAM + +AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS +ON GOLDEN WINGS," ETC. + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +1911 + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH + II. MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF + III. A NAVAL VISITOR + IV. ALOFT IN A STORM + V. PEGGY A HEROINE + VI. FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT" + VII. A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES + VIII. MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS + IX. THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB" + X. AN AERIAL POST OFFICE + XI. THE MARKED BILL + XII. WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY + XIII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT + XIV. HOW THEY WORKED OUT + XV. WHAT MORTLAKE DID + XVI. THE MISSING SIDE-COMB + XVII. JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED + XVIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XIX. THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS + XX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXI. THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE + XXII. THE WHITE PERIL + XXIII. OUT OF THE CLOUDS + XXIV. FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW VENTURE IN SANDY BEACH. + + +"It isn't to be a barn; that's one thing certain. Who ever saw a barn with +skylights on it?" + +Peggy Prescott, in a pretty, fluffy morning dress of pale green, which set +off her blonde beauty to perfection, laid down her racket, and, leaving +the tennis-court, joined her brother Roy at the picket fence. The lad, +bronzed and toughened by his trip to the Nevada desert, was leaning upon +the paling, gazing down the dusty road. + +About a quarter of a mile away was the object of his contemplation--a big, +new structure, painted a staring red. It had no windows, but in front +were great sliding doors. On its flat roof the forms of a dozen or more +glazed skylights upreared themselves jauntily. + +"No, it's a work-shop of some sort. But what? Old man Harding is +interested in it, that's one thing sure. I heard, too, that while we were +away, cases of machinery had arrived and been delivered there, and that +active work of some sort had been going forward ever since," rejoined Roy, +who was clad in white tennis flannels, with white shoes and an outing +shirt, set off by a dark-red necktie. + +"See Roy," cried Peggy suddenly, "they're putting up some sort of sign on +it, or else I'm very much mistaken." + +"So they are. I see men on some ladders, and now, look Peg, they are +carrying up a big board with something painted on it. Perhaps at last the +mystery will be solved, as they say in the dime novels." + +"Can you read the printing on that sign?" inquired Peggy. + +"Not a word. I can see the letters to know that they are printed +characters, but that's all. Tell you what, Peg, just run and get those +glasses we used on the desert--there's a good fellow--and we'll soon find +out." + +"Isn't that just like a brother? Always sending his long-suffering sister +on his errands." + +"Why, you know you are dying with curiosity yourself, to know what's on +that signboard," parried Roy. + +"And I suppose you're not," pouted Peggy in mock indignation. "However, +I'll get the field glasses to oblige you--just once." + +"As if you won't try to secure the first peek through them!" laughed Roy, +as sunny Peggy tripped off across the lawn to a big shed in the rear of +the Prescott home, where the aeroplanes and their appurtenances were kept. + +She soon was back with the field glasses, and, as Roy had prophesied, +raised them to her eyes first. Having adjusted the focus, she scrutinized +the sign carefully. By this time the big board had been raised +horizontally above the doors and was being fixed in position. + +Suddenly Peggy gave a little squeal of astonishment and lowered the +magnifiers. + +"Well, what is it?" chaffed Roy; "an anarchist bomb factory or an +establishment for raising goats, or something that will "butt in" just as +much on our peace and quiet, or----" + +"Roy Prescott," enunciated Peggy, severely shaking one pink-tipped finger +under Roy's freckled nose, "this is not a subject for jesting." + +"Never more serious in my life, Sis. If you could have seen your own face +as you peeked through those glasses----" + +Peggy stuffed the binoculars into her brother's brown hands. + +"Here, look for yourself," she ordered. Her voice was so imperious that +Roy obeyed immediately. + +An instant later his sister's expression of dumfounded amazement was +mirrored on his own straightforward, good-looking countenance. + +"Well, as Bud used to say out West, 'if that ain't the beatingest'!" he +gasped. + +"What did you read?" demanded Peggy breathlessly. "Repeat it so that I may +be sure my eyes didn't play me a trick." + +"Not likely, Sis; the letters are big enough. They show up on that red +painted barn of a place like a big freckle on a pretty girl's chin." + +Then he repeated slowly, mimicking a boy reciting a lesson: + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company. Well, wouldn't that jar you?" + +"Roy!" reproved Peggy. + +"There's no other way to express it, Sis," protested the boy. "Why, that's +the concern that's been advertising so much recently. Just to think, it +was right at our door, and we never knew it." + +"And that hateful old Mr. Harding is interested in it, too, oh!" + +The exclamation and its intonation expressed Peggy's dislike of the +gentleman mentioned. + +"It's a scheme oh his part to make trouble for us, I'll bet on it," burst +out Roy. "But this time I guess it's no phantom airship, but the real +thing. What time is that naval lieutenant coming to look over the Prescott +aeroplane, Peggy?" + +"Some time to-day. He mentioned no particular hour." + +"Do you think it possible that he is also going to take in that outfit +down the road?" + +"It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's why they are just putting up the +sign. They evidently have refrained from doing so till now in order to +keep the nature of their business secret. If we hadn't come back from +Nevada sooner than we expected, we might not have known anything about it +till the navy had investigated and--approved." + +Far down the road, beyond the big red building, came a whirl of dust. From +it presently emerged a big maroon car. Peggy scrutinized it through the +glasses. + +"Mr. Harding is in that auto," she said, rather quietly for Peggy, as the +car came to a stop in front of the Mortlake Aeroplane Manufacturing +Company's plant. + +Shortly before Peggy and Roy Prescott, their aunt, Miss Sallie Prescott, +with whom they made their home, and their chums, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, +had returned from the Nevada alkali wastes, the red building which engaged +their attention that morning had caused a good deal of speculation in the +humdrum Long Island village of Sandy Beach. In the first place, coincident +with the completion of the building, a new element had been introduced +into the little community by the arrival of several keen-eyed, +close-mouthed men, who boarded at the local hotel and were understood to +be employees at the new building. But what the nature of their employment +was to be, even the keenest of the village "cross examiners" had failed to +elicit. + +Before long, within the freshly painted wooden walls, still sticky with +pigment, there could be heard, all day, and sometimes far into the night, +the buzz and whir of machinery and other more mystic sounds. The village +was on tenter-hooks of curiosity, but there being no side windows to peer +through, and a watchman of ferocious aspect stationed at the door, their +inquisitiveness was, perforce, unsatisfied. Not even a sign appeared on +the building to indicate the nature of the industry carried on within, and +its employees continued to observe the stoniest of silences. They herded +together, ignoring all attempts to draw them into conversation. What Peggy +and Roy had observed that day had been the first outward sign of the +inward business. + +From the throbbing automobile, which the boy and girl had observed draw up +in front of the Mortlake plant, a man of advanced age alighted, whose +yellow skin was stretched tightly, like a drumhead, over his bony face. +From the new building, at the same time, there emerged a short, stout +personage, garbed in overalls. But the fine quality of his linen, and a +diamond pin, which nestled in the silken folds of his capacious necktie, +showed as clearly as did his self-assertive manner, that the newcomer was +by no means an ordinary workman. + +His face was pouchy and heavy, although the whole appearance of the man +was by no means ill-looking. His cheeks and chin were clean shaven, the +close-cut beard showing bluely under the coarse skin. For the rest, his +hair was black and thick, slightly streaked with gray, and heavy eyebrows +as dark in hue as his hair, overhung a pair of shrewd, gray eyes like +small pent-houses. The man was Eugene Mortlake, the brains of the Mortlake +Company. The individual who had just descended from the automobile, +throwing a word to the chauffeur over his shoulder, was a person we have +met before--Mr. Harding, the banker and local magnate of Sandy Beach, +whose money it was that had financed the new aeroplane concern. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MR. HARDING DECLARES HIMSELF. + + +Readers of the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and The +Phantom Airship," will recall Mr. Harding. They will also be likely to +recollect his son, Fanning, who made so much trouble for Peggy Prescott +and her brother, culminating in a daring attempt to "bluff" them out of +entering a competition for a big aerial prize by constructing a phantom +aeroplane. Fanning's part in the mystery of the stolen jewels of Mrs. +Bancroft, the mother of Jess and Jimsy, will likewise be probably held in +memory by those who perused that volume. The elder Harding's part in the +attempt to coerce the young Prescotts into parting with their aerial +secrets, consisted in trying to foreclose a mortgage he held on the +Prescott home, with the alternative of Roy turning over to him the blue +prints and descriptions of his devices left the lad by his dead father. +How the elder Harding was routed and how the Girl Aviator, Peggy Prescott, +came into her own, was all told in this volume. Since that time Mr. +Harding's revengeful nature had brooded over what he chose to fancy were +his wrongs. What the fruit of his moody and mean meditations was to be, +the Mortlake plant, which he had financed, was, in part, the answer. + +In the volume referred to, it was also related how Peter Bell, an old +hermit, had been discovered by means of the Prescott aeroplane, and +restored to his brother, a wealthy mining magnate. + +In the second volume of the Girl Aviators, we saw what came of the meeting +between James Bell, the westerner, and the young flying folk. By the +agency of the aeroplane, a mine--otherwise inaccessible--had been opened +up by Mr. Bell in a remote part of the desert hills of Nevada. The +aeroplane and Peggy Prescott played an important part in their adventures +and perils. Notably so, when in a neck-to-neck dash with an express +train, the aeroplane won out in a race to file the location papers of the +mine at Monument Rocks. The rescue of a desert wanderer from a terrible +death on the alkali, and the routing of a gang of rascally outlaws were +also set forth in full in that book, which was called "The Girl Aviators +on Golden Wings." + +The present story commences soon after the return of the party from the +Far West, when they were much surprised--as has been said--to observe the +mushroom-like rise of the Mortlake factory. But of what the new plant was +to mean to them, and how intimately they were to be brought in contact +with it, none of them guessed. + +"Well, Mortlake," observed Mr. Harding, in his harsh, squeaky voice--not +unlike the complaint of a long unused door, "well, Mortlake, we are +getting ahead, I see." + +The two men had, by this time, passed within the big sliding doors of the +freshly-painted shed, and now stood in a maze of machinery and strange +looking bits of apparatus. From skylights in the roof--there were no side +windows to gratify the inquisitive--the sunlight streamed down on three or +four partially completed aircraft. With their yellow wings of vulcanized +cloth, and their slender bodies, like long tails, they resembled so many +dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," assembled in conclave upon the +level floor. At the farther end of the shed was a small blast furnace, +shooting upward a livid, blue spout of flame, which roared savagely. +Actively engaged at their various tasks at lathes and work-benches, were a +dozen or more overalled mechanics, the most skillful in their line that +could be gathered. Here and there were the motors, the driving power of +the "dragon flies." The engines glistened with new paint and bright brass +and copper parts. Behind them were ranged big propellers of laminated, or +joined wood, in stripes of brown and yellow timber. Altogether, the +Mortlake plant was as complete a one for the manufacture of aerial +machines as could have been found in the country. + +"Yes, we are getting along, Mr. Harding," returned Mortlake, "and it's +time, too. By the way, Lieut. Bradbury is due here at noon. I want to have +everything as far advanced as possible in time for his visit. You won't +mind accompanying me then, while I oversee the workmen?" + +Followed by Mr. Harding, he made an active, nervous tour of the +work-benches, dropping a reproof here and a nod of commendation or advice +there. + +When he saw a chance, Mr. Harding spoke. + +"So the government really means to give us an opportunity to show the +worth of our machines?" he grated out, rubbing his hands as if washing +them in some sort of invisible soap. + +"Yes, so it seems. At any rate, they notified me that this officer would +be here to-day to inspect the place. It means a great deal for us if the +government consents to adopt our form of machine for the naval +experiments." + +"To us! To you, you mean," echoed Mr. Harding, with an unpleasant laugh. +"I've put enough capital into this thing now, Mortlake. I'm not the man to +throw good money after bad. If we are defeated by any other make of +machine at the tests I mean to sell the whole thing and at least realize +what I've put into it." + +Mortlake turned a little pale under his swarthy skin. He rubbed his blue +chin nervously. + +"Why, you wouldn't chuck us over now, Mr. Harding," he said deprecatingly. +"It was at your solicitation that the plant was put up here, and I had +relied on you for unlimited support. Why did you go into the manufacture +of aerial machines, if you didn't mean to stick it out?" + +"I had two reasons," was the rejoinder, in tones as cold as a frigid blast +of wind, "one was that I thought it was certain we should capture the +government contract, and the other was--well, I had a little grudge I +wished to satisfy." + +"But we will capture the government business. I am not afraid. There is no +machine to touch the Mortlake that I know of----" + +"Yes, there is," interrupted Mr. Harding; "a machine that may be able to +discount it in every way." + +"Nonsense! Where is such an aeroplane?" "Within a quarter of a mile from +here. To be accurate, young Prescott's--you know whom I mean?" + +The other nodded abstractedly. + +"Well, that youth has a monoplane that has already caused me a lot of +trouble." The old man's yellow skin darkened with anger, and his blue +pinpoints of eyes grew flinty. "It was partly out of revenge that I +decided to start up an opposition business to his. He was in the West till +a few days ago, and I never dreamed that he would return till I had +secured the government contract. But I am now informed--oh, I have ears +everywhere in Sandy Beach--that this boy and his sister, who is in a kind +of partnership with him have had the audacity to offer their machine for +the government tests also." + +"Audacity," muttered Mortlake under his breath, but Harding's keen ears +caught the remark. + +"It is audacity," agreed the leathern-faced old financier; "and it's +audacity that we must find some way to checkmate. I've never had a +business rival yet that I haven't broken into submission or crushed, and a +boy and a girl are not going to outwit me now. They did it once, I admit, +but this time I shall arrange things differently." + +"You mean----" + +"That I intend to cinch that government business." + +"But what if, as you fear, the Prescotts have a superior aeroplane?" + +"My dear Mortlake," the pin-point eyes almost closed, and the thin, +bloodless lips drew together in a tight line, "if they have a superior +machine, we must arrange so that nobody but ourselves is ever aware of +the fact." + +With a throaty gurgle, that might, or might not, have been meant for a +chuckle, the old man glided through the doors, which, by this time, he had +reached, and sliding rather than stepping into his machine, gave the +chauffeur some orders. Mortlake, a peculiar expression on his face, looked +after the car as it chugged off and then turned and re-entered the shop. +His head was bent, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NAVAL VISITOR + + +Roy had departed, on an errand, for town. Peggy, indolently enjoying the +perfect drowsiness of noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock +suspended between two regal maple trees on the lawn. In her hand was a +book. On a taboret by her side was a big pink box full of chocolates. + +The girl was not reading, however. Her blue eyes were staring straight up +through the delicate green tracery of the big maples, at the sky above. +She watched, with lazy fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly +across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away +from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings. The young girl's thoughts +were of the desert, the bleak, arid wastes of alkali, which lay so far +behind them now. Almost like events that had happened in another life. + +Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a voice--a remarkably +pleasant voice: + +"I beg your pardon. Is this the Prescott house?" + +"Good gracious, a man!" exclaimed Peggy to herself, getting out of the +hammock as gracefully as she could, and with a rather flushed face. + +At the gate stood a rickety station hack, which had approached on the +soft, dusty road almost noiselessly. Just stepping out of it was a +sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray +suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He carried a bamboo cane, which he switched +somewhat nervously as the pretty girl advanced toward him across the +velvet-like lawn. + +"I am Lieut. Bradbury of the navy," said the newcomer, and Peggy noted +that his whole appearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I +came--er in response to your letter to the department, in regard to the +forthcoming trials of aeroplanes for the service." + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Peggy, smothering an inclination to giggle, +"we--I--that is----" + +"I presume that I have called at the right place," said the young officer, +with a smile. "They told me----" + +"Oh, come in, won't you?" suddenly requested the embarrassed Peggy. "The +sun is fearfully hot. Won't you have a straw hat--I mean a seat?" + +"Thank you," replied Lieut. Bradbury, gravely sitting in a garden bench at +the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on the book Peggy had +been reading. It was a treatise on aeronautics. + +"It isn't possible that you are R. Prescott?" he asked, glancing up +quickly. + +"Oh, no. I am only a humble helper. R. Prescott is in town. He--he will be +back shortly." + +"Indeed. I had hoped to see him personally. I was anxious to inspect the +Prescott type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this +neighborhood, the--the----" The officer drew out a small morocco covered +notebook and referred to it. + +"The Mortlake Aeroplane Company," he concluded. + +"Oh, yes. They are just down the road, within a stone's throw of here. You +can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered +Peggy, heartily wishing that the Mortlake plant had been a hundred miles +away. + +"Indeed. That's very convenient. I shall be able to make an early train +back to New York. Do you suppose that Mr. Prescott will be long?" + +"I don't really know. He shouldn't be unless he is delayed. But in the +meantime I can show you the aeroplane, if you wish." + +"Ah!" the officer glanced at this girl curiously, "but you know what I +particularly desired was a practical demonstration." + +"A flight?" + +"Yes, if it were possible." + +"I think it can be arranged." + +"You have an aviator attached to your place, then?" + +Peggy laughed musically. She had quite recovered from her embarrassment +now. + +"No. I guess it's an aviatress--if there is such a word. You see I----" + +"You!" + +"Oh, yes. I have flown quite a good deal recently. I think it is the most +delightful sport there is." + +A sudden light seemed to break over the young officer. + +"Are you Miss Margaret Prescott, the girl aviator I have read so much +about in the technical publications?" + +"I believe I am," smiled Peggy; "but here comes my aunt, Miss Sallie +Prescott." + +As she spoke, Miss Prescott, in a soft gown of cool white material, +emerged from the house. Peggy went through the ceremony of introduction, +after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the +Prescott machines were kept. In the meantime, old Sam Hickey, the +gardener, and his stalwart son Jerusah, had been summoned to aid in +dragging out one of the aeroplanes. + +"We only have two on hand," explained Peggy; "my brother has forwarded the +others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They are being +used in aerial gold transportation across the Nevada desert." + +"Indeed! That is most interesting." + +Sam Hickey flung open the big doors and revealed the interior of the shed +with the two scarab-like monoplanes standing within. A strong smell of +gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's +dainty figure in astonishment. It seemed hard to associate this refined, +exquisite young girl with the rough actualities of machinery and +aeroplanes. + +[Illustration: When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the +place of the lounger in the hammock.] + +But Peggy, with a word of excuse, dived suddenly into a small room. While +she was gone, Miss Prescott entertained the young officer with many +tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which +he listened with keen attention. At least he did so to all outward +appearance, but his eyes were riveted on the door through which Peggy had +vanished. + +When she emerged a very business-like Peggy had taken the place of the +lounger in the hammock. A linen duster, fitting tightly, covered her from +top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her hair, and upon +its rim, above her forehead, was perched a pair of goggles. Gauntlets +encased her hands. + +"Looks rather too warm to be comfortable, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But +we shall find it cool enough up above." + +"Perhaps the lieutenant----" ventured Miss Prescott. + +"Oh, yes. How stupid of me not to have thought of it!" exclaimed Peggy. +"Mr. Bradbury, you will find aviation togs inside there." + +"By Jove; she knows enough not to call a naval officer 'lieutenant,'" +thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word of thanks, he +vanished to equip himself for his aerial excursion. + +By the time he was invested in a similar long duster, with weighted seams, +and had donned a cap and goggles, the larger of the two aeroplanes, named +the _Golden Butterfly_, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, +who had dragged it out--it moved easily on its landing wheels--stood by, +their awe of the big craft showing plainly on their faces. + +A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott +aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows +beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer, +took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering +wheel. + +"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she +began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the +self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the +old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller." + +The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure +gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled +the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and +turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an +explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the +motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and +cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue +flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It +would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the +officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to +bother them in the least. + +"Magnificent!" cried the young officer enthusiastically, as he saw the +ease with which the compressed air attachment set the motor to working. + +"It will do away with assistants to start the machine," he declared the +next instant. "The importance of that in warfare can hardly be +overestimated." + +Peggy was too busy to reply. So far all had gone splendidly. If only she +could carry out the whole test as well! + +"Ready?" she asked, flinging back the word over her shoulder to Lieutenant +Bradbury. + +"All ready!" came in a hearty voice from behind her. + +Peggy, with a quick movement, threw in the clutch that started the +propeller to whirring. + +With a drone like that of a huge night-beetle, or prehistoric +thunder-lizard, the machine leaped forward as a race-horse jumps under the +raised barrier. + +In a blur of blue smoke it skimmed through the gap in the palings. Out +upon the smooth meadowland it shot, roaring and smoking terrifically. And +then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if +the occupants of the chassis were riding luxuriously over a road paved +with the softest of eiderdown. The sensation was delightful, exhilarating. + +Peggy shut off the exhaust, turning the explosions of the cylinder into a +muffler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the +fleecy clouds she had been lazily watching, but a short time before, from +the hammock. + +The _Golden Butterfly_ had never done better. + +"You're a darling!" breathed Peggy confidentially to the motor that with +steady pulse drove them upward and onward. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN A STORM + + +Dwarfed to the merest midgets, the figures about the Prescott house waved +enthusiastically, as the golden-winged monoplane made a graceful swoop +high above the elms and maples surrounding it. Other figures could be +glimpsed too, now, running about excitedly outside the barn-like structure +housing the Mortlake aeroplanes. + +"Guess they think you are stealing a march on them," drawled Lieut. +Bradbury. + +A wild, reckless feeling, born of the thrilling sensation of aerial +riding, came over Peggy. She would do it--she would. With a scarcely +perceptible thrust of her wrist, she altered the angle of the rudder-like +tail, and instantly the obedient _Golden Butterfly_ began racing through +space toward the Mortlake plant. + +The naval officer, quick to guess her plan, laughed as happily as a +mischievous boy. + +"What a lark!" he exclaimed. "It's contrary to all discipline, but it's +jolly good fun." + +Peggy turned a small brass-capped valve--the timer. At once the aeroplane +showed accelerated speed. It fairly cut through the air. Both the +occupants were glad to lower their goggles to protect their eyes from the +sharp, cutting sensation of the atmosphere, as they rushed against +it--into its teeth, as it were. + +Peggy glanced at the indicator. The black pointer on the white dial was +creeping up--fifty, sixty, sixty-two--she would show this officer what the +Prescott monoplane could do. + +"Sixty-four! Great Christmas!" + +The exclamation came from the officer. He had leaned forward and scanned +the indicator eagerly. + +"We'll do better when we have our new type of motor installed," said +Peggy, with a confident nod. The young fellow gasped. + +"This is the twentieth century with a vengeance," he murmured, sinking +back in his rear seat, which was as comfortably upholstered as the +luxurious tonneau of a five-thousand-dollar automobile. + +Like a darting, pouncing swallow, seeking its food in mid-air, the _Golden +Butterfly_ swooped, soared and dived in long, graceful gradients above the +Mortlake plant. Once Peggy brought the aeroplane so close to the ground in +a long, swinging sweep, that it seemed as if it could never recover enough +"way" to rise again. Even the officer, trained in a strict school to +repress his emotions, tightened his lips, and then opened them to emit a +relieved gasp. + +So close to the gaping machinists and the anger-crimsoned Mortlake did the +triumphant aeroplane swoop, that Peggy, to her secret amusement could +trace the astonished look on the faces of the employees and the chagrined +expression that darkened Mortlake's countenance. + +"I guess I've given them something to think over," she said +mischievously, flinging back a brilliant smile at the dazed young officer. + +"Now," she exclaimed the next moment, "for a distance flight. I'm anxious +to put the _Golden Butterfly_ through all her paces. Oh, by the way, the +balancer. I haven't shown you how that works yet." + +If Peggy's bright eyes had not been veiled by goggles, the officer might +have seen a mischievous gleam flash into them, like a wind ripple over the +placid surface of a blue lake. + +Suddenly the aeroplane slanted to one side, as if it must turn over. Peggy +had banked it on a sharp aerial curve. The young officer, in spite of +himself, in defiance of his training, gave a gasp. + +"I say----" + +But the words had hardly left his lips before the aeroplane was back on a +level keel once more. At the same time a rasping, sliding sound was +heard. + +"Like to see how that was done?" asked Peggy, with a bewitching smile. + +"Yes. By Jove, I thought we were over for an instant. But how----" + +"That we shall be glad to show you when the United States government has +contracted for a number of the Prescott aeroplanes," retorted Peggy. + +The young officer bit his lip. + +"Confound it," he thought, "is this chit of a girl making fun of me?" + +Young officers have a high idea of their own dignity. Mr. Bradbury colored +a bit with mortification. But Peggy quickly dispelled his temporary +chagrin. + +"You see," she explained, "it would never do for us to reveal all our +secrets, would it? You agree with me, don't you?" + +"Oh, perfectly. You are quite right. Still, I confess that you have +aroused all my inquisitiveness." + +Peggy being busied just then with a bit of machinery on the bulkhead +separating the motor from the body of the chassis, made no reply. But +presently, when she looked up, she gave a sharp exclamation. + +The sky, as if by magic, had grown suddenly dark. Above the pulsating +voice of the motor could be heard the rumble of thunder. All at once a +vivid flash of lightning leaped across the horizon. One of those sudden +storms of summer had blown up from the sea, and Peggy knew enough of Long +Island weather to know that these disturbances were usually accompanied by +terrific winds--squalls and gusts that no aeroplane yet built or thought +of could hope to cope with. + +"We're running into dirty weather, it seems," remarked the officer. "I +thought I noticed some thunderheads away off on the horizon when we first +went up." + +"I wish you'd mentioned them then," said the straightforward Peggy; "as it +is, we'll have to descend till this blows over." + +"What, won't even the wonderful equalizer render her safe?" + +"No, it won't. It will do anything reasonable. But you've no idea of the +fury of the wind that comes with these black squalls." + +"Indeed I have. Last summer I was off Montauk Point in the _Dixie_. +Something went wrong with the steering gear just as one of these self-same +young hurricanes came bustling up. I tell you, it was "all hands and the +cook" for a while. It hardly blows much harder in a typhoon." + +Peggy gazed below her over the darkening landscape anxiously. There seemed +to be trees, trees everywhere, and not a bit of cleared ground. All at +once, as they cleared some woods, she spied a bit of meadowland. The hay +which had covered it earlier in the summer had been cropped. It afforded +an ideal landing-place. But the wind was puffy now, and Peggy did not dare +to attempt short descending spirals. Instead, trusting to the balancing +device doing its duty faithfully, she swung down in long circles. + +Just as they touched the ground with a gentle shock, much minimized, +thanks to the shock-absorbers with which the _Golden Butterfly_ was +fitted, the storm burst in all its fury. Bolt after bolt of vivid +lightning ripped and tore across the darkened sky, which hung like a pall +behind the terrific electrical display. The rain came down in torrents. + +"Just in time," laughed the young officer, as he aided Peggy in dragging +the aeroplane under the shelter of an open cart-shed. It was quite snug +and dry once they had it under the roof. A short distance off stood a +farm-house of fairly comfortable appearance. Smoke issuing from one of its +chimneys showed that it was occupied. + +"Let's go over there and see if we can dry our things," suggested Peggy. +"I'm wet through." + +"Same here," was the laughing reply; "but a sailor doesn't mind that. One +actually gets webbed feet in the navy--like ducks, you know." + +Ignoring this remarkable contribution to natural history, Peggy gathered +up her skirts daintily and fled across the meadow to the farm-house. It +was only a few hundred feet, but the rain came down so hard that both she +and her escort were wetter than ever by the time they arrived at the door. +It was shut, and except for the lazy wisps of smoke issuing from the +chimney, there was no sign of life about the place. + +The lieutenant knocked thunderously. No answer. + +"Try again," said Peggy; "maybe they are in some other part of the house." + +"Perhaps they were scared of the aeroplane and have all retired into +hiding," suggested Mr. Bradbury. + +He rapped again, louder this time, but still no reply. + +"They must all be asleep," he said, applying himself once more to a +thunderous assault on the door, but to no avail. A silence hung about the +place, broken only by the roar and rattle of the thunder. + +"It's positively uncanny," shuddered Peggy. "It's like Red Riding Hood and +the Three Little Bears." + +"One would think that even a bear would open the door on such an occasion +as this," said her companion, redoubling his efforts to attract attention. +Finally he gave the door handle a twist. It yielded, and the door was +speedily found to be unlocked. The officer shoved it open and disclosed a +neat farm-house kitchen. In a newly blackened stove, which fairly shone, +was a blazing fire. An old clock ticked sturdily in one corner. The floor +was scrubbed as white as snow, and on a shelf above the shining stove was +an array of gleaming copper pans that gladdened Peggy's housewifely heart. + +"What a dear of a place!" she exclaimed. "But where are the folks who own +it?" + +"Haven't the least idea," said the officer gayly; "but that stove looks +inviting to me. Let's get over to it and get dried out a bit. Then we can +commence to investigate." + +"But, really, you know, we've not the least right in here. Suppose they +mistake us for burglars, and shoot us?" + +"Not much danger of that. They'd shoot me first, anyhow, because I'm the +most burglarious looking of the two. Queer, though, where they all can +be." + +"It's worse than queer--it's weird. Good gracious!" exclaimed Peggy, as a +sudden thought struck her, "suppose there should be trapdoors?" + +"Trapdoors!" Her companion was plainly puzzled. + +"Yes. You know in most books when two folks run across a deserted +farm-house there's always a trapdoor or a ghost or something. +Suppose----Good heavens, what's that?" + +From without had come a most peculiar sound. A whirring, like the noise +one would suppose would be occasioned by a gigantic locust. Then +something--a huge, indefinite shadow--darkened the windows of the +farm-house kitchen. Peggy gave a shrill squeal of alarm, while Lieut. +Bradbury gallantly ran to the door and flung it open. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PEGGY A HEROINE. + + +"It's--it's another aeroplane!" cried the officer, with a shout of +amazement. + +"What!" + +Peggy sprang to her feet. + +"A large red one?" + +"Yes. Come here and look. They're just running it under the same shed as +ours--yours, I mean." + +The girl aviator sprang toward the door. Through the rain she peered to +where, across the meadow, two dim figures, clad in oilskins, could be seen +shoving a big aeroplane under the same shelter that already protected the +_Golden Butterfly_. + +"Well, if this isn't the ultimate!" she gasped. + +"I beg your pardon?" asked the young man at her side. + +"The ultimate! That's my way of expressing what the boys call 'the limit.' +Why, that's Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, in their new aeroplane--the one Roy +built for them. Well, did you ever! Oh, Jess! Oh, Jimsy!" + +Peggy raised her voice and shouted. In response they saw the oil-skinned +figures turn, and through the driving downpour came an answering shout. +Presently, across the dripping meadows, the two figures began advancing. +All this time the lightning was ripping in a manner to make Peggy shield +her eyes occasionally. The thunder, too, was terrific, and the earth +seemed to vibrate to its rolling detonations. + +"Well, Peggy!" gasped Jess, her dark eyes peering from under her +waterproof hood, as she and her brother arrived at the threshold of the +farm-house, "what on earth does this mean?" + +"Yes, give an account of yourself at once," demanded Jimsy. "Roy had us on +the phone. Asked if you'd flown in our direction. We said no, but we'd +take a flight and look for you. In our enthusiasm, we didn't notice the +storm coming up. But luckily, being young persons of forethought, we had +oilskins in a locker of the machine, and----" + +"And here we are," finished Jess, shooting a "killing" glance from under +her hood at the good-looking young man at Peggy's side. + +"Aren't you going to ask us in?" demanded Jimsy the next minute. "For +hospitality, I don't think you rate very high. We----" + +"Well, you see, we are here ourselves without knowing if we have any right +to be," rejoined Peggy. "But come in and I'll explain. First of all, I +want you to meet Mr. Bradbury of the United States Navy. He came to test +the Prescott aeroplanes. Mr. Bradbury, this is Miss Bancroft, and her +brother----" + +"Jimsy," put in that irrepressible youth. "Glad to meet you, sir. Almost +as much at sea here as in mid-Atlantic." + +Laughing, they all entered the farm-house kitchen, while Peggy hastily +explained the state of affairs there. + +"Well, so long as they don't put in an appearance before we get dry, I'm +sure I don't care," said Jimsy airily. "What a delightful old kitchen. It +might have come out of a picture book." + +He and the naval officer were soon deep in conversation, leaving Peggy and +Jess alone. + +"My dear Peggy," exclaimed Jess, with a smile that showed all her white +even teeth, "what will you do next? Don't you think it's a +bit--er--er--unconventional for one of the foremost members of Sandy +Beach's younger set to be flying about the country with a good-looking +young naval officer?" + +"Nonsense," retorted Peggy sharply, "as the only representative of the +Prescott aeroplanes on the ground, I had to do it. If it hadn't been for +this old storm, I'd have been home long ago." + +"So should we. What a coincidence we should have met here. Is +this--this----" + +"Lieutenant," prompted Peggy. + +"Is this lieutenant going to stay long in Sandy Beach?" + +"Dear me, no. He is only on a flying visit--no pun intended. He was to +have taken in the establishment of the Mortlake Aeroplane Company this +afternoon. You know, they are in that red, barn-like place, down the road +from our place, although Roy and I only found it out to-day." + +"That was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Peggy dear," +said Jess, sinking into an old-fashioned Andrew Jackson chair by the +hearth. "Dad said at dinner last night that he had heard in New York that +a lot of their stock had been floated on Wall Street, and that that +hateful old Mr. Harding was back of it." + +"They are actually selling stock?" asked Peggy, growing a bit pale. + +"Yes. They have half-page advertisements in a lot of papers, I believe. +Dad said so. But why do you look so distressed, Peggy?" + +"Because they must be very sure of the merits of their machines, if they +are going ahead so confidently." + +"Rumor has it that their make of aeroplane is the most up-to-date and +complete yet constructed, but nobody knows the details so far. They have +kept that part of it close." + +"They are making a bid for the navy contracts, at any rate," said Peggy +presently, after a pause, during which both girls winked and blinked at +the lightning and stared at the red glow of the fire. + +"So you said. But you stole a march on them by kidnapping your lieutenant +in this way." + +"You ought to give the weather credit for that," laughed Peggy, "but +seriously, Jess, there is no sentiment in things of this kind. If the +Mortlake machine is a better machine than ours, the Mortlake will be the +type adopted by the government." + +"I suppose that's so," agreed Jess, with a wry face. "But I hate to think +of that old Harding creature getting any----" + +The door flew open suddenly, and a tall, thin-faced woman in a raincoat, +and holding up an umbrella, stood in the doorway. + +"Well, for the land's sake!" she ejaculated, looking fairly dumfounded, as +she comprehended the scene and the young folks enjoying the unrequested +hospitality of her kitchen. + +But the words had hardly left her lips, and she was still standing there, +like an image carved from stone, when a fearful light illumined the whole +scene. It was followed almost instantaneously by a clap of thunder so +deafening that the girls involuntarily quailed before it. + +A fiery ball darted from the chimney and sped across the room, exploding +in fragments with a terrific noise on the opposite side, just above the +heads of Jimsy and Lieut. Bradbury. + +Stunned by the shock, they both collapsed in heaps on the floor, while the +farm woman's shrieks filled the air. At the same instant, a pungent, +sinister odor filled the atmosphere. + +"The house is on fire!" shrieked the woman in a frenzied voice. + +Smoke rolled down into the room, and the acrid fumes grew sharper. + +"The house is on fire, and my baby is up-stairs!" + +"Where?" demanded Peggy. + +"In the room above this!" groaned the woman, taking a few steps and then +fainting. + +"Jess," cried Peggy in a tense voice, "take that bucket and get water from +that pump in the corner and then follow me." + +"But the boys!" gasped Jess. + +"They are only stunned. I saw Jimsy's arm move just now, and the +lieutenant is breathing." + +With these words, she started from the room, darting up a narrow stairway +leading from one end of the kitchen to the upper regions. + +"What are you going to do?" shouted Jess, her voice shaky with alarm. + +"Save that child if I can," flung back Peggy, plunging bravely up the +smoke-laden stairway. + +In the unfamiliar house, and half blinded and choked by smoke and +sulphurous fumes, Peggy had a hard task before her. But she pluckily +plunged forward, feeling her way by the walls, and keeping her head low, +where the smoke was not so thick. As she reached what she deemed was the +top of the staircase, she thought she heard a tiny voice crying out in +alarm. + +Following the direction of the sounds, she staggered along a hallway and +then reeled into an open door. The smoke was not so thick in the room, but +its fumes were heavy enough. In a crib in one corner lay a child of about +two years of age. Its rose-leaf of a face was wrinkled up in its efforts +to make its terrified little voice heard. + +Peggy darted upon it and hugged it close to her. Then, with renewed +courage, she started to make her way back again. But more smoke than ever +was rolling along the passage, and it was a hard task. + +"I must do it--I must," Peggy kept saying to herself, clinging the while +to the terrified child. + +But at the head of the staircase the conditions appalled her. The smoke +was thick as a blanket there. Yet plunge through it, Peggy knew she must. +Still holding the child tightly, she bravely entered the dense smother, +stooping as low as she dared. + +But before she had taken more than two steps in the obscurity, a dreadful +feeling, as if a hand was at her throat and choking her, overcame the +girl. She tried to call out, but she could not. Her head was reeling, her +eyes blinded. All at once something in her head seemed to snap with a loud +report. Still clutching her little burden tightly, Peggy plunged forward +dizzily--and knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +FARMER GALLOWAY'S "SAFE DEPOSIT." + + +When she came to herself again, it was in a confusion of voices and sounds +of hurrying footsteps. She was lying on a lounge in a stuffy "best" +parlor, which smelled as moldy as "best" parlors in farm-houses are wont +to do. Bending over her was the angular woman who had entered just as the +bolt of lightning, that had caused all the trouble, struck the house. + +"Is--is the baby all right?" asked Peggy, as she took in her surroundings. + +"Yes, thanks to you, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you?" exclaimed the +woman, a thrill of real gratitude in her voice. "And the fire is out, too. +My husband and his men had been at work in a distant field and were +sheltering themselves under a shed. I had just taken some water to them +when the storm broke. When they saw the big flash and heard the crash, +they knew that something right around the house must have been struck. +They ran through the storm as fast as they could, and got here in time to +put out the flames." + +"And Jess and Jimsy and----" + +"And that other young fellow? Why, they----" + +"Never felt better in their lives," came Jimsy's cheerful voice from the +door, which framed, beside himself, Jess, and the young naval officer. + +"The first time I was ever knocked out by lightning," declared the latter, +"and really it's quite invigorating." + +Jess glided across the room to Peggy's side and threw her arms about her +neck. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave and good you are!" she exclaimed. "I was dreadfully +frightened, when you came plunging down through that smoke. I was just +trying to make my way through it with a bucket, when you came toppling +down the stairs. I managed to catch you and support you into the kitchen." + +"I think some one else is the bravest," smiled Peggy, patting her chum's +shoulder. "I'm so glad that the baby wasn't hurt. Poor little thing, it +looked so cute in its crib. I remember seizing it up and then the smoke +came, and after a few minutes it all got black and----" + +"And all's well that ends well," declared Jimsy, capering about. "We've +telephoned to your home to Roy, Peggy, and he'll be over in a short time +with an auto." + +"But what about the _Butterfly_?" asked Peggy. + +"My dear girl," announced Jimsy, in his most pompous tones, "it would be +impossible for you to guide her home this evening. Your nerves would not +stand it. See, it's come out quite fine, now, after the storm, and Roy +will spin you home in the machine in no time." + +"Perhaps that would be best," agreed Peggy. "And I can come out, or Roy +can, to-morrow, and get the aeroplane--that is," she added, turning to +the farm woman, "if it won't be in your way." + +"If you had a thousand of them air-buggies around here, miss, they +wouldn't be in our way," came in a hearty, gruff tone from the door. They +looked up to see a big farmer-like looking person, with a fringe of black +whiskers running under his chin in a half-moon, standing there. + +"This is my husband, Isaac Galloway," said the woman, introducing the +owner of the farm. + +"At your service, gents and ladies," said the farmer. "What that young +woman did fer us ter-day ther' ain't no way of repaying; but anything Ike +Galloway kin do any time ye kin count on him fer." + +He moved toward an object they had not previously noticed, an iron door in +the wall. Turning a knob this way and that, he presently flung it open, +revealing the inside of a wall safe. Thrusting his hand inside, he drew +out a bundle of bills. Then, closing the door again, and adjusting the +combination, he said: + +"Jes' goin' ter give ther boys a bit of thank you fer helpin' me put out +ther fire. If any of you folks would like----" + +"Oh, no. No, thank you," laughed Peggy, sitting up and feeling, except for +a slight dizziness, almost herself again. + +"Very well; no harm meant," said the farmer, as he shuffled out of the +room and into the kitchen, where he distributed his largess. + +"Quite an idea," commented Jimsy, regarding the wall safe. "I suppose you +have quite a lot of money on hand at times, and it is safest to keep it +so," he added, addressing the farmer's wife. + +"Yep," was the rejoinder; "Ike got his money fer his corn crop ther other +day--two thousand dollars, what with ther corn and ther early apples. It's +all in thar, except what he's jes' took out." + +"Aren't you afraid of burglars coming and blowing the door of the safe +off?" asked Peggy. + +"Lands sakes, no. We'd hear 'em. Besides, that's a patent safe, an' if it +is opened without a knowledge of the combination, it would take a plaguey +long time to do." + +Just then the farmer came back, and after some more general conversation +the whir of an approaching automobile announced the arrival of Roy. The +lad was naturally much interested in the doings of the afternoon, as +excitedly related to him by everybody at once, and was favorably impressed +with the young naval officer. Of course, he did not ask him his opinion of +the Prescott aeroplane, but from remarks Lieut. Bradbury dropped, Roy +gathered that he was much pleased with its performance. + +Soon afterward Jess and Jimsy shot skyward, in the now still air, in their +red aeroplane--the _Red Dragon Fly_, as it had been christened, and amid +warm farewells from the farmer and his wife, the auto buzzed off. + +They had traversed a mile or more, when, on rounding a corner at a narrow +part of the road, they came almost head-on against another machine coming +in the opposite direction. + +Both cars were compelled to slow down, so that the occupants had a good +view of each other. Both Roy and Peggy were considerably astonished to see +that the oncoming auto was occupied by old Mr. Harding, and that by his +side was seated none other than the blue-chinned man, known as Eugene +Mortlake. + +"Where can they be going?" wondered Roy, as old man Harding favored them +with a scowl in passing, and then both cars resumed their normal speed. + +"I noticed that this is a private road leading only to that farm," +rejoined Peggy; "the right-of-way ends there." + +"Then that must be their destination, for there are no other houses on +this road." + +"Looks that way," assented Roy. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Very," responded Peggy. For some inexplicable reason, as the girl spoke, +a chill ran through her. She felt a dull sense of foreboding. But the +next minute she shook it off. After all, why shouldn't Mr. Harding and +Mortlake be driving to the farm? Mr. Harding's financial dealings +comprised mortgages in every part of the island. It was quite probable +that the farmer was in some way involved in the old man's nets. Possibly +that was the reason of all that money being stored in the wall safe. + +Refusing courteously an invitation extended by Miss Prescott to spend the +night at the homestead, Lieut. Bradbury was driven to the station by Roy, +after they had dropped Peggy, and just managed to make a New York train. + +"I shall be back to-morrow," he said, "and have a look at Mortlake's +machines. Of course, the government wants to give everybody a fair field +and no favors." + +"Oh, of course," assented Roy, pondering in his own mind what sort of a +machine this mysterious Mortlake craft was. + +Suddenly there flashed across his mind a thought that had not occurred to +him hitherto. The _Golden Butterfly_ had been left under the shed at the +farm. What was there to prevent Harding and Mortlake from examining it and +acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the self-starting mechanism +and the automatic balancing device? + +There was no question that the farm must have been their destination. Roy +blamed himself bitterly for not foreseeing this. He had half a mind to +return to the farm and bring the aeroplane home himself. But it was +growing dark, and a distant rumble seemed to presage the return of the +afternoon's storm. + +"Anyhow," the boy thought, and the thought consoled him, "all those +devices are covered by patents, and even if they wanted to, they could not +steal them. And yet--and yet----" + +But the storm came up sharper than ever that evening, and even had he +wished to, Roy would have found it impossible to handle the aeroplane +alone in the heavy wind that came now in puffs and now in a steady gale. +So Roy put his tiresome thoughts out of his head. But he resolved to get +the aeroplane the first thing the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CASE FOR THE AUTHORITIES. + + +It was just after breakfast the next morning that a big automobile skimmed +past the Prescott home. Peggy and Roy saw it from the windows. + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley," exclaimed Peggy. "And look, old Mr. Harding +is with him, and that Mortlake man." + +"That's right. Wonder where they can be going?" said Roy, sauntering out +to the garage at the back of the house and giving the matter little more +thought. It had been arranged that he was to bring the aeroplane back that +morning, driving over with Peggy, Jimsy and Jess in the car, and skimming +home in the _Butterfly_ while a part of the party brought the car back. +They were to call for Jess and Jimsy at their home, a fine residence +overlooking the Sound from a lofty hill. + +Jess and Jimsy were waiting for them, and, almost before the car had +stopped, they were at its side. + +"Heard the news?" asked Jimsy breathlessly. + +"No. What is it?" demanded Peggy eagerly. + +"Why, that safe at the farm-house was robbed last night. All the money was +taken, and they have no clue to the thief." + +"How did you hear of it?" asked Roy incredulously. Peggy had told him of +the queer wall safe. + +"The 'central' told one of the servants and she told Jess. Strange, isn't +it?" + +"It is odd," agreed Roy. "But if people will keep their money in such +places, it is hardly surprising if they lose it. Did you hear any +details?" + +"No, but no doubt we shall when we reach the farm-house," put in Jess; +"isn't it thrilling, though?" + +"Not very thrilling for poor Galloway, who lost the money," said Peggy. "I +expect he didn't make it any too easily." + +On their arrival at the Galloway farm-house, the young people found a +scene of great excitement. The sheriff, red-faced and important, was +examining several farm hands beneath one of the big elms, while in the +background stood the farmer and his wife, looking somewhat perplexed, as +well as worried. + +As the Prescott auto drove up, old Mr. Harding, in his usual rusty black +suit, rose from his seat under the elm, and whispered something to the +sheriff. The blue-chinned, thick-necked Mortlake arose also. All three +turned and gazed curiously at the young occupants of the car, as it slowed +down. + +"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway," cried Peggy. "We were dreadfully +sorry to hear of your loss. Have you any clue yet?" + +There was something curiously cold in the woman's voice, as she replied in +the negative. Her husband looked sullen and merely nodded. The sheriff +now rose and came toward the machine. He knew all the young folks and +greeted them briefly. At his heels pressed old Harding and his companion. +They whispered in the sheriff's ear as he advanced, and seemed to be +urging him to something. + +"I understand that you folks was in this house yesterday afternoon?" began +the sheriff abruptly. + +"Why, yes, during the storm," said Peggy. "There was Lieut. Bradbury, of +the United States Navy----" + +Harding and Mortlake exchanged annoyed glances. This was confirmation of +their fears. + +"Yes, go on," urged the sheriff. + +"And myself, and Mr. Bancroft here and his sister, and later my brother +came." + +"Do you recall the safe being opened while you were in the room? I presume +from the remark you made when you drove up that you know of the robbery." + +"We heard of it at the Bancroft's, but we don't know the details." + +"That is not necessary. Answer my questions, please. Who was in the parlor +beside yourself when Mr. Galloway opened the wall safe to reward the men +who had helped him extinguish the fire?" + +"Why, Jimsy--I mean Mr. Bancroft--his sister and Lieut. Bradbury, beside, +of course, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway." + +"What! Your brother was not there?" + +"Certainly not. He didn't come till later." + +"Then your brother didn't see the safe opened?" + +"Of course not," struck in Roy. "I was here only a very brief time. But +what does all this mean? I don't understand." + +"It means that you are cleared of a grave suspicion," said the sheriff. +"Mr. Harding and Mrs. Galloway's brother, Mr. Mortlake, here----" + +"Her brother!" exclaimed Peggy in an undertone. + +The sheriff went on: + +"Seemed to have an idea that Roy Prescott was here at the time. They even +went so far as to intimate that----" + +But old Mr. Harding was tugging frantically at the sheriff's arm. He was +seconded by Mortlake. Interpreting the signals aright, he stopped short. + +"In fact, it looked suspicious," he concluded lamely. He turned and went +off, followed by Harding and Mortlake. + +"How did you ever come to make such a mistake?" snarled old Harding, as +they walked away much crestfallen, "we haven't a leg to stand on, now." + +"Why, confound it all," retorted Mortlake, "my sister mentioned a young +man being with the girl in the aeroplane, and I took it for granted that +it was her brother." + +"And a nice mess you've got us both into, with your 'taking it for +granted,'" snorted the old miserly financier of Sandy Beach. "It looks as +if we'd got ourselves in a trap now." + +"Nonsense. Who's to know we have the money? I'll take the first +opportunity to send it back, and no more will be heard of the matter. +Lucky I didn't hide it in his aeroplane, as I intended to do." + +"Yes; but we've still got the cub as our rival. I wish I could think of +some plan to choke him off. That scheme of yours to blame the robbery on +him would have been all right if you'd only made sure of your facts +first." + +"Don't worry. Our chance will come yet. I'll make that whole outfit regret +bitterly that they ever stole a march on us by kidnapping that officer." + +"To have discredited him with the navy would have been the best way, +however," said old Harding brusquely. + +"I'll find a way to do that yet," Mortlake promised. + +In the meantime, speculation and wonder had ruled among the occupants of +Roy's auto. Everything seemed very much muddled, but one fact stood out +clearly, and that was that an attempt had been made to cast suspicion, if +not the actual guilt of the robbery, upon Roy. + +For what object? + +"I have it," cried Peggy suddenly. "If they could have placed Roy under a +cloud of suspicion, it would have worked to his discredit with the naval +authorities, and might have resulted in our aeroplane being denied a place +in the trials. That seems plain enough." + +They all agreed that it did. But Jimsy said suddenly: "If that was the +case, why didn't they try to make out that I stole it?" + +"Because--forgive me Jimsy--you're not Roy. Without him, the tests of the +Prescott aeroplane could hardly be conducted. Unless----" + +"Unless a certain young person named Peggy Prescott undertook to take +charge of them," cried Jess loyally. + +"Don't be foolish, Jess," warned Peggy; "but look, here is Mrs. Galloway +coming to speak to us." + +The farmer's wife approached the automobile, from which none of the party +had as yet alighted. She was followed by her husband. Both began +apologizing profusely for the questions of the sheriff. + +"But land's sakes alive," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "I declar ter +goodness, we've bin so flustered thet I don' know no more than a wet hen. +My brother, that's Mr. Mortlake, was dead sot on it bein' one of you +folks, but I knew that was reediculous." + +They hardly knew whether to be angry or to laugh at the woman's blunt +frankness. But Roy struck in with a question: + +"Wasn't Mr. Mortlake, accompanied by Harding, out here last night?" + +"Why, yes," said the woman, with perfect candor. "They stayed quite a +while. Harding hed some business with Ike, an'----" + +"An' Gene Mortlake said he'd like ter hev a look at yer aeroplane. Yer +know he's in thet thar business hisself," volunteered Ike confidentially. + +Peggy felt as if she could have groaned aloud. Roy's fears, earlier +confided to her, seemed to have been based on a true presentiment. The +blue-jowled Mortlake had undoubtedly improved his opportunity to study the +_Golden Butterfly_ at close range. The farmer's next words confirmed her. + +"Reckon he was powerful interested, too," the farmer went on, "fer he made +a lot uv ther nicest droorings you ever seen, an'--why, what's the +trouble?" + +For Roy, hardly knowing what he intended to do, had jumped from the +machine and was sprinting toward the Harding car. But, as he neared it, +the old financier, who with Mortlake was already seated in the tonneau, +spoke a word in the chauffeur's ear, and the machine dashed off, leaving +Roy enraged and nonplussed. + +"Too bad, Roy," breathed Peggy, as, rather crestfallen, the lad returned. + +"Oh, I don't know, Sis. Even if they hadn't sneaked off like that, and I'd +caught the machine, I guess I'd have been like the dog that chased the +train. I wouldn't have known what to do with it when I got it." + +"But Roy, their flight confirms their guilt!" + +"I know, Sis, but what possible way have we to prove it? The rascals have +covered up their tracks cleverly." + +A sudden thought struck Peggy, and she turned to the farmer. + +"Did any of those bills have an identifying mark on it?" she asked. + +The farmer shook his head. But Mrs. Galloway had a better memory. + +"Why, yes, Ike," she exclaimed; "that twenty-dollar-bill you got frum Si. +Giddens fer ther Baldwins. I re'klect thet it hed a big round O in red ink +marked on ther back uv it. It was a bit rubbed out, an' hard ter see, but +ef you knew it wuz thar an' luked fer it, you could see it plain enough." + +After inquiring about the baby, whose thankful mother declared it to be as +well as ever, Roy and Jimsy dragged out the _Golden Butterfly_ and boarded +it. It had been arranged that the two girls were to spin back to town in +the car, the aeroplane following them as closely as possible from above. + +As they chugged out of the farm-yard gate and on to the rough road, +Peggy's thoughts kept time to the rhythmic pulsations of the motor: + +"A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O. +A-twenty-dollar-bill-with-a-red-round-O." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. MORTLAKE LOSES SOME DRAWINGS. + + +Dashing along the rough country road, with every sense on the alert, Peggy +found mental occupation enough to drive gloomier thoughts from her mind. +The Prescott's car was a good one, with a powerful, sixty-horse motor, and +splendidly upholstered. It was painted a dark blue, and was known in the +surrounding country as "The Blue Bird." It had been purchased with the +money made by the brother and sister from their shares in James Bell's +desert mine. + +Far above them sailed the aeroplane, its two occupants from time to time +waving at their pretty sisters below. But in the upper-air currents, it +would have been dangerous to drive at a pace slow enough to keep level +with the automobile, and so the aeroplane soon dashed on ahead. From time +to time, however, it made circles and swoops, which brought it sometimes +in seemingly dangerous closeness to the tree-tops. + +All at once Peggy stopped the automobile with a jerk which almost threw +Jess, who was unprepared for the shock, out of the car. + +"Good gracious, Peggy, what are you trying to do?" she gasped. + +"Look!" cried Peggy, pointing with wide eyes. + +In the center of the road lay a rolled-up bundle of papers secured with a +rubber band. + +"Somebody has dropped something from another auto or a wagon," cried Jess. + +"I think so," said Peggy in excited tones, as she descended from the car, +"and I've an idea that these papers have been dropped from Mr. Harding's +car. It must have been the only one to pass here recently, as this road +runs direct to the farm and nowhere else." + +She stooped down in the road and picked up the bundle and then, with a +beating heart, she opened it. But for an inward intuition of what its +contents would prove to be, Peggy, with her rigid ideas of honor, could +not have brought herself to do this. As her eyes fell on the first sheet, +and she saw that it was covered with annotations and sketches, she gave a +little cry. + +"Oh, Jess! The luck! The wonderful, wonderful luck!" + +"Why, what is it? A bundle of thousand-dollar bills, or----" + +"It isn't that or anything," cried Peggy; "it's--oh, Jess--it's the +sketches and plans of our aeroplane that Mortlake and his accomplice +Harding were spiriting away." + +"They must have dropped them from their automobile," said Jess. + +"Or, more likely, from the pockets of one of them. See, the ground is +trampled about here. It looks to me as if they had had a break-down, and +were fixing it when the papers fell out and were left behind unnoticed. +Oh, what a bit of luck! If they had had those papers, it would have +meant----" + +A shrill cry from Jess interrupted her. At the same moment Peggy became +conscious of a presence behind her. She wheeled sharply and found herself +facing two bloated-faced individuals, one of whom carried a heavy cudgel. +Their clothes and broken boots, and their leering, odious appearance at +once proclaimed them of the genus tramp. + +"Waal!" growled one of the men, with an ugly leer, "we didn't hardly +expec' ter run inter such luck ez this. Foun' suthin' vallerable, hev yer? +Reckin' it must hev bin dropped by that auto that jes' went round the +corner beyond. We'll hev ter trouble you for it, miss." + +He held out a filthy hand, while Peggy, with a beating heart, fell back +toward the car. + +"Frum what we hearn' yer sayin', I guess the papers is vallerable, all +right," chimed in the first speaker's companion. "Come on, now. Fork over. +You know it ain't honest ter take wot don't berlong ter ye, an' by yer own +confession them papers don't." + +"What right have you to demand them?" asked Peggy boldly enough, despite +her inward terror; "you had better go on at once, or----" + +"Waal, or what?" sneered the other. "We've got ye here on a lonely road. +You can't escape us. Come on, hand over them papers. We'll see that ther +rightful owners git 'em, and that we git er reward beside. See?" + +Peggy's reply was to leap nimbly into the machine. But to her horror the +two tramps followed instantly. Jess cowered back in her seat. Her pale +lips moved, but she said nothing. + +"Tell yer wot," burst out the man with the club, "you gals give us ten +bones a piece--the money don't mean much to folks like you--an' we'll let +yer go. If not----" + +A sudden inspiration came to Peggy--a flash of recollection. + +"Why didn't you say that before?" she said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to +give you the money. Wait a minute while I get it out." + +She raised the cushion of the front "bucket seat," and dived beneath it +with one hand. The men watched her with greedy, yet suspicious eyes. + +"Ain't tryin' ter fool us, are yer?" growled one of them, "'cos ef you +air----" + +He raised his club threateningly, just as Peggy's hand withdrew from +beneath the cushion. Something bright flashed in it. + +"Look out, Mike. She's got a gun!" shouted one of the men, falling back. + +The other whipped a hand amidst his rags and was just about to aim a +pistol, when: + +"Phiz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!" + +From the shiny object Peggy held in her hand, a fine stream of some sort +of liquid jetted forcibly. + +The fellow with the gun threw his hands up to his face, and dropping the +pistol, staggered back with a howl of agony. The other darted off without +even looking at him. The air was filled with a pungent scent of ammonia, +and a quiet smile of triumph curled Peggy's red lips as she started the +car in motion once more. + +"Oh, Peggy, how brave you are!" gasped Jess. "Whatever was that you used? +I hope the poor man isn't badly hurt, although he was so horrid." + +"I just remembered in time, Jess dear," said Peggy, as she sped the car +along, "that we had under the seat an ammonia pistol for use on vicious +dogs. I used it on another sort of a dog, that's all, and it proved +equally effective." + +Just at this moment Peggy turned out to avoid another car that was +approaching them from the opposite direction. In a second she saw that it +carried Harding and Mortlake. They both looked angry and blank. Peggy +guessed at once that they had discovered their loss. But she resolved not +to stop unless they did and asked questions. She felt that such a +despicable act as they had attempted to perpetrate deserved no help on her +part. + +"Hey, there!" shouted old Mr. Harding, as his car was slowed down by the +chauffeur. "Hey, stop! I want to speak to you!" + +"He's polite about it, isn't he?" whispered Jess. "Are you going to tell +him, Peggy?" + +"Cer-tain-ly not," rejoined Peggy, with a tightening of her lips. "Why +should I? He tried to fasten a theft on my brother this morning, and then +caps the climax by instigating Mortlake to try to steal the ideas of our +aeroplane." + +"Hey, girls, seen a package on the road?" bawled old Mr. Harding, as Peggy +slowed up and stopped. + +"I recovered some of my own property, if that is what you mean," said +Peggy slowly, a dull flush rising to her cheeks. + +"Well--well! What d'ye mean by that, hey? What d'ye mean by that?" + +"You may construe it any way you wish to, Mr. Harding," was the cold +rejoinder, and to avoid further questioning, Peggy sped up her machine, +and soon vanished in a cloud of dust. + +The old financier turned to his companion with a look of disgusted +amazement. + +"What d'ye think of that, hey, Mortlake?" he snapped out. "What d'ye think +of that? Fine young girls, eh? Nice products of the twentieth century, +hey?" + +"Oh, let's get on and see if we can't find that roll of papers somewhere +along here," rejoined Mortlake impatiently. "I don't think it's likely +they could have seen it. It must have fallen from my pocket where the car +broke down and I got out." + +"Hey? Oh, yes, yes. That's it. Drive on, Tom. Drive us to where the car +broke down." + +In a few seconds they reached the spot just in time to see the two tramps +who had molested the girls making off. + +"There they go!" shouted Mortlake, "those fellows must have found them. I +wouldn't lose those sketches for a thousand dollars. Put on more speed, +Tom, and overtake them." + +The chauffeur did as he was bid, and the car leaped ahead. In a few chugs +it had reached the tramps' side, they having stopped, bewildered, in the +meantime. + +"Why, blow me, Bill," said one to the other, as the car came up, "if it +ain't the self-same gents as drove down the road a while ago." + +"Give me those papers, you rascals!" shouted Mortlake, almost flinging +himself out of the car, "give them to me or----" + +"Hold your horses, guv'ner! Hold your hosses," counseled the hobo who had +received the dose of ammonia, and whose eyes were still red from its +effects. + +"Wot papers might you be lookin' fer?" asked this fellow cautiously, +although he knew very well. + +"A bundle of papers I dropped," panted Mortlake. "Didn't you find them." + +"Naw!" grunted the red-eyed tramp. + +"Naw!" echoed the other. + +"Be careful what you say. If you are lying, it will go hard with you." + +The warning came from old Mr. Harding. + +"We know that, guv'ner. But we ain't got 'em. Search us, if yer like." + +The knights of the road spread their arms to signify their willingness to +be searched. Mortlake groaned. It was evident that neither of the +tatterdermalions had the papers. But what had become of them? In his +distress and chagrin, Mortlake gave an audible groan. + +This the tramps seemed to construe as a favorable sign. One winked to the +other, and the red-eyed one spoke. + +"Wots it worth if we tell yer where them papers are, guv'ners both?" + +"What, you know!" cried Mortlake, while old Mr. Harding spluttered: + +"Eh, eh? Hey, what's all this? What's all this?" + +"I didn't say we knew," was the cunning reply. "I said what's it worth if +we did know." + +Mortlake drew out a yellow-backed bill. + +"Is this enough?" he asked. + +The tramps' eyes rounded as they gazed at the figure. + +"Perfec'ly satisfactory, guv'ner," said red eyes. + +"Well, where are those papers, then?" snapped Mortlake impatiently. + +"Thet thar purty gal wot jest went by in an autermobubble has 'em." + +"What!" + +"Yes. We saw her pick them up out of the road. We tried to convince her it +was dishonest to keep 'em, but she wouldn't listen to us." + +"You've done well, and seem to be bright fellows," said Mortlake, handing +over the bill to red eyes, who seemed to be the leader of the two, "by the +way, you don't belong about here, do you?" + +"Oh, no, guv'ner. Our homes is whar we hangs our hats. My permanent +address is care of the 'dicky birds.'" + +"Well, I may have some work for you to do----" + +"Work, guv'ner? Work's only for the workmen." + +"I know all that, but this work is on your own line. I'll pay well, too. +If you want to talk it over, come to the Mortlake Aeroplane Factory, +outside Sandy Beach at ten o'clock to-night. I'll be there to meet you." + +"All right, guv'ner; we'll be, thar. Till then we'll bid yer 'oliver oil,' +as ther French say. Come on, Joey." + +The worthy pair shuffled off up the road, while Mortlake turned to Harding +with a shrug. + +"There are two tools made to our hand. We may find them very useful." + +"I agree with you," was the dry and rasping reply; "at least, they have +put us in possession of one valuable bit of knowledge, hey?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB." + + +A week rolled slowly by. A week of suspense, during which they had one or +two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake +plant. But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion +of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes. Equally +naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him +concerning them. + +But during this week they had had a glimpse of the Mortlake machine in +flight. One still, breathless morning, the air had been filled, soon after +dawn, with a vibrant buzzing sound, which Peggy's trained ear had +recognized as the song of an aeroplane engine. + +She hastened to her brother's room and rapped upon the door. In reply to +his sleepy query, the girl rapidly told him of what she had heard. Roy's +window faced on the road, and a glance satisfied him that the Mortlake +machine was to have its first try-out. Hastily as he dressed, however, he +found that Peggy was before him on the dewy lawn, field glasses in hand. + +Down the road could be seen, in front of the Mortlake plant, a small crowd +of mechanics with one or two dominant figures moving among them. With the +glasses, they had no difficulty in making out Mortlake's heavy-shouldered +figure, and the slender, upright form of Lieut. Bradbury. All at once the +group opened up a bit and they saw a silvery, glittering aeroplane, agleam +with new aluminum paint, throbbing and vibrating, as if anxious to be off. +Blue smoke eddied up as the motor roared and whirred. The air seemed to +vibrate under the sound as if a battery of gatling guns had been +discharged. + +Fascinated, brother and sister watched the spectacle intently. They saw +Mortlake clamber heavily into the machine, followed by Lieut. Bradbury. A +mechanic started for the front of the plane and began swinging the +propeller. + +"At least they haven't cribbed our self-starting device," exclaimed Peggy, +as she saw. + +The next instant the propeller became a whirring blur, and the aeroplane, +after a brief preliminary run, began to climb upward. The morning sun +caught its silvered planes and turned them to gold. It was a beautiful and +inspiring sight. Even with all that lay at stake, Peggy and Roy could not +deny the machine a meed of praise. It was fairy-like in its delicacy of +construction, and speedy as a flash. + +Thundering like an express train, it dashed above the Prescott home, +leaving in its wake the pungent odor of burning castor-oil--the most +suitable lubricant for aeroplanes. + +Then suddenly--as if a recollection of Peggy's mischievous flight of a few +days previously had occurred to him--Mortlake swung the delicate silvery +machine about and dashed straight down at the boy and girl standing by the +garden gate. So close to their heads did he skim in his desire to show +off, that he almost came too low. For one instant it looked as if the +machine would be dashed to a premature end, but it recovered buoyancy like +a keeled-over racing yacht, and tore upward into the sky at an increased +speed. + +"Let's get out the _Golden Butterfly_ and follow the----" + +"_Silver Cobweb!_" cried Roy, the name occurring to him in a flash of +inspiration as he watched the filmy outlines of the other aeroplane melt +in the distance. + +"Oh, Roy, what a pretty name." + +"Isn't it? But somehow, I like _Golden Butterfly_ best. Our machine may be +a bit heavier, but solidity counts in hard service." + +Scarcely ten minutes later, and while Mortlake's mechanics and assistants +were still craning their necks skyward, another aeroplane, a yellow +adventurer of the skies, thundered upward. Not to be outdone by Mortlake, +Roy, who was at the wheel, swooped above the rival crowd. They did not +take it with a good grace. Remarks, of which they could not catch the +wording, but only the menacing intonation, were hurled upward at them. +They received them with a laugh and a wave of the hand, which did not put +the Mortlake crowd into any better humor. And then, with a graceful, +swinging curve, that banked the machine almost on its beam ends, they were +up, off and away in pursuit of the _Silver Cobweb_, which, by this time, +was a mere shoe-button of a dot on the horizon. + +"Do you think we can overhaul her, Roy?" ventured Peggy, as they raced +through the air, the fresh breath of morning coming refreshingly in their +faces. + +"Not a chance," admitted Roy cheerfully, "but they'll turn after a while, +I guess, and then we'll try the _Butterfly_ against the _Cobweb_." + +But they kept on and on unrelentingly, and still there was no sign of +diminution of speed on the part of the _Silver Cobweb_. Nor did the other +aircraft give any indication that she was preparing to put about. + +Below them, farms, meadows, villages and crowds of wondering country folk +swam by in an ever-changing panorama. The earth beneath them looked like a +big saucer divided up into brown, red and green squares, with tiny +fly-like dots running and walking about. + +All at once Roy gave a shout and pointed. Dead ahead, and not more than a +few miles distant, lay a silvery, gleaming streak. + +"The sea!" + +The exclamation came simultaneously from Peggy and Roy. + +They had been traveling due south across the island, and now the broad +Atlantic lay stretched beyond the land, shimmering in the sunlight. Far +off, they could make out the black smoke of a steamer, hovering above the +ocean. + +"A mail boat, making for New York," announced Roy. + +So fast were they traveling that by this time they could plainly make out +the ocean, which, from a silvery streak, was now changed into a dark-blue +rolling expanse of salt water. + +And still the _Silver Cobweb_ kept on, and gave no sign of turning. Nor, +for that matter, had her speed diminished appreciably. The rival aeroplane +was now skimming above the water at a height of about a thousand feet. The +_Golden Butterfly_ maintained about the same altitude, but the gap between +the two aerial craft was not closing up. + +"Mortlake's taking a desperate chance to show Lieut. Bradbury what the +_Cobweb_ can do," exclaimed Roy. "With a new engine, he's risking too +much." + +"I guess he's seen us and means to beat us out at all hazards," +conjectured Peggy. + +And she was right. Mortlake, glancing back a short time before the sea +appeared on the horizon, had seen the other aeroplane, and guessing at +once what its appearance meant, had determined to keep on, even at the +risk of plunging himself and his passenger into the sea. + +That was Mortlake's character; he was a man who could brook no rivalry. +Used all his life to sweep obstacles aside, he would rather have +terminated his career than permit any one to pass him in the race for +first place, no matter in what line that first place might lie. + +"Are you going to keep on, Roy?" + +The question came as a strip of white beach flashed beneath them, and +Peggy, peering over the edge of the chassis, saw the big Atlantic swells +rolling below them. The thunder of the surf on the beach came clearly to +their ears, even at that height. + +"What do you think, Sis? We've got lots of gasoline. The motor is working +without a hitch. I'd hate to turn back now, particularly with that +officer's eyes upon us, as in all probability they are." + +"Oh, let's keep on," exclaimed Peggy, casting prudence to the winds. "I +feel like you, Roy. If we turn back now, it would look as if we were +afraid to trust the _Butterfly_ above the ocean, and, after all, it is a +naval contest that we hope to be elected for." + +"Forward it is, then," cried Roy exultingly. The tang of the salt wind, +the inspiration of the ocean, had come to him. He felt like a corsair--a +very modern corsair--urging his craft above the ancient sea. + +The vessel, whose smoke they had espied at a distance, was quite close to +them now. A huge, black hull, with white passenger decks, rising tier on +tier, four huge red funnels with black tops, and slender masts, between +which hung the spider-web aerials of her wireless apparatus. Her bow was +creaming up the ocean into foam, as she rushed onward at a twenty-four +knot gait. + +Roy, obeying a daring impulse, let the _Golden Butterfly_ descend. Now +they could see her promenade decks lined with white faces peering upward. +Here and there the sun glinted on the bright metal work of cameras, all +aimed at the wonderful spectacle of the soaring, buoyant _Golden +Butterfly_. + +"Oh, if only we could drop a message on her decks!" breathed Peggy +eagerly. "I do wish we had a post-card or something----" + +"By ginger," cried Roy suddenly, "I do believe I've got some in my +coat-pocket. I bought some in the village yesterday to mail to the chaps +back at school. Yes. Here they are, and here's a fountain-pen. Now write +all you want." + +Peggy took the cards her brother handed to her with his free hand, and, +with the fountain-pen, sat down to compose some messages. After a few +seconds' thought, she began to write busily. Card after card was covered +with her neat penmanship. All this time Roy had kept the _Golden +Butterfly_ hovering above the liner, from time to time taking swoops and +dives around it like some monstrous sea gull. + +Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam +spouted. + +"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!" + +It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of +the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and +steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a +graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh. + +The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that +they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their +lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now +seeking to subdue the air to his utility. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN AERIAL POST OFFICE. + + +Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and +Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the +_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake, +Esq." + +It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which +read: + + TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE, + + Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air: + Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_. + + R. & M. PRESCOTT. + +That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose. + +All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently +detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and +came racing back. Peggy deftly attached weights--spare bolts from the tool +locker--to each of the cards, and then, snatching up a megaphone, she +hailed the uniformed figures on the bridge of the great vessel below them. + +"Will you be good enough to mail some letters for us?" + +"With pleasure!" came the reply in a big, bellowing British voice, from +one of the stalwart figures beneath. + +"All right; Roy, come down as low as you dare," cried Peggy, catching her +bundle of "mail." + +Roy threw over a couple of levers and turned a valve. Instantly the +_Golden Butterfly_ began to drop in long, beautiful arc. She shot by above +the liner's bridge at a height of not more than fifteen feet. At the +correct moment Peggy dropped the weighted bundle overboard, and had the +satisfaction of seeing one of the officers catch it. The gallant officers, +now realizing for the first time that a girl--and a pretty one--was one +of the passengers of the big aeroplane, waved their hats and bowed +profoundly. + +And Peggy--what would Aunt Sallie have said!--Peggy blew them a kiss. But +then, as she told Jess later: + +"I was in an aeroplane, my dear--a sort of an unattainable possibility, in +fact." + +In the meantime, Mortlake, in the _Silver Cobweb_, had been duly mystified +as to what the _Golden Butterfly_ was about when she swooped downward on +the steamer. For one instant the thought flashed across him that they were +disabled. An unholy glee filled him at the thought. If only the _Golden +Butterfly_ were to come to grief right under Lieut. Bradbury's eyes, it +would be a great feather in the cap of the Mortlake-Harding machine. + +But, to his chagrin, he saw them rise the next instant, as cleverly as +ever. Lieut. Bradbury, who had been watching the maneuver of the _Golden +Butterfly_, gave an admiring gasp, as he witnessed the daring feat. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, and the evident note of astonishment and +appreciation in his tones did not tend to increase Mortlake's +self-satisfaction. + +"The pesky brats," he muttered to himself; "we've got to do something to +put them out of the race. There isn't another American-built aeroplane +that I fear except that bothersome kids' machine." + +And there and then Mortlake began to hatch up a scheme that in the near +future was to come very nearly proving disastrous to Peggy and Roy and +their high hopes. + +"Magnificently handled, don't you think so, Mortlake?" inquired the naval +officer, the next instant. + +"Yes, very clever," agreed Mortlake, far too smart to show his inward +feelings, or to wear his heart upon his sleeve; "very neat. But I can do +the same thing if you'd care to see it?" + +The naval officer glanced at the puffy features of his companion and his +thick, bull-like neck. + +"No, thanks," he said. "I've got to be getting back. There's another type +of machine I've got to look over out at Mineola. It is really necessary +that I reach there as quickly as possible." + +"Very well," said Mortlake, inwardly relieved, as he didn't much fancy +duplicating Roy's feat, "we'll head straight on for the shore." + +"If you please." + +But what was the _Golden Butterfly_ doing? As the steamer raced onward, +that aerial wonder had swung in a spiral, and was now seemingly hovering +about, awaiting the arrival of the _Silver Cobweb_. + +As the two aeroplanes drew abreast, Mortlake muttered something, and bent +over his engines. The _Cobweb_ leaped forward like an unleashed greyhound. +But the _Golden Butterfly_ was close on her heels, and making almost as +good time. Mortlake plunged his hands in among the machinery and +readjusted the air valve of the carburetor. Another increase of speed +resulted. The indicator crawled up to sixty-six, sixty-eight and then to +seventy miles an hour. + +"Pressing her a bit, aren't you?" asked the officer, as they seemed to +hurtle through the air, so fast did they rush onward. + +"Oh, no. She's built for speed," responded Mortlake, with a gratified +grin; "she'll leave any such old lumber wagon as that Prescott machine +miles behind her any day in the week." + +This seemed to be true. The _Golden Butterfly_, making about sixty miles, +was being rapidly left behind. + +"I should think you'd be afraid of overheating your cylinders," +volunteered the lieutenant. + +Now, this was just what Mortlake was afraid of. But, as has been said, he +was the sort of man who, in sporting parlance, was willing always "to take +a chance" to beat any one he considered his rival. He was taking a +desperate chance now. Under the artificial means he had used to increase +the speed of his engines, the motor was "turning up" several hundred more +revolutions a minute than she had been built for. + +Now they shot above the strip of white beach, and, below them the pleasant +meadow-lands and patches of verdant woods began to show once more. + +All at once, the sign for which Mortlake had been watching so anxiously +manifested itself. A tiny curl of smoke ascended from one of the +cylinder-heads. A smell of blistering, burning paint was wafted back to +the nostrils of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"I thought so," he said; "overheating already. Better slow down, +Mortlake." + +Mortlake glanced back. The _Golden Butterfly_, much diminished in size now +by the distance, still hung doggedly on his heels. + +"I'll give her more air," he vouchsafed stubbornly, "that ought to cool +her off a bit--that and advanced spark." + +He manipulated the necessary levers, but before many minutes it became +apparent that, if urged at that rate, the _Silver Cobweb_ would never +reach Sandy Beach without a break-down. + +"Hadn't you better shut down a bit? That paint's blistering, as if the +cylinders were red-hot." + +Much as he disliked to interfere with the operation of the aeroplane, the +young officer felt that it was necessary that some means should be taken +to compel Mortlake to reduce speed. If the engine became so overheated +that it stopped in mid-air, they might be caught in a nasty position, +where it might be impossible to volplane--or glide--downward, without the +aid of the engine. + +"It's all right, I tell you," said Mortlake stubbornly. "We'll beat those +cubs into Sandy Beach, or----" + +Or what, was destined never to be known, for at that instant, with a +splutter and a sigh, the overheated engines, almost at a red-heat, stopped +short. The propeller ceased to revolve, and the aeroplane began to plunge +downward with fearful velocity. + +But Mortlake, no matter what his other faults, possessed a cool head. The +instant he lost control of the motor, he seized the warping levers, and +began manipulating them. At the same time he set the rudder so as to bring +the _Silver Cobweb_ to earth in a series of long spirals. The maneuver was +that of volplaning, and has been performed successfully by several +aviators whose engines have suddenly ceased to work while in mid-air. The +young officer watched approvingly. Whatever else Mortlake might be--and +Lieut. Bradbury had not taken a violent fancy to him--he was a master of +the aerial craft. + +Despite the mishap to the engine--caused by his own carelessness--Mortlake +managed to bring the _Silver Cobweb_ to a gentle landing in a broad, flat +meadow, inhabited by some spotted cows, which fled in undignified panic as +the monster, silent now, swooped down like a bolt from the blue. + +The instant the _Silver Cobweb_ came to rest Mortlake's restless eyes +glanced upward. He was hoping against all common sense that the young +Prescotts had not seen his mishap, or at least that they would pass on +above him unnoticing. His first glance showed him the _Golden Butterfly_ +still steadily plugging along, and a moment later it became apparent that +they had seen the sudden descent of the _Cobweb_, for the aeroplane was +seen to dip and glide lower, much as a mousing hawk can be seen to do. + +"Hard luck," murmured the young naval officer, as Mortlake, who had +clambered out of the machine, stamped and fumed by its side. Inwardly +Lieut. Bradbury was thinking how stubborn men invariably meet with some +mishap or accident. + +"Yes, beastly hard luck," agreed Mortlake readily. "I see a farm-house +over there, though, the other side of those trees. I guess I can get a +bucket and some water over there. Once I've cooled those cylinders off, +we'll be all right." + +"How long will that take, do you think?" inquired the officer, pulling out +his watch and a time-table. + +"Not more than half an hour. It shouldn't take that." + +"That means I miss my train. If we don't get into Sandy Beach by eleven +o'clock, I can't possibly make it. And there's not another from there for +two hours. That would make me late for my appointment at Mineola." + +Mortlake's face fell. Here was a bit of hard luck with a vengeance. It +might cost him a place in the contests. + +"We can make up time, once we get under way," he said tentatively. + +"That isn't it. I daren't risk it. I wonder if I can get an automobile or +some sort of a conveyance about here." + +"Not a chance. I know this neighborhood. It is very sparsely settled." + +A sudden whir above them caused them both to look up. It was the _Golden +Butterfly_, swooping and hovering above the disabled _Cobweb_. + +"Had an accident?" shouted down Roy. + +"What do you think? You can see we're not flying, can't you?" bellowed +Mortlake, his face crimson with anger and mortification. + +"Can we do anything to help you?" came from Peggy, ignoring the fellow's +insulting tones. + +"No!" + +"Yes!" + +The first monosyllable came from Mortlake. The second from Lieut. +Bradbury. + +"If you don't mind accepting a passenger, I should be glad of a lift to +Sandy Beach. I've got to make a train," explained the young officer. + +In five minutes the _Golden Butterfly_ was on the sward beside the +crippled _Cobweb_. Mortlake's face was black as night. He fulminated +maledictions on the young aviators who had appeared at--for him--such an +inopportune moment. + +"Can I help you fix the machine?" asked Roy pleasantly. "There's nothing +serious the matter, is there?" + +"Not a thing," asserted Mortlake. "It's all the fault of the men who made +the carburetor. They did a bungling bit of work, and the cylinders have +overheated." + +"Can we leave a message for you at your shops, or would you like a lift +home with us?" asked Roy, who felt a kind of pity for the angry and +stranded man. + +"You can't do anything for me except leave me alone," snapped out +Mortlake; "you cubs are altogether too inquisitive. You're too nosy." + +"But not to the extent of making sketches and notes, Mr. Mortlake?" +inquired Peggy sweetly--"cattily," she said it was, afterward. + +Mortlake started and paled. Then, without vouchsafing a reply, he strode +off in the direction of the farm house to get the water he needed. + +"Now, Mr. Bradbury," said Roy, extending a hand. + +The young officer leaped nimbly into the chassis, and presently a buzzing +whir told that the faithful _Golden Butterfly_ was taking the air once +more. + +"Score two for us!" thought Peggy to herself. + +From a far corner of the pasture, Mortlake watched his young rivals +climbing the sky. He shook his fist at them and his heavy face darkened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARKED BILL. + + +Some two days after the events narrated in our last chapter, Lieut. +Bradbury, sitting in the library of the New York Aero Club, on West +Fifty-fourth Street, received a telegram from Eugene Mortlake. He was +considerably astonished, when on tearing it open, he read as follows: + +"Must see you at once. Have positive proof that young Prescott is about to +sell out his secrets to foreign government." + +"Phew!" whistled the young officer. "This is a serious charge. If it is +proved, it will bar Prescott from bidding for the United States government +contract. But I can hardly believe it. There must be some mistake. +However, it is my duty to investigate. Let's see--three o'clock. I can +get a train to Sandy Beach at four. Too bad! Too bad!" + +The young officer shook his head. He had come to have a sincere regard for +Roy and his pretty sister, as well as admiration for their resourcefulness +and pluck. + +When it is explained that during the time elapsing between his lucky lift +in the Prescott machine and the reception of the note, that Lieut. +Bradbury had notified Roy that he would be expected to report at the +Brooklyn Navy Yard, his feelings on learning that there was suspicion +directed against his young protege, may be imagined. Mortlake, too, had +received a notice that his machines were eligible for a test, so that +there would have seemed to be no object for his acting treacherously. +Otherwise, the young officer might have been suspicious. What he had seen +of Mortlake had not particularly elevated that gentleman in his opinion. +But if he had desired to wrong the Prescotts, reasoned the officer, such a +resourceful man as he had adjudged Mortlake to be, would have sought a +deeper and more subtle way of going about it. + +"And I'd have staked my word on that boy's loyalty; aye, and on his +sister's too," muttered the officer, as he made ready for his hasty trip +to Long Island. + +By this it will be seen that Lieut. Bradbury was by no means proof against +the rather common failing of inclining to believe the first evil report we +hear. It is a phase of human nature that is not combatted as it should be. + +In the meantime, Roy and Peggy had sustained a surprise, likewise. The day +before that on which Lieut. Bradbury received the disturbing dispatch, an +automobile had whizzed up to their gate and stopped. Roy, Peggy and Jess +and Jimsy were at a game of tennis, when a rather imperious voice summoned +them, from the tonneau of the machine. + +They looked up, to see a remarkably pretty young girl, who could scarcely +have been more than eighteen years old. Her eyes were black as sloes, and +flashed like smoldering fires. A great mass of hair of the same color was +piled on the top of her head in grown-up fashion, and her gown, of a +magenta hue, which set off her dark beauty to perfection, was cut in the +most recent--too recent, in fact--style. + +"Can you direct me to Mr. Mortlake's aeroplane factory?" she demanded in +an imperious tone. Evidently the flushed, healthy-looking young people, +who had been playing tennis so hard, were very despicable in her eyes. + +"There it is, down the road there," volunteered Roy. "It's that barn-like +place." + +The appellation was unfortunate. The girl's eyes flashed angrily. + +"My name is Regina Mortlake," she said angrily. "I am Mr. Mortlake's +daughter. He is not in the habit of putting up barns, I can assure you." + +"I beg your pardon----" began Roy, quite taken aback by the extraordinary +energy with which the reproof to his harmless remark had been given. But +the dark-eyed beauty in the automobile had given a quick order to the +chauffeur, and the car skimmed on down the road. + +Later that day the _Silver Cobweb_ ascended for a flight. It had nothing +more the matter with it on the day of the break-down than the heated +cylinders, which, as Mortlake had prophesied, soon cooled. But Mortlake +himself did not take up the silvery aeroplane on this occasion. A new +figure was at the wheel, clad in dainty dark aviation togs and bonnet, +with a fluttering, flowing veil of the same color, which streamed out like +a flag of defiance. + +The new driver was Miss Regina Mortlake. + +They learned later that the girl had taken frequent flights in the South, +where her father had, for a time, entered into the business of giving +aeroplane flights for money at county fairs and the like. His daughter had +taken naturally to the sport, and was an accomplished air woman. She knew +no fear, and her imperious, ambitious spirit made her a formidable rival +even to the foreign flying women who competed at various international +aviation meets. + +While his daughter spun through the air, Eugene Mortlake sat in his little +glass-enclosed office in one corner of the noisy aeroplane plant. Four +finished machines were now ready, and he would have felt capable of facing +any tests with them had it not been for his uneasy fear of the Prescott +aeroplane. But he had evolved a scheme by which he thought he would +succeed in putting Peggy and Roy out of the race altogether. It was in the +making that afternoon in the little office. + +Opposite to Mortlake sat two men whom we have seen before. But in the +cheap, but neat suits they now wore, and with their faces clean-shaven of +the growth of stubby beard that had formerly covered them, it would have +been somewhat difficult to recognize the two ill-favored tramps who had +been routed by Peggy in such a plucky manner. But, nevertheless, they were +the men. + +"You thoroughly understand your instructions now?" questioned Mortlake, as +he concluded speaking. + +The fellow who had been addressed by his companion as Joey, at the time +they encountered Mortlake and Harding on the road to the Galloway farm, +nodded. + +"We understand, guv'ner," he rasped out in a hoarse voice; "Slim, here, +and me don't take long ter catch on, eh, Slim?" + +"No dubious manner of doubt about that," responded Slim. "An' although I'm +a tramp now, guv'ner, I wasn't allers one. I've held my head as high as +the rest of the good folks of the world. I can play the gentleman to +perfection. Don't you worry." + +This Slim--or to give him his correct name--Frederick Palmer, was, as he +declared with such emphasis, a man who had indeed "seen better days," as +the phrase is. Now that he was invested in fair-looking clothes, and was +graced with a clean collar and a smooth-shaven face, he actually might +have passed for a person in fairly well-to-do circumstances. For the part +Mortlake wished him to play, he could not have picked out a better man. +Utterly unscrupulous, and with the best of his life behind him, "Slim"--as +the tramp fraternity knew him--was prepared to do anything that there was +money in. His companion possessed no such saving graces of appearance. +Short, coarse, and utterly lacking in every element of refinement, Joey +Eccles was a typical hobo. But Mortlake's shrewd mind had seen where he +could make use of him, too, in the diabolical plan he was concocting, and +the details of which he had just finished confiding to his unsavory +lieutenants. + +"But say, guv'ner," struck in Joey Eccles, his little pig-like eyes agleam +with cupidity, "we've got to have a bit more of the brass, you know--a +little more money--eh?" + +He ended in an insinuating whine, the cringing plea of the professional +beggar. + +Mortlake made a gesture of impatience. + +"I gave you fellows a twenty-dollar-bill a few days ago," he said, "in +addition to that, you've been provided with clothes and lodging. What more +do you want?" + +"We've got to have some more coin, that's flat," announced Slim decidedly; +"come on, fork over, guv'ner. You've gone too far into this now to pull +out." + +Mortlake's florid face went white. As if he heard it for the first time, +the words struck home. He had indeed "gone too far," as the tramp sitting +opposite to him had said. He was, in fact, completely in the power of +these two unscrupulous mendicants. Making a resolve to get rid of them as +speedily as possible, he dived into his breast pocket and drew from it a +roll of bills that made Slim's and Joey's eyes stick out of their heads. + +He peeled off a twenty-dollar-bill, and flung it with no good grace down +upon the table. + +"There," he said, "that's the last you'll get till the trick is done." + +"Thankee, guv'ner; I knowed you'd see sense. A man of your intelligous +intellect, and----" + +"That will do," snapped Mortlake. "Do you think I've got nothing to do but +talk to you fellows all day? You thoroughly understand, now, to-morrow +night on the road to Galloway's farm?" + +"Yus, and we've got a nice little deserted farm house all picked out, +where we can keep the young rooster on ice," grinned Joey. + +"Well, well," shot out Mortlake, "that will be your task. I've nothing to +do with that. Do you understand," he rapped the table nervously, "I know +nothing about it." + +"All right, all right; we're wise," Slim assured him confidently. "Don't +you worry. Come on, Joey. Got the money?" + +"Have I? Oh, no; I'm goin' ter leave it right here," grinned Joey, +enjoying his own irony hugely. + +Still chuckling, he arose and shuffled out, followed by the unsavory +Slim. + +Outside, and on the road to the village, Slim began to be obsessed by +doubts. + +"Some way, I don't jes' trust that Mortlake," he said. "You're sure that +bill is all right, Joey?" + +"Sure? Well, you jes' bet I am. Here, look at it yourself. All right, +ain't it?" + +He drew out the bill and handed it to Slim for his inspection. + +"And the best of it is," he chuckled, while Slim inspected the bill +carefully, "the best of it is, that I wasn't conformin' to the exact truth +when I told Mortlake that we'd spent all the other coin. I've got the best +part of it left." + +"Good," grunted Slim, turning the twenty-dollar-bill over and examining +the reverse side, "that being the case--hullo!" + +"What's up?" asked Joey. + +For reply Slim handed the bill to Joey, pointing with a grimy first finger +at something on the reverse side. + +It was an "O," scrawled in dull red ink. + +"That would be an easy bill to identify," commented Palmer, uneasily, +"wonder if this can be a trap?" + +"Well, keep your suspicions to yourself for a while," counseled Joey; "we +don't need to break it till we make sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO ROY. + + +It was the next evening. Mortlake, sitting at his desk, looked up as a +quick step sounded outside. The factory was in darkness as the men had +gone home. Only a twilight dimness illuminated the little glass sanctum of +the inventor and constructor of the Mortlake Aeroplane. + +"Come in," said Mortlake, as the next instant a sharp, decisive knock +sounded. + +Lieut. Bradbury, in a mufti suit of gray, stepped into the office. + +"Ah, good evening, lieutenant," said Mortlake, rising clumsily to his feet +and offering a chair, "I was beginning to despair of you." + +Bradbury, genuinely worried, lost no time in plunging into the object of +the interview. + +"That message you sent me--what does it mean?" he asked. "I can scarcely +believe----" + +"Nor could I, at first," said Mortlake, with assumed sorrow. "It cut me +pretty deep, I tell you, to think that a boy who was in negotiations with +his own government for a valuable implement of warfare, should deal with a +foreign government at the same time. In brief, this young traitor is +balancing the profits and will sell out to the highest bidder." + +"That's strong language, Mortlake," said the young officer, drumming the +table with his fingers impatiently. Honorable and upright in all his +dealings, the young officer had no liking for the business in hand. Yet it +was his duty to see the thing through now, unpleasant as it promised to +be. + +"Strong language?" echoed Mortlake. "Yes, it is strong language, but not a +bit more emphatic than the case warrants. Did you know that for some days +past a German spy has been in Sandy Beach?" + +"No. Certainly not." + +"Well, there has been. He visited this plant with proposals to turn over +our aeronautic secrets to his government, but we refused to have anything +to do with his scheming." + +"Yes, very good. Go on, please." The young officer felt that Mortlake was +approaching the climax of his story. + +"One of our men," resumed Mortlake, in even tones, in which he cunningly +managed to mingle a note of regret, "one of our men took upon +himself--loyal fellow--to watch this spy. He reported to me some days ago +that the man was in negotiation with young Prescott." + +"Good heavens!" + +"I know it sounds incredible, but we are dealing with facts. Well, more +than this, my zealous workman ascertained that young Prescott is to meet +this foreign agent at nine o'clock to-night on a lonely road, and is there +to hand over to him the complete plans and specifications of the Prescott +aeroplane." + +"It's unbelievable, horrible. And in the face of this, do you mean to say +that the boy would dare to keep up his apparent negotiations with the +United States?" + +"That's just the worst part of it, as I understand it," rejoined Mortlake. +"The negotiations with this foreigner would, of course, be presumed by +young Prescott to be secret. This being so, he would, if successful in the +tests, sell his ideas to the United States also, without mentioning the +fact that they had already been bought and paid for." + +"Monstrous!" + +"Just what I said when I heard of it. I could not believe it, in fact. The +boy has always seemed to be all that was upright and honest. It just shows +how we can be mistaken in a person." + +"I cannot credit it yet, Mortlake." + +"It was to give you proof positive that I summoned you here. We will take +an automobile out to the spot where young Prescott is to meet the foreign +agent. Of course, our arrival will be so calculated as to give us time to +secrete ourselves before Prescott and the other meet. Are you willing to +let your estimate of young Prescott stand or fall by this meeting?" + +"I am, yes," replied Lieut. Bradbury, breathing heavily. "The young +scoundrel, if he is caught red-handed, I will see if there is not some law +that will operate to take care of his case." + +Mortlake could hardly conceal a smile. His plan to ruin Roy was working to +perfection. In his imagination he saw the Prescott aeroplane eliminated as +a naval possibility, and the field clear for the selection of the Mortlake +machine. Mentally he was already adding up the millions of profit that +would accrue to him. + +Lieut. Bradbury left that meeting heavy of heart. Mortlake's story had +been so circumstantial, so full of detail, that it hardly left room for +doubt. And then, too, he had offered to produce positive proof, to allow +the officer to witness the actual transaction. + +"Good heavens, isn't there any good in the world?" thought the officer, as +the hack in which he had driven out to the Mortlake plant drove him back +to the village. Mortlake had agreed to call for him at the little hotel at +eight o'clock. The hours till then seemed to have leaden feet to the +anxious young officer. + +It was shortly before this that Roy, returning from an errand in town in +the Prescott automobile, was halted at the roadside by a figure which +stepped from the hedge-row, and, holding up a cautioning finger, uttered a +sharp: + +"Hist!" + +Roy, turning, saw a man, seemingly a workingman, from his overalls, at the +side of the machine. + +"What is it? What do you want?" demanded Roy. + +"I have a message for you," said the man, speaking in a slightly foreign +accent; "you are in great danger. Your enemies plot it." + +"My enemies!" exclaimed Roy. + +"Yes, your enemies at the Mortlake factory." + +"Let's see," said Roy thoughtfully, "you're one of the workmen at the +Mortlake plant, aren't you?" + +"I _was_ once," said the man, with a vindictive inflection, "but I am so +no longer. Mortlake discharged me." + +"Discharged you, eh? Well, what's that got to do with me?" + +Roy looked curiously at the man. + +"Just this much. I know the meanness that Mortlake plans to do to you. You +have bad and wicked enemies at our place." + +"Humph! I guess there may be some truth in that," said Roy with a rather +grim inflection. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" + +"Just this: I am an honest man. I do not want to see harm come to you or +to your sister." This was touching Roy in a tender spot. + +"To my sister!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that Mortlake is +scoundrel enough to plot against her, too?" + +"In this way," explained the man, "he means to destroy your aeroplane, +leaving the field clear for his own type to be selected by the navy." + +"The--the--the ruffian!" panted Roy, now thoroughly aroused. "Tell me more +about this." + +"I cannot," rejoined the workman, "but my partner--he was discharged +too--he can tell you much, much more. Will you meet him? I can take you to +him?" + +Roy thought a moment. The man seemed to be wholly honest and in earnest. + +"How far from here is the place where your partner is?" he asked. + +"Oh, not so very far. We soon get there in your fine machine. Will you +go?" + +"Well, I--yes, I'll go. Come on, get in." + +The man obeyed the invitation with alacrity. Under his directions, Roy +swung the car off upon a by-road after they had gone some few hundred +yards. + +"Not long now," he said, as the vehicle bounced and jounced over the ruts +and stones of the little-used thoroughfare. + +"This is a funny direction for your partner to live in," said Roy at +length. "There are not many dwellings out this way, nothing but a big +swamp, as I recollect it." + +"My partner, he poor man," was the rejoinder. "He live with cousins out +here." + +The answer lulled Roy's rousing suspicions. + +"It must be all right," he thought. "There can't be any trick in all this. +It's quite likely that Mortlake does want to play us a mean trick. I can't +forget the look he flashed at me the day we took Lieut. Bradbury away from +him in that meadow after we had made our first sea trip. Wow!" + +Roy could not forbear smiling at the recollection. + +They chugged along in silence for some little distance farther, and then +the man beside him laid a detaining hand on Roy's arm. + +"Almost there now," he said. "Better slow up." + +Roy did so. The brakes ground down with a jarring rasp. + +At the same moment a dark figure stepped from behind a tree trunk. The man +beside Roy held up a hand. + +"This is the young gentleman," he said. + +Through the gloom the other figure now approached the automobile. + +"Do you mind getting out?" it said. "We can talk better in the house." + +"Where is the house? I don't see one," said Roy, his suspicions rousing a +little. + +"It's just behind that knoll. The path is just ahead," said the newcomer. + +Roy got out. He was determined to see the adventure through now. If +Mortlake was plotting against him, he wanted to know it. + +As he reached the ground, the newcomer extended his hand, as if offering +to shake Roy's palm. + +Roy put out his hand, which was instantly grasped by the other. + +"Your friend tells me that you have something interesting to tell me----" +began Roy. "I--here, what are you trying to do? Stop it!" + +The other had seized his hand in a clutch of steel, and, before the +astonished boy could offer any resistance, had wrenched it over in such a +manner that, without exactly knowing what had occurred, Roy found himself +sprawling on his back. + +The lad was helpless in this lonely place with two men who had now shown +themselves in their true and sinister character. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. + + +The spot was fearfully lonely. Roy realized this to the full. Brave as the +lad was, he felt suddenly chilled and creepy. Besides, the utter mystery +that enveloped the affair was gruelling to the mind. + +"Now be still," pleaded the late guide, as Roy, full of fight, jumped to +his feet and flung off the detaining hold which had been laid on him. + +"Yep. We don't want to hurt you," chimed in another voice, the voice of +the powerful, stockily-built man who had thrown him, "be reasonable and +quiet now, and you'll come to no harm. If not----" he drew a pistol and +presented it at the boy's head. + +The hint was rough but effectual. Roy saw that it would be mere folly to +attempt resistance. + +"What's the meaning of this rough behavior?" he asked in a steady voice, +mentally resigning himself to the inevitable. + +"You just come with us for a little while," said the gruff-voiced one. +"Don't worry; we ain't goin' ter harm you. You'll git loose agin after a +while. Don't worry about that." + +This assurance, though mysterious, was more or less comforting. But Roy +resented the utter mystery of the affair. + +"But what's it all for?" he protested. "Is Mortlake at the back of it; +or--" + +"Now, you come along, young feller," said a gruff voice, "don't axe no +questions and you won't git told no lies, see?" + +Roy saw. + +"Well, go ahead, since I'm in your power," he said. "But I warn you it +will go hard with you if ever I am able to set justice on your track." + +"Hard words break no bones, guv'ner," came from the gruff-voiced man, who +was none other than Joey Eccles, disguised with a big beard. The man who +had escorted Roy into the trap was, in truth, a former workman at the +Mortlake factory, who had been discharged for incompetency. He had applied +at the plant to be taken on again, being well-nigh desperate with hunger, +and Mortlake had assigned him to the present task, for which, if the truth +be told, he had no great liking. + +"Where do you want me to go?" was Roy's next question, as neither of his +captors had yet made a move. + +"We'll show you fast enough, young guv'ner," said Joey through his beard. +"Come on, this way." + +He caught hold of Roy's arm and began piloting him along a path, or rather +cow track, that ran across the meadow. It was now almost dark, and Roy, +after they had gone a few steps, was only able to make out the dark +outlines of what seemed to be a small hut on the edge of a dense woods +lying directly ahead of them. + +"I suppose that's our destination," thought the boy. "Well, they have not +attempted any violence, and I guess if they had meant me any physical +harm they would have attacked me when they first trapped me. But what does +all this mean? That's the question." + +Nothing more was said as the three, the captors and the prisoner, tramped +across the dewy grass. As they drew closer to the building Roy had +descried, he saw that it was a dilapidated looking affair. Shutters hung +crazily from a single hinge, broken window-panes looked disconsolately +out. In the roof was a yawning gap, from which a great owl flapped as they +drew closer. Evidently the place had not been occupied as a dwelling for +many years. + +The door, however, was open, and, with the pistol still menacing him, Roy +was marched by his captors into the moldy, smelling place. + +Handing his pistol to the other man, gruff-voice--otherwise Joey +Eccles--struck a match. Carefully screening it from the draughts which +swept through the rickety building, he led the way into a bare room in +which was a tumble-down table and two boxes to serve as seats. A pack of +greasy cards lay on the table-top, showing that Joey had been passing his +time at solitaire. + +This fact showed Roy that the plot had been carefully concocted, and that +the trap was all ready to be sprung much earlier in the day. Only a brain +like Mortlake's, he reasoned, could have thought out such an intricate +plan. And yet, what could be Mortlake's object? + +"Now, then," announced Joey, when he had lighted the tin kerosene lamp, +"I'll show you to your quarters, Master Prescott." + +A chill ran through Roy at the words. What could be coming now? With his +pistol in his hand, Joey gently urged Roy into a rear room, his companion +following with the lamp. Once in the room, Joey stepped forward, and, +stooping down, raised a trap door in the centre of the floor. A rank, +musty smell rushed up as he opened it. + +"Thar's your abode for the next three or four hours," he said with a grin +to Roy and pointing downward. + +The boy shuddered. + +"Not in there?" he said. + +"Them's our orders," said Joey shortly. "There's a ladder there now. You +can climb down on that. Don't be scared. It's only a cellar, and +guaranteed snake-proof. When the time comes, we'll lower the ladder to you +again, an' git you out." + +Roy looked desperately about him. Unarmed, he knew that he did not stand a +chance against his burly captives, but had it not been for the fact that +one of them had a pistol, he would have, even then, attempted to make a +break for liberty. But as it was--hopeless! + +He nodded as Joey pointed downward into the dark, rank hole, and, with an +inward prayer, he slowly descended the ladder. The instant his feet +touched the ground, Joey, who had been holding the lamp above the +trapdoor, ordered his companion to pull up the ladder. + +The next moment it was gone, and the trapdoor was slammed to with an +ominous crash. + +Roy was enveloped in pitchy darkness. Suddenly, through the gloom, he +heard a sound. It was the rasp of a padlock being inserted in the door +above him. Then came a sharp click, and the boy knew that hope of escape +from above had been cut off. If the men kept their promise, they would +release him in their own good time, and that was all he had to buoy him up +in that black pit. + +But Roy, as those who have followed his and Peggy's adventures know, was +not the boy to weakly give way to despair before he had exhausted every +possible hope, and not even then. + +But in the darkness he did bitterly reproach himself for falling into the +rascals' trap so blindly. + +"Well, of all the prize idiots in the world," he broke forth under his +breath in the blackness, "commend me to you, Roy Prescott. If you'd +thought it over before you started--looked before you leaped--this would +never have happened. Anybody but a chump could have seen that, on the face +of it, the whole thing was a scheme to entice you away. Oh, you bonehead! +You ninny!" + +The boy felt better after this outbreak. He even smiled as he thought how +neatly he had walked into the spider's web. Then he shifted his position +and prepared to think. But, as he moved his foot struck something. A +wallet, it felt like; he reached down, and, by dint of feeling about, +managed to get his fingers on it. + +The leather was still warm, and Roy realized that it must have been +dropped into the cellar from the bearded man's pocket when he leaned over +to see if Roy had reached the bottom of the ladder. + +"Queer find," thought the boy. "I'll keep it. Maybe there's something in +it that may result in bringing those rascals to justice." + +He thrust it into his pocket and thought no more of it. His mind was busy +on other things just then. If only he had a match! He felt in all his +pockets without result, and was about giving up in despair, when, in the +lining of his coat, he felt several lucifers. They had slipped through a +hole in his pocket. + +"Gee whiz! How lucky that Aunt Sally forgot to mend that pocket," thought +the boy, eagerly thrusting his fingers through the aperture and drawing +out a dozen or more matches. + +"These may stand me in good stead, now. But I don't want to waste them. +Guess I'll just light one to see what kind of a place I'm in, and then +trust to the sense of touch if I see any means of escape." + +There was a scratch and a splutter, and the match flared bravely. Its +yellow rays illumined a cellar very much like any other cellar. It was +walled with stonework, well cemented, and there were two or three small +windows at the sides. But these, which at first filled Roy with a flush of +hope, proved, on examination, to have been bricked up, and solidly, too. + +"Nothing doing there," he muttered, and turned his attention to the rear +of the underground place where there was a flight of steps leading up to a +horizontal door, which, evidently, opened on the outerworld. But this door +was secured on the under side by a rusty padlock of formidable dimensions. +Roy tried it. It was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, as the advertisements +say. + +"Stuck!" he muttered disappointedly; and yet: "Hold on! What about that +pocket tool kit I had when I started out on the auto? Hooray! Those chaps +forgot to search me. Thought it was too much trouble, I guess. Now for a +sharp file! Good! here's one! Now, then, if the luck holds, I'll be free +in not much more than a long jiffy!" + +These thoughts shot through Roy's brain, as he selected a file from his +fortunate find, and began working away at the hasp of the padlock. Above +him he could hear the low grumbling growl of the voices of his guardians. +But they came very faintly. + +"Lucky thing they are in the front room," thought Roy, as he worked on, +"otherwise, they might hear this." + +At last the file had cut far enough into the hasp for Roy's strong fingers +to be able to bend the metal apart. With a beating heart, he replaced the +little tool in its case and pulled the ring of the padlock out of the +hasp. Then he gave an upward shove, but very gently. For all he knew, the +door he was pushing upward might open in another room. But when it gaped, +an inch only, Roy saw the faint radiance of a clouded moon. A gust of +fresh, clean air blew in his face, as if welcoming him from his noisome +depths. An instant later, with throbbing pulses and flushed cheeks, Roy +stood out in the open. Above him light clouds raced across the moon, +alternately obscuring and revealing the luminary of the night. + +But Roy didn't linger. He crept across the field, keeping close to a +tall, dark hedge-row till he reached the automobile. As he had guessed, +neither of his captors knew how to run it, and it stood just where he had +left it. + +"Glory be!" thought the boy, climbing in, "I'm all right, now. I don't +know where this road goes to, and it's too narrow to turn round, but I'll +keep straight on and I'm bound to land somewhere." + +He turned on the gasoline and set the spark. But the engine didn't move. + +"Queer," thought Roy. + +He got out and walked round to the front and then the rear of the car. +There was a strong smell of gasoline there. Stooping down, he found the +ground was saturated with the fuel. What had happened was plain enough. +The cunning rascals who had captured him had drained the tank of gasoline. +The auto was as helpless as if it had not had an engine in it at all. + +"Well, this is a fine fix," thought Roy. "However, there's nothing for it +now, but to keep on. Those ruffians are cleverer than I gave them credit +for." + +Stealing softly toward the woods, the boy sped into their dark shadows. +Aided by the flickering light of the moon, he made good progress through +the gloomy depths. He did not dare to slacken his pace till he had +traveled at least half a mile. Then he let his footsteps lag. + +"Not much chance of their discovering me now, even if they have awakened +to the fact that I have escaped," he said to himself, as he strode on. + +Suddenly he emerged on a strip of road that somehow had a familiar look. +He was still looking about when a strange thing happened. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps approaching him, and the quick +breathing of an almost spent runner. Then came a sound as if somebody was +scuffling not far from him and suddenly a voice he knew well rang out: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + +The voice was that of Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Well, how under the sun does Lieut. Bradbury know that I'm here?" +marvelled the amazed boy, stopping short. + +At the same instant, from the direction in which the naval officer's shout +had come, a slender dark figure came racing toward him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THEY WORKED OUT. + + +Roy made a desperate clutch at the figure as it raced past, evidently +fleeing from an unseen peril. That that peril was Lieut. Bradbury, Roy did +not for an instant doubt, as he could hear the officer's shouts in his +undoubted voice close at hand. + +The boy's hands grasped the unknown's collar, but at the same instant, +with an eel-like squirm, the figure dived and twisted. Suddenly it bent +down and scooped up a handful of sandy gravel and flung the stuff full in +Roy's face. Blinded, the boy staggered back and the other darted off like +a deer. + +The next instant two heavy hands fell on Roy's shoulders and he felt +himself twisted violently about. And then a voice--Lieut. Bradbury's +voice--said: + +"Now then, you young rascal, I've got you. What does all this mean?" + +"That's just what I'd like to know," exclaimed Roy indignantly, brushing +the gravel out of his smarting eyes, "I've been made prisoner and--." + +The officer's astonished voice interrupted him. + +"What! Do you mean to try to lie out of it? Didn't you just hand the plans +of the aeroplane over to that representative of a foreign government whom +Mr. Mortlake is now chasing?" + +Roy looked at the other as if he thought he had gone suddenly mad, as well +he might. + +"I don't understand you," he gasped. "What is all this--a joke? It's a +very poor one if it is." + +"I'll give you a chance to explain," said the officer grimly, tightening +his hold on Roy's collar, "as things stand at present, I believe you to be +as black a young traitor as ever wore shoe leather." + +The world swam before Roy's eyes. He sensed, for the first time, an +inkling of the diabolical web that had been spun about him. + +But it is time that we retraced our footsteps a little and return to +events which occurred after the lieutenant had been picked up by +appointment in Sandy Beach. In the automobile which called for him were +seated Mr. Harding, whom he already knew slightly from meeting him at the +aeroplane plant, and Mortlake himself. + +"This is a very unfortunate business, hey?" croaked old Harding, as they +spun along the road to the place where Mortlake, who was driving, declared +Roy had made an appointment to meet the foreign spy. + +"It is worse than that, sir. It is deplorable," the officer had said. And +he meant it, too. He had hardly been able to eat his dinner for thinking +over the extraordinary situation. + +But the auto sped rapidly on. Now it had passed the last scattering houses +outside the village, and was racing along a lonely country road. Finally, +it turned off, and entered a branch thoroughfare which led from the main +track. + +All this time but little had been said. Each occupant of the machine was +busied with his own thoughts, and in the lieutenant's case, at any rate, +they were not of the pleasantest. + +The road into which they turned was little more than a track, with a high, +grass-grown ridge in the centre. It was a lonesome spot, and certainly +seemed retired enough to suit any plotters who might wish to transact +their business unobserved. + +"Bother such sneaky bits of work," thought the young officer to himself, +as they rushed onward through the darkness. "I feel like a cheap +detective, or somebody equally low and degraded. It's unmanly, and--oh, +well! it's in the line of duty, I suppose, or hanged if I would have +anything to do with it. Mortlake showed up as more of a gentleman in the +matter than I'd have given him credit for. He seems to be genuinely cut +up over the whole nasty mess. Well he may be, too." + +As described in another chapter, the sky was overcast with hurrying +clouds, which, from time to time, allowed a flood of moonlight to filter +through. By one of these temporary periods of light, Lieut. Bradbury was +able to perceive that they were in a sort of lane with high hedges on each +side. + +Suddenly Mortlake ran the auto through a gap in the hedge at one side of +the road, and drove it in among a clump of alders, where there was no +danger of it being seen. + +"This is the place," said he, as they came to a standstill. + +"And a nice, lonely sort of place, too, hey?" chirped old Harding; "just +the place for a traitor to his country to----" + +"Hush!" said the young officer seriously. "Let us wait and see if young +Prescott completes the case against himself before we condemn him, Mr. +Harding." + +"Humph!" grunted the old money-bags. "In my opinion, he is condemned +already. Never did like that boy, something sneaky about him. Hey, hey, +hey?" + +The officer's heart was too sick within him to answer. He drew out his +watch and looked at it in a fleeting glimpse of moonshine. It was almost +the time that Mortlake had declared had been agreed upon for the +consummation of the plot. + +"At all events, I shall know within a few minutes if this story is to be +credited or condemned," thought Lieut. Bradbury. + +Old Harding and Mortlake, the latter leading and beckoning to Lieut. +Bradbury, slipped cautiously through the alders, and took up a position in +the clump at the edge of the road behind a big bowlder, where they could +command a good view of the thoroughfare without being seen themselves. The +officer, with a keener sense than ever of doing something dishonorable, +joined them. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Mortlake presently. + +But, although they all strained their ears, they could hear no sound +except the cracking of a tree limb, as it rubbed against another branch in +the night wind. + +"You are sure this was the place?" asked the officer. + +"So my man told me," rejoined Mortlake. "You know, I relied absolutely on +his word for this thing, all the way through. I, myself, know nothing of +it." + +He emphasized these last words, as if he wished them to stick in his +hearer's memory. + +Suddenly, however, a new sound struck into the silence. + +It was a heavy footstep, gradually drawing closer. Round the dark corner +of the road came a tall form in a long coat and with a slouch hat pulled +down well over its eyes. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could have groaned. Mortlake nudged him triumphantly. + +"Well," he said, "I guess part of it's true, anyhow." + +"I'm afraid so," breathed the officer. + +"I thought so. Hey, hey, I thought so," chuckled old Harding rustily. + +The tall figure came on until it was almost opposite the bushes where the +three hidden onlookers were concealed. It looked about in some impatience, +tapping one of its feet querulously. Then it fell to pacing up and down. + +"Evidently the boy is late," thought the lieutenant. And then a glad guess +shot through his mind. "Perhaps the boy has thought better of it." + +But even as he felt a great sense of relief at this supposition, there +came a low whistle from farther down the road. It was answered by the +figure opposite the hidden party, which instantly stopped its pacing to +and fro. + +"By the great north star, it's true!" gasped the officer, as, from round +the bend in the road below where they were stationed, a slight, boyish +figure, walking rapidly, came into view. It hesitated an instant, and +then, perceiving the tall man, it came on again. + +"Have you got der plans?" + +The question came in a thick, guttural, foreign tone, from the tall +figure. + +The boy, who had just appeared, showed every trace of agitation. + +"He's struggling with his better nature," thought Lieut. Bradbury. "I'll +help him." + +He was starting forward with this intention, when Mortlake, prepared for +some such move, dragged him back. + +"Don't interfere," he whispered, "if the lad is a traitor, as well know it +now as at some future time." + +Lieut. Bradbury could not but feel that this was true. He sank back once +more, watching intently, breathlessly, every move of the drama going on +under his eyes. + +With a quick gesture, the boy seemed to cast aside his doubts. He muttered +something in a low voice, and, as a ray of moonlight filtered through a +cloud, Lieut. Bradbury distinctly saw him pass something to the tall man. + +"Goot. You haf done vell. Here is der money," said the man, in a low, but +distinct tone, that carried plainly to the listeners' ears. + +He held out an envelope, which the boy took, with a muttered words of +thanks, seemingly. + +Lieut. Bradbury could control himself no longer. Flinging Mortlake aside, +as if he had been a child, he flashed out of his place of concealment, mad +rage boiling over in his veins. + +What he had just seen had swept every doubt aside. His whole being was +bent on getting hold of the young traitor and trouncing him within an inch +of his life. He felt he would be fulfilling a sacred duty in doing so. + +But, as he sprang forward, as if impelled by an uncoiled steel spring, the +two conspirators caught the alarm. While the officer was still rushing +through the bushes, they dashed off, one in one direction, one in the +other. + +"He's ruined everything," groaned Mortlake. + +"No, no; you can save the day yet if you act quickly," cried old man +Harding in the same low, intense voice, "shout out that you are after the +spy." + +"Right!" cried Mortlake, clutching at a straw. + +He, too, dashed out of concealment, and took off after the tall man, +bellowing loudly: + +"You chase the boy, Bradbury. I'll get the spy. Stop you villain! Stop!" + +It was at that moment that Roy, just emerging from the woods, heard Lieut. +Bradbury's angry challenge: + +"Prescott, you young scoundrel, I'll get you yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +WHAT MORTLAKE DID. + + +"Look here," cried Roy, indignantly wiggling in the officer's strong +grasp, "can't you see that this is all a mistake? If you hadn't grabbed +me, I could have caught that impostor." + +A great light seemed to break on Lieut. Bradbury. + +"Why, bless my soul," he exclaimed, "that's so. I can see it all, now. +That chap who got away wore a gray suit, while yours is a blue serge, +isn't it?" + +"It was, before I was thrown into that cellar," said Roy ruefully. + +The moon was shining brightly now, and he saw that, in the semi-darkness, +it would have been easy to mistake his blue serge, dust-covered as it was, +for one of gray material. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," urged the officer. "I must confess I +am in a mental whirl over to-night's happenings." + +Roy rapidly sketched the events leading up to his capture and +imprisonment, not forgetting to lay the blame on himself for being so +gullible as to be led into such a pitfall. + +"Not a word more of self-blame, my boy," cried the young officer warmly. +"Older persons than you would have stumbled into such an artfully prepared +snare, baited as it was with the hope of catching Mortlake in a plot to +destroy your aeroplane. But now I'm going to tell you my experiences, and +we can see if they dovetail at any point." + +But when Lieut. Bradbury concluded his narrative, they were still at sea +as to the main instigator of the plot. Of course, the finger of suspicion +pointed pretty plainly to Mortlake, but the rascal had covered his tracks +so cleverly that neither Roy nor the young officer felt prepared to +actually accuse him. + +"But I can't see how an ordinary workman would have had either the brains +or the motive to direct such an ingenious scheme to discredit me in your +eyes," concluded Roy, as they finished discussing this phase of the +question. + +"Nor I. But hark! Somebody's shouting. It must be Mortlake. Yes, it is. +Hull--o--a!" + +"Hullo--a!" came back out of the night. + +"Come, we will retrace our steps to the auto and meet him there," said the +lieutenant. + +"I wonder if he'll have the face to brazen it out?" thought Roy, by which +it will be seen that his mind was pretty well made up as to the "power +behind" the night's work. + +"Couldn't come near the fellow," puffed Mortlake, as they came up. "He ran +like a deer. But--great Christmas--you've had better luck, I see!" + +For an instant, even in the semi-darkness, Roy saw the other's face grow +white as ashes. + +"He thinks that Lieut. Bradbury has caught my impersonator," was the +thought that flashed through the boy's mind. + +But the same sudden radiance that had betrayed Mortlake's agitation also +showed him that it was the real Roy Prescott he was facing. Instantly he +assumed a mask of the greatest apparent astonishment. + +"Roy Prescott, I am really amazed that you should be implicated in such +a----" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Mortlake," snapped out the lieutenant, and his +words came sharp as the crack of a whip; "this is the real Roy Prescott, +and he has been the victim of as foul a plot to blacken an honest lad's +name as ever came to my knowledge. The young ruffian who impersonated him +to-night has escaped." + +"Escaped!" exclaimed Mortlake, but to Roy's quick ears, despite the +other's attempt to disguise his relief, it stood out boldly. + +"Yes, escaped. Partly owing, I confess, to my overzealousness. There has +been foul play here somewhere, Mr. Mortlake." + +The officer's voice was stern. His eye flashed ominously. Just then old +Mr. Harding came puffing up. + +"Oh, so you got the boy, hey?" he cackled, but Mortlake shut him off with +a quick word. + +"No. This is the real Roy Prescott. It seems that a trick has been put up +on us all. The lad we mistook for Roy Prescott was some one impersonating +him. This lad has been the victim of a vile plot. While we were watching +here for his supposed appearance and the revelation of his treachery, some +rascals had locked him in a cellar." + +The lieutenant's words were hot and angry. He felt that he was facing two +clever rascals, whose cunning was too much for his straightforward +methods. + +"You--you amaze me!" exclaimed old Mr. Harding, looking in the moonlight +like some hideous old ghoul. "What game of cross-purposes and crooked +answers is this?" + +"That remains to be seen. I shall see to it that an investigation is made +and the guilty parties punished." + +Was it fancy, or did Roy, for a second, see Mortlake quail and whiten? + +But if the boy had seen such a thing, the next instant Mortlake was master +of himself. + +"It seems to me to have been a plot put up by my workmen," he said. "If I +find it to be so, I shall discharge every one of them. Poor fellows, in +their mistaken loyalty to me, perhaps they thought that they were doing me +a good turn by trying to discredit my young friend--I am proud to call him +so--my young friend, Prescott." + +For the first time, Roy was moved to speak. + +"I hardly think that your workmen were responsible, Mr. Mortlake," he said +slowly and distinctly. + +"You do not? Who, then?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I shall, you can depend upon that." + +"Really? How very clever we are. Smart as a steel trap, hey?" grated +out old Harding, rubbing his hands. "Smart as a steel trap, with teeth +that bite and hold, hey, hey, hey?" + +"Instead of wasting time here, I propose that we at once go to the house +in which Roy was confined, and see if we can catch the rascals implicated +in this," said Lieut. Bradbury. "Can you guide us, my boy?" + +"I think so, sir. It's not more than half an hour's tramp from here," said +Roy. "Let's be off at once, otherwise they may escape us." + +"Ridiculous, in my opinion," said Mortlake decisively. "Depend upon it, +those ruffians have found out by now how cleverly the boy escaped them, +and have decamped. We had much better get back to town and notify the +police." + +"I beg your pardon, but I differ from your opinion," said the naval +officer, looking at the other sharply. "Of course, if you don't want to +go----" + +"Oh, it isn't that," Mortlake hastened to say. "I'm willing, but Mr. +Harding. He is old, and the night air----" + +"Mr. Harding can remain with the automobile. There are plenty of wraps in +it. Come, Roy. Are you coming, Mr. Mortlake?" + +"Yes, oh, yes. Mr. Harding, you will make yourself comfortable till we +return." + +Having said this, Mortlake came lumbering after the other two, as eagerly +as if his whole soul was bent on capturing the two men who had been +carrying out his orders. + +"I've got a revolver ready for them," he volunteered, as the party plunged +through the woods along the little track Roy had followed. + +"Take care it doesn't go off prematurely and alarm them," said the +officer. "We don't want to let them slip through our fingers." + +"Of course not; I'll be very careful," promised Mortlake. + +They trudged on in silence. Suddenly Roy halted. + +"We're near to the place now," he said. + +"Advance cautiously in single file," ordered the lieutenant. "I'll go +first." + +In Indian file, they crept up on the house. Its outlines could now be +seen, and in one window a ruddy glow from the lamp the two abductors of +Roy had kindled. Evidently they had not yet discovered his escape. + +All at once Mortlake, who was last, stumbled on a root and fell forward; +as he did so, his revolver was discharged twice. The shots rang out loudly +in the still night. + +Instantly the light was extinguished. The next instant two dark figures +could be seen racing from the house. Before Lieut. Bradbury could call on +them to halt, they vanished in the darkness and a patch of woods to the +north. + +"What a misfortune!" exclaimed Mortlake contritely, picking himself up. + +Lieutenant Bradbury could hardly restrain his anger. + +"How on earth did you happen to do that, Mortlake?" he snapped. "Those two +shots alarmed those rascals, and now they're gone for good. It's most +annoying." + +"I appreciate your chagrin, my dear Bradbury," rejoined Mortlake suavely, +"but accidents will happen, you know." + +"Yes, and sometimes they happen most opportunely," was the sharp reply. + +Mortlake said nothing. In silence they approached the house, but nothing +save the pack of greasy cards, was found there to indicate the identity of +its late occupants. + +There was nothing to do but to return to the automobile. They found old +Mr. Harding awaiting them eagerly. He showed no emotion on learning that +Roy's captors had escaped just as their capture seemed certain. + +On the drive back to Sandy Beach, the old banker and Mortlake occupied the +front seat, while Roy and Lieut. Bradbury sat in the tonneau. As they +skimmed along, Roy drew something from his pocket and showed it to the +officer. It was an object that glistened in the wavering moonlight. + +"It's a woman's hair comb!" cried the officer in amazement, as he regarded +it. + +"Hush, not so loud," warned Roy. "I picked it up where I had the struggle +with the other Roy Prescott. It may prove a valuable clue." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +MISSING SIDE-COMB. + + +Some days after the strange and exciting events just recorded, Peggy burst +like a whirlwind into the little room,--half work-shop, half study,--in +which Roy was hard at work developing a problem in equilibrium. It was but +a short time now to the day on which they were to report to the navy Board +of Aviation at Hampton Roads, and submit their aerial craft to exhaustive +tests. Both brother and sister had occupied their time in working like +literal Trojans over the _Golden Butterfly_. But although every nut, bolt +and tiniest fairy-like turn-buckle on the craft was in perfect order, Roy +was still devoting the last moments to developing the balancing device to +which he mainly pinned his hopes of besting the other craft. + +From the newspapers they had been made aware that several types, +bi-planes, monoplanes and freak designs were to compete, and Roy was not +the boy to let lack of preparation stand in the way of success. Detectives +and the local police had been set to work on the mysterious plot whose +object had been to entrap the boy. But no result had come of their work. +Incidentally, it had been found, when the auto which Roy had driven to the +deserted house was towed back for repairs, that the tank had been +punctured by some sharp instrument. + +As for the clue of the brilliant-studded comb, Peggy on examining it, +declared it to be one of a pair of side-combs, which only complicated the +mystery. Roy had thought of surrendering this clue to the police, but on +thinking it over he decided not to. He had an idea in regard to that comb +himself, and so had Peggy, but it seemed too wild and preposterous a +theory to submit to the intensely practical police of Sandy Beach. + +Roy looked up from the paper-littered desk as Peggy flung breathlessly +into his sanctum. He knew that only unusual news would have led her to +interrupt his work in which she was as keenly interested as he was. + +"What is it, Sis?" he asked, "you look as excited as if the Statue of +Liberty had paid us a visit and was now doing a song and dance on the +front lawn." + +"Oh, Roy, do be serious. Listen--who do you suppose has come back to Sandy +Beach?" + +"Not the least idea. Who?" + +"Fanning Harding!" + +"Fan Harding! The dickens!" + +"Isn't it, and more than that, he is down at the Mortlake plant now. He is +going to take up the _Cobweb_. And who do you think is to be his +companion?" + +"Give it up." + +"Regina Mortlake!" + +"Phew!" whistled the boy, "a new conquest for the irresistible Fanning, +eh?" + +"Don't be stupid," reproved Peggy, severely, "I've been thinking it over +and I've just hit on the solution. Fanning, or so I heard, took up +aviation when he was in the west. You know he always had a hankering for +it." + +"Yes, I recollect his fake aeroplane that scared the life out of you," +grinned Roy. + +"Well," pursued Peggy, not deigning to notice this remark, "I guess they +decided that Mr. Mortlake would be a bit er--er--overweight isn't it +called? so they sent for old Mr. Harding's son to manage the _Cobweb_ at +the tests." + +"Jove, that must be it. Makes it rather awkward, though. Somehow I don't +much fancy Master Fanning." + +"As if we hadn't good reason to despise him. Hark! there goes the _Cobweb_ +now!" + +A droning buzz was borne to their ears. Running to the window they saw the +Mortlake aeroplane whiz by at a fair height. It was going fast and a male +figure, tall and slight, was at the wheel. In the stern seat Regina +Mortlake's rubicund aviation costume could be made out. + +[Illustration: Running to the window they saw the Mortlake aeroplane whiz +by at a fair height.] + +"Fanning has certainly turned out to be a good driver of aeroplanes," +commented Roy, as he watched; "see that flaw strike them! There! he +brought the _Cobweb_ through it like an old general of the upper regions." + +Peggy had to admit that Fanning Harding did seem to be an expert at his +work; but she did it regretfully. + +"He gives me the creeps," she volunteered. + +"There's nothing creepy about his aeroplane work, though," laughed Roy, "I +shouldn't have believed he could have picked up so much in such a short +time." + +But a bigger surprise lay in store for the young Prescotts. That afternoon +they had, as visitors, no one less than Fanning Harding and Regina +Mortlake. While Peggy and the daughter of the designer of the Mortlake +aeroplane chatted in one corner, Fanning placed his arm on Roy's shoulder +and drew him out upon the veranda where Miss Prescott sat with her +embroidery. + +"I know you don't like me, Roy, and you never did," he said +insinuatingly, "but I've changed a lot since I was in Sandy Beach before. +Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again. More especially as in a +few days we'll be pitted against each other at the naval tests." + +"Of course, if you are genuinely sorry for all the harm you tried to do +us, I've nothing more to say," said Roy, "I'm willing to be friends, but +although I may forgive, it's going to be hard to forget." + +"Oh, that will come in time," said Fanning, airily, "I'm a changed fellow +since I went west." + +But in spite of Fanning's protestations Roy could not help feeling a +sensation of mistrust and suspicion toward the youth. There was something +unnatural even in this sudden move toward friendship. + +"It's ungenerous, ungentlemanly," Roy protested to himself; but somehow +the feeling persisted that Fanning was not to be trusted. + +"How prettily you do your hair," Peggy was remarking to Regina Mortlake in +the meantime. + +She looked with genuine admiration at the glossy black waves which the +other had drawn back over her ears in the French style. + +"Oh, do you like it?" asked Regina eagerly, "I think its hideous. But you +know I lost one of my combs and--but let's go and see what the boys are +doing," she broke off suddenly, turning crimson and hastening to the +porch. Once outside she plunged at once into conversation with the two +boys, and Peggy had no opportunity of picking up the dropped stitches of +conversation. She caught herself puzzling over it. Why had Regina been so +mortified, and apparently alarmed, when she had announced the loss of one +of her side-combs? Right there a strange thought came into Peggy's mind. +The brilliant-studded comb that Roy had picked up! Could it be that--but +no, the idea was too fantastic. In the pages of a book, perhaps, but not +in real life. And yet--and yet--Peggy, as she watched the graceful, +dark-eyed girl talking with splendid animation, found herself +wondering--and wondering. + +The next day, just as Peggy and Roy were starting out for a run to the +Bancroft place, Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake came whizzing up to +the gate in the latter's big touring car--the one in which she had arrived +in Sandy Beach. The machine was the gift of her father. It was a +commodious, maroon-colored car, with a roomy tonneau and fore-doors and +torpedo body of the latest type. + +Beside it the Blue Bird looked somewhat small and insignificant. But Roy +and Peggy felt no embarrassment. On the contrary, they were quite certain +the Blue Bird was the better car. + +"Where are you off to?" asked Fanning in friendly tones, while Regina +bowed and smiled very sweetly to Peggy. + +"Going to take a spin in the direction of the Bancroft's," said Roy, +starting his car. + +"What fun," cried Regina Mortlake, "so are we. Let's race." + +"I don't believe in racing," rejoined Peggy. + +"No, of course it is dangerous," said Fanning, "I guess Roy is a bit timid +with that old car, too. Besides it's all in the way you handle a machine;" + +Roy flushed angrily. + +"I guess this 'old car,' as you call it, could give yours a tussle if it +comes down to it," he said sharply. + +Peggy tugged his sleeve. She saw where this would lead too. She saw, too, +that Fanning was anxious to provoke Roy into a race. Presumably he was +anxious to humiliate the boy in Regina Mortlake's eyes. + +"Well, do you want to race then?" asked Regina, provokingly, her fine eyes +flashing, "there's a bit of road beyond here that's quite broad and one +hardly ever meets anything." + +Now Roy was averse, as are most boys, to being thought a "'fraid cat," and +the almost openly taunting air with which the girl looked at him angered +him almost to desperation. + +"Very well," he said, "we'll race you when we get to that bit of road." + +"Oh, Roy, what are you saying," pleaded Peggy, "it's all a trick to +humiliate us. The Blue Bird can't possibly keep up with their car, +and----." But Roy checked her impatiently. + +"You don't think I'm going to allow Fanning Harding to scare me out of +anything, do you?" he demanded in as near to a rough tone of voice as he +had ever used to his sister. + +Poor Peggy felt the stinging tears rise. But she said nothing. The next +moment the cars began to glide off, running side by side on the broad +country road. Faster and faster they went. The speed got into Roy's head. +He began to let the Blue Bird out, and then Fanning Harding, for the first +time seemingly, realized what a formidable opponent he was placed in +contact with. + +As they reached the bit of road previously agreed upon as a race course, +the banker's son stopped his machine and hailed Roy to do the same. + +"Tell you what we'll do to make this interesting," he said, "we'll change +machines. Or are you afraid to drive mine?" + +"I'll drive it," said Roy recklessly, in spite of Peggy's quavered: "Say +no." + +"Good. That will give us a fine opportunity to compare the two machines," +cried Fanning Harding. + +He jumped from the bigger car and handed out his companion. Then, for the +fraction of a minute, he bent, monkey wrench in hand, above one of the +forward wheels. + +"A bolt had worked loose," he explained. + +"Come on Peggy," urged Roy, and against her better judgment Peggy, as many +another girl has done before her, obeyed the summons, although an +intuition warned her that something was not just right. + +"Ready?" cried Fanning from the Blue Bird. + +"All ready"; hailed back Roy, who found the spark and throttle adjustments +of the maroon car perfectly simple. + +"Then--go!" almost screamed Regina Mortlake. Peggy was looking at her at +the moment, and she was almost certain she saw a look of hatred flash +across the girl's countenance. But before she could give the matter any +more thought the maroon car shot forward. Close alongside came the Blue +Bird. + +Motor hood to motor hood they thundered along at a terrific pace. The road +shot by on either side like a brown and green blur. + +"Faster!" Peggy heard Fanning shout somewhere out of the dust cloud. + +Whi-z-z-z-z-z-z! It was wild, exciting--dangerous! + +"Roy," gasped Peggy, "if----" + +But she got no further. There was a sudden soul-shaking shock. The front +of the car seemed to plough into the ground. A rending, splitting noise +filled the air. + +The car stopped short, and its boy and girl occupants were hurtled, like +projectiles, into the storm center of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMSY'S SUSPICIONS ARE ROUSED. + + +Peggy, after a moment in which the entire world seemed spinning about her +crazily, sat up. She had landed in a ditch, and partially against a clump +of springy bushes, which had broken the force of her fall. In fact, she +presently realized, that by one of those miraculous happenings that no one +can explain, she was unhurt. + +The automobile, its hood crushed in like so much paper, had skidded into +the same ditch in which Peggy lay, and bumped into a small tree which it +had snapped clean off. But the obstacle had stopped it. + +One wheel lay in the roadway. Evidently it had come off while the machine +was at top speed, and caused the crash. But Peggy noted all these things +automatically. She was looking about her for Roy. + +From a clump of bushes close by there came a low groan of pain. The girl +sprang erect instantly, forgetting her own bruises and shaken nerves in +this sign that her brother was in pain. In the meantime, Fanning and +Regina Mortlake had stopped and turned the Blue Bird. They came back to +the scene of the wreck with every expression of concern on their faces. + +Roy lay white and still in the midst of the brush into which he had been +hurled. There was a great cut across his forehead, and in reply to Peggy's +anxious inquiries, the lad, who was conscious, said that he thought that +his ankle had been broken. Peggy touched the ankle he indicated, and light +as her fingers fell upon it, the boy uttered an anguished moan. + +"Oh, gee, Peg!" he cried bravely, screwing up his face in his endeavor not +to make an outcry, "that hurts like blazes." + +"Poor boy," breathed Peggy tenderly, "I'm so sorry." + +"I'm so glad you're not hurt, Sis," said the boy, "I don't matter much. I +wish you could stop this bleeding above my eye, though." + +Peggy ripped off a flounce of her petticoat and formed it into a bandage. + +"Can I help. I'm so sorry." + +The voice was Fanning Harding's. He stood behind her with Regina at his +side. + +"Oh, how dreadful." exclaimed the dark-eyed girl, with a shudder, "my--my +poor car." + +"And my poor brother," snapped out Peggy, indignantly, "if it hadn't been +for your stupid idea of racing this wouldn't have happened. I just knew +we'd have an accident." + +"It's too bad," repeated Fanning, "but can't I do something?" + +"Yes, get me some water. There's a brook a little way down this road. +You'll find a tin cup under the rear seat in our machine." + +Fanning, perhaps glad to escape Peggy's righteous anger, hastened off on +the errand. Regina flounced down on a stone by the roadside and moaned. + +"Oh, this is fearful. Why can't we get a doctor? Oh, my poor car. It will +never be the same again." + +"Nonsense," said Peggy, sharply, "it can easily be repaired. But you don't +think I'm worrying about your car now, do you?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," quavered Regina, "I know it's all terrible. Is +your brother badly hurt?" + +"No. Fortunately he only has this cut in his head and a broken ankle. It +might have been far worse." + +Regina wandered away. Somehow she felt that Peggy had taken a sudden +dislike to her. She sauntered toward the car. Suddenly she stopped and her +large eyes grew larger. In the middle of the road, just as they had been +hurled from Roy's pocket, lay a side-comb studded with brilliants and an +old battered wallet. + +"Oh!" cried the girl, with an exclamation that was half a sob, "oh, what +good fortune. So he was keeping that as evidence against me, eh? Well, +perhaps this accident was providential, after all." + +She picked up the comb and then turned her attention to the wallet. Giving +a quick glance around to see that she was unobserved the girl plunged her +white fingers into the pocket case. They encountered something crisp and +crackly. She drew the object out. + +"A twenty-dollar bill!" she exclaimed wonderingly, "and nothing else. I +wonder if this can have anything to do with----." + +She was turning it over curiously as she spoke. Suddenly a red spot flamed +up in her either cheek. + +"It's marked with a red round O," she exclaimed, "what a bit of evidence. +So Master Roy Prescott, you were planning to unmask me by that side-comb, +were you? Well, I shall play the same trick on you with this bill." + +Fanning Harding was coming back at that moment with the cup full of water. +The girl checked him with an excited gesture. + + +"Fortune has played into our hands," she cried, "look here!" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Fanning, rather testily. + +"This bill. Don't you see it's one of the stolen ones. Look at the red +circle upon the back." + +"Jove! So it is. But, what, how----" + +"Hush! Don't talk so loud. This wallet, which contained it, was jolted out +of Roy Prescott's pocket when he was hurled from the machine. The wallet +and--and something else. But don't you see what power that gives us?" + +"No. I confess I'm stupid, but----" + +"Oh, how dense you boys are," exclaimed Regina, with an impatient stamp of +the foot, "don't you see that this bill will come pretty close to proving +Roy Prescott a thief, if we want to use it that way? You are a witness +that I found it in his wallet which had been jerked out of his pocket. +Isn't that enough?" + +"Well, men have been sent to prison on less evidence," said Fanning, with +a shrug; "but I've got to hurry up with this water or they'll suspect +something. I'll talk more with you about this later on. Your father and +mine need every bit of fighting material they can get hold of, if we are +to win the big prize for the Mortlake aeroplane." + +A shadow fell athwart the road as Fanning, an evil smile on his flabby, +pale face, hastened down into the depression in which Roy, with Peggy +bending above him, still lay. The girl looked swiftly up. A big, red +aeroplane was hovering on high. Presently one of its occupants, a girl +peered over the edge. The next minute she turned and said something in an +excited tone to her companion. The aeroplane began to drop rapidly. In a +few seconds it came to earth in the roadway, not a stone's throw from the +wrecked auto and its uninjured Blue Bird comrade. + +The new arrivals were Jimsy and Jess. They had set out on a sky cruise to +the Prescott home, and Jess's bright eyes had espied the confusion in the +road beneath them as they flew over. The swift descent had been the +result. + +Hardly noticing Regina, who regarded them curiously, the young sky sailors +hastened toward the spot in which, from on high, they had seen the injured +boy lying. A warm wave of gratitude swept over Peggy as she looked up at +the sound of footsteps and saw who the newcomers were. In an emergency +like the present one she could not wish for two better helpers than the +Bancrofts. + +Jess and Jimsy had been off on a visit and so had not been made aware of +the fact that Fanning had returned to Sandy Beach. Their astonishment on +seeing him may be imagined. Jess regarded him with a tinge of disdain, but +the frank and open Jimsy grasped the outstretched hand which the son of +the Sandy Beach banker extended to him. Evidently Fanning's policy was one +of conciliation and he meant to press it to the uttermost. + +"Well, this is a nice fix, isn't it?" murmured Roy, smiling pluckily, as +the Bancrofts came toward him with pitying looks, "but where in the world +did you come from?" + +"From yonder sky," grinned Jimsy, trying, not very successfully, to assume +an inanely cheerful tone, "not badly hurt, old man, are you?" + +"No. Just this wallop over my eye and a twisted ankle. Thought it was +broken at first, but I guess it isn't." + +"How did it all happen?" + +Peggy explained. Jimsy whistled. + +"What make of machine is your car, Fanning?" he asked. + +"A Dashaway," was the rejoinder. + +"The same type as ours," exclaimed young Bancroft. "They are the best and +stanchest cars on the market. I can't understand how such an accident +could have happened, unless----," he paused and then went on resolutely, +"unless the car had been tampered with." + +"What an idea!" shrilled Regina, who had now joined the group, "you don't +surely mean to insinuate? Why the damage done to my poor machine will +cost a lot to repair, and----." + +"Don't mind if I have a look at it, do you?" asked Jimsy in his most +careless manner, "I'm interested, you know. A motor bug is what dad calls +me." + +"Well I----," began Fanning. + +But Regina interrupted him with strange eagerness. + +"Oh, by no means. Look at it all you wish. I only hope you can find some +explanation for this regrettable accident." + +"I hope so, too," said Jimsy gravely, "but in the meantime let's make Roy +comfortable in the Blue Bird. Then, if we can fix your car up, Miss----." + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," struck in Peggy, "Jimsy, this is Miss Mortlake, +Fanning you know. Miss Mortlake these are our particular chums, Jess and +Jimsy Bancroft." + +"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you," vouchsafed Regina, as Jimsy +and Fanning lifted Roy and carried him to the Blue Bird and made him +comfortable on the cushions. + +"I'll attend to the other car," volunteered Fanning, readily. But Jimsy +was not to be put off in this way. + +"I'd like to have a look at it before we try to put the wheel back," he +said; "it may be a useful bit of experience." + +"All right," assented Fanning, rather sullenly, "if you insist; but I +think we ought to hurry back at once." + +"By all means," quoth the bland Jimsy, "but--hullo, what's this!" He was +stooping over the wheels now. "This wheel has been tampered with. The +holding cap must have been partially unscrewed. Look here!" + +He held up the brass cap which was supposed to keep the wheel on its axle. + +"Some of the threads have been filed out of this," he said positively. + +"Let's have a look," said Fanning eagerly. He leaned over and scrutinized +the part which Jimsy was examining. + +"Those threads haven't been filed," he said, "they've worn. Very careless +not to have noticed that. It's surprising that it held on so long." + +"It might have held for a year if the car was run at average speed," said +Jimsy slowly, "but the minute it was raced beyond its normal rate the weak +part would have gone." + +"What do you mean to imply?" blustered Fanning, though his face was pale +and his breath came quickly. + +"I don't imply anything," said Jimsy slowly, "but I'd like to know who +filed this cap down." + +"Pshaw! You are dreaming," scoffed Fanning. + +A dull flush overspread Jimsy's ordinarily placid face. + +"After a while I'll wake up, maybe," he said, "and then----." He stopped. + +"Well, let's see about getting Roy home," he said, "Peggy, you can drive +the Blue Bird and Fanning and Miss Mortlake can sit in the other machine +as soon as we get the wheel back. Then Jess and I will go ahead in the +_Red Dragon Fly_ and break the news to Miss Prescott." + +Shortly thereafter the two autos moved slowly off, while the aeroplane +raced above them, going at a far faster speed. + +Regina turned to Fanning. + +"Do you think that odious boy suspects anything?" she asked. + +"I guess he does. But he can't prove a thing, so that's all the good it +will do him," scoffed Fanning, "and besides, if they get too gay we've got +a marked bill that will make it very unpleasant for a certain young +aviator." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A BOLT PROM THE BLUE. + + +The broken ankle which both Peggy and Roy had dreaded, turned out to be +only a sprain--affecting the same unlucky ankle that had been injured on +the desert. This was a big relief, as a broken joint would have kept Roy +effectually out of the aeroplane tests, as part of the machinery of the +_Golden Butterfly_ was controlled by foot pressure. + +A council of war was in progress on the porch of the Prescott home. The +participants were the inseparable four. Peggy and Roy, the latter with his +injured foot on a stool, and Jess and Jimsy. They had been discussing the +case against Mortlake and Fanning Harding. All agreed that things looked +as black against them as could be, but--where was the proof? There was not +an iota of evidence against them that would hold water an instant before +impartial judges. + +"It's positively depressing," sighed Jess, "to know that people have done +mean things and not be able to get an atom of proof against them." + +"Never mind," said Peggy, "all's well that ends well. We start for Hampton +to-morrow and once there they won't have a chance to try any more tricks. +Luckily all their mean plans and schemes have ended in nothing. Roy will +be as good as ever by to-morrow, won't you boy?" + +Roy nodded. + +"I've got to be," he said, decisively; "those tests have got to bring the +_Golden Butterfly_ out on top." + +"And they will, too," declared Jess, with a nod of her dark head, "that +poky old Harding and his crowd won't have a word to say when they are +over." + +"Let's hope not. It doesn't do to be too confident, you know," smiled +Peggy, throwing an arm round the waist of her enthusiastic friend. + +"As the man said when he thought he'd lassoed a horse but found he'd roped +his own foot instead;" grinned Jimsy, "but, say, what's all this coming up +the road?" + +Sure enough, a small crowd of ten or a dozen persons could be seen +approaching the Prescott house. They were coming from the direction of the +Mortlake plant. In advance, as they drew nearer, could be seen Mortlake +himself, with a tall man by his side and Fanning Harding. The men behind +seemed to be workmen from the plant. + +"Wonder where they can be going to?" queried Jess, idly. For a few moments +more they watched the advancing throng, and then Jimsy cried suddenly: + +"Why, that's Sheriff Lawley with Mortlake, and there's Si Hardscrabble the +constable, right behind them, what can they be after?" + +"Clues," laughed Peggy, but the laugh faded on her lips as she exclaimed: + +"Why--why, they're coming here!" + +"Here!" echoed the others. + +"Yes, that's what they are;" confirmed Jimsy, as the procession passed +inside the wicket gate and came up the gravelled pathway toward the house. + +Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's +chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon. On it glistened, like a newly +scoured pie-plate, the emblem of his authority--an immense nickel star as +big as a sunflower. + +"Roy Prescott here?" demanded the sheriff in a high, official tone. He had +known Roy since he was a boy, but seemed to think it a part of his +majestic duties to appear not to know him. + +"Miss Prescott--I--that is--er--this is a very unpleasant business--I +hope----." + +It was Mortlake stammering. He mopped the sweat from his forehead as the +sheriff interrupted him. + +"That will do Mr. Mortlake. Leave the discharge of my official duties to +me, please." + +"That's right, by heck," chorused the constable, approvingly. + +"What's the matter, sheriff?" asked Roy, easily. As yet not a glint of the +truth of this visit had dawned upon him. + +"Why, Roy, it's about that thar robbery at Galloways t'other night," +sputtered the sheriff, looking rather embarrassed, "we've come to the +conclusion that you know more about it than you told, and----," he dived +into a pocket and drew out an official-looking paper, "an' I got a warrant +fer your arrest." + +"My arrest!" stammered Roy, "why you must be mad. What on earth do I know +about it?" + +"Nothin', only you happened to hev' a marked bill in your pocket t'other +day," shot out the sheriff, triumphantly. "Fanning Harding step forward. +What do you know about this?" + +"Only this, that Miss Regina Mortlake after the automobile accident found +a wallet belonging to Roy Prescott in the roadway. She opened it and +discovered that it contained a marked twenty-dollar bill answering the +description of one of the bills stolen from the Galloway farm house. She +made me a witness of the find, and in line with my duty as a citizen, I +thought it best to expose the thief, and----." + +Fanning stopped and turned pale as a boyish figure sprang toward him with +doubled fists. He shrank back, turning a sickly yellow. + +"You contemptible sneak!" shouted Jimsy, whose fists it had been that +threatened Fanning. + +"Sheriff, I claim protection," said the cowardly youth, shrinking behind +the official. + +"Now, no fisticuffs here," warned the sheriff, "my only duty now is to +preserve order and arrest Roy Prescott on a charge of grand larceny." + +Peggy turned white and sick. The veranda floor seemed to heave up and down +like sea waves under her feet. But in the next few seconds she regained +control of herself. + +"Why such a charge is absurd," she declared vehemently, "this is simply +spite on the part of our rivals in the aeroplane business." + +"Don't know nuthin' about that," reiterated the sheriff, stolidly, "the +warrant has bin sworn out an' it's my duty ter execute it. Constable, +arrest that boy. Ef his foot is too bad hurt to walk, git a rig an' drive +him in ter town." + +Hardscrabble, flushed and swollen with importance, stepped forward. He was +about to place his hand on Roy's shoulder, but the boy checked him. + +"No need for that. Peggy, if you'll have them get out the auto, we'll +drive into town at once." + +Mortlake stepped forward. + +"Prescott," he said, "I hope you don't hold this against me. I----." + +"I don't wish to speak to you, sir," shot out Roy, for the first time +betraying indignation, "let that be your answer." + +"But I--really, I'm sorry to--Bancroft you'll listen----" + +But Jimsy turned his back on the flushed, overfed man whose eyes could +not look him in the face. + +"In the future please do us the honor not to speak to us," he said, his +voice vibrant with anger. + +"Why, if I may ask?" + +Jimsy flashed round. + +"Because, if you don't pay attention to my request I'm afraid I shall be +unable to curb my desire to land both my fists in your eyes." + +Mortlake drew back and turned away among his workmen. He did not speak +again. + +Before long the auto came round. In the meantime Peggy had taken upon +herself the task of consoling Miss Prescott. Poor Aunt Sallie, she took +the news very hardly. It was all Peggy could do to keep her from rushing +out upon the porch and denouncing the entire assemblage. + +"That Mortlake," she cried, "I'd like to scratch his eyes out." + +The proceedings in Sandy Beach before the local magistrate, Ephraim Gray, +were brief. Isaac Galloway, the farmer, told of the robbery and of his +knowledge that the marked bill was among the money. He followed this up by +relating the fact that Roy had been in the house in the afternoon and had +seen the safe. + +Then came Fanning, and to the girl's astonishment, Regina Mortlake, both +of whom swore to finding the marked bill in the wallet in the road. + +"Do you deny that this was your wallet?" asked the magistrate, holding up +the leather case after he had examined the marked bill. + +"I do," declared Roy in a firm voice. + +"What! you did not drop it?" + +"I dropped it, but it is not mine," was the stout reply. + +"Then what was it doing in your possession?" + +"Do I have to answer that question, now?" + +"It will be better to--yes." + +"Well, then, I found it in the cellar of a house to which I was lured by +two men whom I am confident were employed by this hound Mortlake." + +"Be careful," warned the magistrate, "Mr. Mortlake is a respected member +of this community. Your display of ill-will does you no good. As for your +story of how you found the wallet you can tell that to a jury later on. My +present duty is to hold you in bonds of $2,500 for trial." + +A deep breath, like a sigh, went through the courtroom. In the midst of it +an active, upright figure stepped forward. It was Lieut. Bradbury, who had +arrived in the courtroom just in time to hear the concluding words. But he +had already been informed of the facts, for the story was on every tongue +in the village. + +"I am prepared to offer that bail," he said. + +But Peggy had been before him. With her mine shares she had a good bank +account and was able to offer cash security. This was accepted almost +before the young officer reached the judge's desk. Peggy thanked the +lieutenant with a look. She could not trust herself to speak. + +"Of course," said the magistrate, "the fact that the defendant is under +bonds will prohibit his leaving the state. That is understood." + +Mortlake nudged Fanning Harding. This was what they had cunningly +calculated on. With Roy safely bottled up in New York state, it would be +manifestly impossible for him to take part in the contests at Hampton in +Virginia. While they conversed in low, eager tones, Peggy and Lieutenant +Bradbury could be seen talking in another corner. Court had been +adjourned, but the curious crowd still lingered. Jess and Jimsy stood by +Roy, fencing off the inquisitive villagers and would-be sympathizers. The +whole thing had taken place so rapidly that they all felt dazed and +bewildered. Suddenly the thought of what his detention meant dawned upon +Roy. + +"We'll be out of the race for the naval contracts," he almost moaned. + +It was the first sign he had shown of giving way. But Peggy was at his +side in an instant. + +"No, we won't, Roy," she exclaimed, her eyes brilliant with excitement, +"I've asked Lieutenant Bradbury, and he says it's unusual, but he doesn't +see why a woman should be barred from flying in the contests. There's +nothing in the rules about it, anyway." + +"Oh, Peg--gy!" gasped Jess, "you would----" + +"Do anything within reason to balk that Mortlake crowd in their trickery +and deceit," declared Peggy, with flashing eyes. + +"And we'll stand by you," announced Jimsy, stepping forward; "we'll go +with you to Hampton, and we'll bring home the bacon!" + +The inexcusable slang went unreproved. Jimsy's enthusiasm was contagious. + +"Thank you, Jimsy," said Peggy, winking to keep back the tears that would +come, "we--we--I--that--is----" + +"We'll beat them out yet. The bunch of sneaks, and it's my opinion that +Mortlake himself knows all about who robbed that safe!" cried Jimsy, not +taking the trouble to sink his voice. + +He faced defiantly about and caught Mortlake's eye. It was instantly +averted, and catching Fanning by the arm he hastened from the courtroom. + +"I wonder what mischief those young cubs are hatching up now?" he said, as +the two hastened off, bending their steps toward old Mr. Harding's bank. + +"It doesn't make much difference," chuckled Fanning, "we've got that +contract nailed down and delivered now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GATHERING OF THE MAN-BIRDS. + + +The aeroplanes--a dozen in all, that had been selected by various naval +"sharps" from all over the widely distributed portions of the country for +the weeding out of the best type--were quartered in a broad meadow not far +from the town of Hampton. The locality had been chosen as removed from the +reach of the ordinary run of curiosity seekers, who had flocked from all +parts of the country to be present at the first tests of aeroplanes as +actual naval adjuncts. + +Sheds had been provided for the accommodation of each type. And above each +shed was the name of the aeroplane it housed, printed in small letters. +One of the first things that Mortlake and Fanning Harding proceeded to do +on their arrival at this "bivouac" was to make a tour of the row of sheds +in search of the Prescott machine. But to their joy, apparently, no shed +housed it. + +There were machines of dozens of other types, monoplanes, bi-planes, +machines of the helicopter type, and a few devices based on the parachute +principle. But no Prescott. The names the various machines bore were +weird: The _Sky Pilot_, the _Cloud Chaser_, the _Star Bug_, the _Moon +Mounter_, the _Aerial Auto_, the _Heavenly Harvester_, and some titles +even more far-fetched graced the sheds, so that it was small wonder that +in this maze of high-sounding names a shed at the far end of the row +bearing the obscure title of Nameless missed the scrutiny of Mortlake and +his aide. + +"We've beaten them to a standstill this time," said Mortlake with intense +conviction, "I feel that the _Motor Hornet_ has the contest cinched." + +The _Motor Hornet_ was the name that had been bestowed on the machine +which Roy had poetically dubbed the _Silver Cobweb_. + +The shed of the mysterious Nameless was the only one of the long row that +did not buzz with activity all that day, which was one assigned to +preparation for the contests of the morrow. All the other aeroplane hives +fairly radiated activity. Freakish-looking men hovered about their weird +helicopters and lovingly polished brass and tested engines. The reek of +gasolene and burning lubricants hung heavily over the field. Reporters +darted here and there followed by panting photographers bearing +elephantine cameras and bulging boxes of plates, for the metropolitan +press was "playing up" the tests which were expected to produce a definite +aerial type of machine for the United States Navy. + +But even the most inquisitive of the news-getters failed to get anything +from within the mysterious realms occupied presumably by the Nameless. Its +roller-fitted double doors remained closed, and no sign of activity +appeared about it. + +This was conceded on all sides to be extraordinary, but all the +speculation which was indulged in failed to elucidate the mystery. + +"The Nameless is also the Ungetatable," joked one reporter as he and a +companion passed by. + +But if anyone had been about late that night, long after the aviators who +had quarters at the hotels in town had quitted the field, he would have +seen three figures--two girls and a boy, steal across the field from an +auto which had driven up almost noiselessly, and unfasten the formidable +padlocks on the doors of the Nameless's dwelling place. + +This done they vanished within the shed for a short time, and presently +thereafter a dark and strangely shaped form slowly emerged from the shed. +It was the _Golden Butterfly_, and the trio of young folks were, as you +have already guessed, Peggy, Jess and Jimsy. They crawled noiselessly on +board, and a few minutes later, with a soft whirring of the propellers, +the _Butterfly_ shut down for precaution's sake to half speed, sped almost +noiselessly upward. + +The night was a calm one. Hardly a leaf was stirring and the stars shone +like steel points in a cloudless sky. The aeroplane, after it had +attained a few hundred feet, seemed to merge into the dark background of +night sky. Unless one had known of its flight it would have taken a sharp +pair of eyes to have discerned it. + +"Say, this is glorious. It's like being pirates or--or something," said +Jimsy enthusiastically, as soon as they had reached a height where they +felt they could talk without difficulty. + +"It's great after being penned up all day at that hotel," agreed Peggy, +who was at the wheel, "how beautiful the stars are. Poor Roy, I wonder how +he is getting along?" + +"You know he was doing splendidly when we left, and he has our telegrams +by this time," said Jess; "oh, Peggy, I'm so glad that the board of naval +aviation said you could fly the _Golden Butterfly_." + +"Oh, weren't they taken aback, though, at the idea?" chuckled Jimsy; "I +thought that dignified old officer would fall out of his chair at the idea +of a girl daring to run an aeroplane. I'll bet if there'd been anything +in the rules about it, Peggy, they'd have barred you." + +"I think so, too," laughed Peggy, "but, luckily, there wasn't. As Lieut. +Bradbury pointed out, it was a case of an emergency. It isn't as if I'd +tried to 'butt in,' as you say, Jimsy." + +"Well, I'm sure I don't see why a girl shouldn't run an aeroplane just as +well as a boy. You certainly showed that you could, Peggy, when you raced +that train back in Nevada." + +"In years to come," prophesied Peggy, "I dare say women as aviators will +be as common as men. I don't see why not. Ten years ago a woman who ran an +automobile would have been laughed at, if not insulted. But now, why lots +of women run their own cars and nobody thinks of even turning his head." + +"Hear! hear!" cried Jimsy, "I declare I feel like a lone man at a +suffragette meeting." + +"Then conduct yourself as if you were actually in that dangerous +position," laughed Peggy. + +The girl's spirits were rising now under the excitement of the night +ride. On the advice of Lieut. Bradbury the party from Sandy Beach had kept +closely to their rooms at the hotel all that day. It was at the officer's +advice, too, that their shed had been labeled the Nameless. + +"If Mortlake was, as I begin to think, concerned in these attacks on you," +the officer had said, "I think it would be advisable not to appear any +more than necessary. Let him think that you are out of the race." + +Accordingly, the _Butterfly_ had been transported secretly and placed in +her shed at night. The secret had been well guarded and, as we know, +neither Mortlake nor Fanning Harding had even an inkling that the Prescott +machine was far--very far from being out of the race. + +On and on through the night throbbed the _Golden Butterfly_, making fast +time. At last they decided that it was time to return. The object of the +trip, to see that all was in running order, had been accomplished. Nothing +remained to do now but to wait for the morrow and what it would bring +forth. The nature of the tests had been carefully guarded, and not one of +the contestants knew anything about what they were to be till the hour +came at which they would be announced from the judges' boat. + +Suddenly, as they neared the environs of Hampton and the glare of electric +lights could be seen on the sky, Jimsy gave a cry and pointed down below. +They were flying pretty low, and in a road beneath them they could see an +automobile. Its headlights shone brightly but it had stopped. All at once +a sharp shout for help winged upward. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Jimsy, "somebody's in trouble down there. Maybe we'd +better descend. That is, if you girls aren't scared?" + +"Um--well," began Jess, but Peggy interrupted her: + +"Jess Bancroft, I'm ashamed of you. It's our duty to help out if we can." + +"At least if it gets too hot we can always retreat," muttered Jimsy. + +Under the covering of one of the lockers was a revolver. Under Peggy's +directions Jimsy found it. The next moment they were descending rapidly. +With hardly more noise than an alighting night bird, they dropped into the +lane in which the auto was stalled. As they touched ground the sound of +harsh voices caught their ears: + +"Shell out now, if you don't want to be half-killed!" + +"Yes, come on. Hand over your coin, or it'll be the worse for you," chimed +in another ruffianly voice. + +"Good gracious!" gasped Jess, "it's a hold up!" + +But now another voice came through the darkness. + +"I suppose you fellows know that you are breaking the law and in danger of +imprisonment if you are caught?" + +"Now, what is there that's familiar about that voice?" puzzled Peggy, +racking her brains. + +"Aw, don't preach sermons to us, boss," came one of the gruff voices, "we +needs the money and we ain't particular how we gits it, see. Fork over +now, or----" + +The sentence was never completed. There was a sudden flash and a sharp +report. The man in the automobile had defended himself apparently, for +there came the sound of a heavy body falling, and then his voice: + +"I hope I haven't hurt you badly; but you brought it on yourself, as your +companion can witness." + +The next instant, and just as Jimsy sprang forward from the clump of brush +at the roadside which had hitherto concealed the aero party--there came a +heavy rush of feet toward them. A dark form, running pantingly, appeared. + +Jimsy, with a dexterous outward thrust of his foot, tripped the fleeing +man, who came down heavily in the center of the road and started howling +for mercy. + +In the meantime, the occupant of the automobile had climbed down, and +detaching one of the lamps, examined the wounded man lying in the road +beyond Jimsy's capture. As the rays of his light swung to and fro they +hovered for an instant on Peggy's white, strained face leaning forward +above Jimsy's prisoner, upon whose neck the redoubtable young Bancroft was +now sitting. + +"Miss Prescott, by all that's wonderful!" came an amazed voice. + +There was no mistaking that bold, straightforward voice now. It was James +Bell, the mining magnate and their kind friend. + +"Oh, Mr. Bell," cried Peggy, half hysterically, "we're so glad you've +come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +As Mr. Bell spoke, the fellow who had apparently been shot, leaped to his +feet and was about to make off, but the Westerner's iron hand seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and brought him up "all standing." +Simultaneously, Jimsy's captive gave a wrench and a twist and would have +escaped but for Peggy. + +The girl seized a small nickled wrench out of the _Golden Butterfly_. In +the dark it looked not unlike a pistol. + +"You'd b-b-b-better stay w-w-w-where you are," said Peggy, in a voice +which, though rather shaky, was still courageous. + +The fellow took the hint, and just then Mr. Bell came up with his capture, +who had merely been "playing possum." The two men were thoroughly cowed, +and were trembling violently. + +"Don't be hard on us guv'ner," wailed one of them; "we didn't mean no +harm." + +"No; it was just a little joke," protested Jimsy's prisoner, who was +standing in the rays of the detached auto light, thoroughly subdued. + +"It's a joke that's liable to cost you dear," commented Mr. Bell. "Jimsy," +he added, for by this time recognition and greetings had passed between +the mining magnate and Jess and Jimsy, "Jimsy, have you got a bit of rope +handy, my boy?" + +Jimsy rummaged in the _Golden Butterfly's_ tool and supply locker and +presently unearthed a coil of fine cotton cord of stout texture. This was +speedily applied to the hands of the two men, and loose thongs placed +about their legs. + +While this work was going forward Peggy had been scrutinizing the faces of +the two prisoners with a startled look. There was something very familiar +about both of them. All at once it flashed across her where she had +encountered them before. They were the two men who had held up Jess and +herself in the road to the Galloway farm that eventful afternoon on which +they had taken refuge from the storm. + +She whispered to Jess her suspicions. Her chum instantly confirmed them. +Here was news indeed. After the men had been tied and placed in the +tonneau of Mr. Bell's car, Peggy called a council of war. In a few words +she told Mr. Bell of all that had happened since they had returned to the +East, and narrated the part the two prisoners had played in it. + +"Good heavens, just to think I've come to the tame and effete east to +plunge into the midst of such an exciting mix-up," laughed Mr. Bell, "I +was in Roanoke seeing about the shipment of some supplies when I saw, in a +newspaper, that the contests for the naval contract were to take place +here. I had had no idea from your letters that they were so near at hand. +As I had some time to spare, I thought I'd run over to Hampton in my +machine and see how you made out." + +"And we providentially happened to fly across you!" cried Jimsy. "Truth +is stranger than fiction, after all." + +"But what are we to do with those two rascals now that we have caught +them?" wondered Peggy; "if we take them into Hampton and turn them over to +the authorities Mortlake will know of it and may make more trouble. I +wonder if they know much about him and his schemes. I recollect now that +I've seen them hanging about his aeroplane plant. I couldn't call to mind +then where I had seen them before, but I suppose the shock of coming upon +them so unexpectedly to-night jogged my memory." + +"You say that they were hanging about Mortlake's place?" asked Mr. Bell, +in an interested tone. + +"Yes, I'm sure of it," repeated Peggy; "I'm certain of it now." + +"We'll soon find out," said Mr. Bell in his old determined manner. He +approached the car in which the two bound captives were still huddled. + +"Now, you fellows," he said in stern voice, "you know better than I do, +most likely, what the penalty for attempted highway robbery is in the +State of Virginia." + +"Oh, guv'ner, don't turn us over to the police," wailed one of the men, +none other, in fact, than our old acquaintance, Joey Eccles. His +companion, the angular and lanky Slim, remained silent. + +"I want you to answer my questions truthfully," snapped out the Westerner, +"after that I'll see what I'll do with you. Now then--do you know a man +named Mortlake?" + +"Y-y-y-yus, guv'ner," stammered the redoubtable Joey. + +"Good. You came here with him?" + +"Well, what if we did?" growled the hitherto silent Slim. Paying no +attention to him Mr. Bell went on, while his young companions pressed +eagerly about him. + +"What did you come for?" + +Joey seemed about to speak but Slim growled something in a low tone to +him, and he was silent. + +"Come, are you going to answer?" demanded Mr. Bell. + +No reply. + +"Very well, I'll drive into Hampton and see if the Chief of Police can't +get more out of you." + +The mining magnate made a step toward the car as if he were about to carry +out his threat. This was too much for Joey's composure. + +"We came here with Mortlake to do a little job fer him guv'ner," he +sputtered out. + +"Oh, you did, eh? Well, what was the nature of that employment?" + +"To disable one of them flying machines." + +"Which one?" + +"One that belonged to the Prescott kids. Mortlake said he'd make it worth +our while--and--no, you can't stop me, Slim--and then when we couldn't +find the machine we was to bust up he turned us loose without a cent of +the money he promised us. We was broke, and----" + +"And so you thought you'd replenish your pockets by holding up some +automobilist or traveller, eh? Humph, you're a nice pair." + +"You ain't goin' ter give us up guv'ner? I told you the honest truth, +guv'ner. Didn't I, Slim?" + +"Yep," was the grunted reply; "and now Mister What's-Yer-Name, what are +you going ter do with us?" + +"I'm going to take you on a trip," was the astonishing reply. + +"On a trip, guv'ner," stammered Joey, all his fears lively once more. + +"Yes, on a trip." + +The younger members of this strange roadside party stepped forward. As +they advanced into the glare of the detached headlight, Joey and his +companions saw them. Both men turned away and seemed much embarrassed. + +"What are you going to do, Mr. Bell?" asked Peggy, eagerly. The mining +man's manner had become almost mysterious. + +"My dear, little girl," said James Bell, "can you trust me?" + +"Why, of course," came in a chorus. + +"Well, then, you'll let me work this thing out my own way and I'll +guarantee that things will be straightened out for everybody--are you +willing to let me do this and ask no questions till the proper time?" + +"Yes," came in a positive chant of assent. + +"Very well, then. You fly back to your shed. I'll continue into town. You +may not see me for some time. But don't worry. I've got this job in hand +now and I'll see it through." + +"We trust you absolutely," said Peggy, "and you'll trust us?" + +"To the last ditch," said the Westerner vehemently, "and now as there's no +time to be lost, we'll go our respective ways. By the way, what time does +the first test come off?" + +"We don't know yet; but some time before noon. It is rumored that it will +be an easy one. They'll work up to the difficult flights by degrees," +volunteered Jimsy. + +"Good. I'd like to have all the time possible as I wish to do what I have +to do thoroughly." + +With this Mr. Bell adjusted the headlight he had removed and climbed into +his car. With a wave and shouted farewell, he was off. + +"Gracious, I feel as if I'd been shaken up in one of those kaleidoscopes +or whatever you call them," gasped Jess, "it all seems like part of a +dream." + +"Things certainly have been happening quickly," agreed Peggy, "but I feel +more at ease now than for a long time. Mr. Bell has the case in hand, +and----" + +"He'll see it through and fix it right," interposed Jimsy, +enthusiastically. + +As there was nothing to be gained by lingering about the scene of their +strange encounter and stranger adventure, the party of youthful aviators +clambered back into the _Golden Butterfly_ and once more winged aloft. It +was a short dash to their shed and they reached it without incident. +Then, with hearts that felt lighter for the brisk, healthy influence of +breezy James Bell, they trudged to the small hotel at which they were +stopping, in order to avoid being seen by Mortlake and his aides till the +last moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE START OF THE SKY CRUISE. + + +"The first flight is to be to Cape Charles and return, a distance of sixty +miles, approximately," announced Jimsy the next morning. He held in his +hand a small blue folder which had been issued to all the contestants. It +contained the rules and regulations governing the first day's tests. + +A hasty breakfast was followed by a quick trip to the grounds in one of +the ancient hacks that seem to swarm in Hampton. If the starting field had +been a scene of confusion the day before, it was a veritable chaos now. +Smoke and the fumes of gasolene hung like a pall above it. Through the +bluish cloud could be seen dim figures hurrying with cans of fuel or +lubricant, bags of tools and engine parts. + +"Reminds me of circus day," commented Jimsy, looking about him; "hullo, +there's the _Cobweb_ out already," he exclaimed presently. + +Across the field could be seen the silvery wings of the Mortlake +aeroplane. Several figures hovered about her, adjusting stays and putting +finishing touches to her complicated mechanism. + +Presently a hush settled over the scene, and the party of naval officers, +detailed to superintend the start and take the times of the competing +craft, came through the crowd. They were directing their steps to an +unpainted wooden structure at one end of the field. This building was +equipped with various instruments for recording time accurately. From it +also would presently be given out the wind velocity and any other data of +interest to the aviators. + +The party in full uniform swung past our three young adventurers. +Lieutenant Bradbury was among them. He bowed and was about to pass on when +he stopped and fell back. + +"Now, don't get nervous, and do your best," he said to Peggy; "I'm sure +that we shall all have reason to be proud of the _Golden Butterfly_ +before these tests are over." + +"I hope so," rejoined Peggy; "we shall do our best, at any rate." + +"I know you will, and now if you'll excuse me I must be hurrying on. The +board has an immense amount of work to do before ten o'clock, the official +starting hour." + +The trio, left to themselves, made for the shed which bore the legend +"Nameless" above its door. Many curious eyes followed them as they paused +before it, and Jimsy inserted a key in the stout padlock. Who could the +two pretty girls in natty motor bonnets, with goggles attached, the plain, +heavy skirts and dark shirt-waists be? Speculation ran rife. There was a +regular stampede of reporters and photographers to the shed of the +Nameless. But when they arrived there, to their chagrin, they found that +their prospective victims had slipped inside and only the blank doors +greeted them. + +Among the crowd that hastened to try to solve the mystery of the Nameless +was Fanning Harding, whose attention had been attracted by the rush of the +crowd. At his side was Regina Mortlake. They arrived just in time to hear +somebody say: + +"It's two pretty girls and a good-looking boy. They're just kids." + +Fanning and Regina exchanged glances. The girl actually turned pale. + +"They are here after all," she exclaimed, "and I thought you said they +weren't." + +"Well, how on earth was I to know that they had hidden their machine under +that name. There are so many freak craft here that----" + +"You are more of an idiot than I thought you," said the girl, impatiently; +"all our work has gone for nothing." + +"No; there is time yet. If only Eccles and that other chap hadn't decamped +like that last night, we might have put them to work to-night." + +"They decamped--as you call it--because your father wouldn't give them any +more money," said Regina with flashing eyes, "that was inexcusable folly. +They know too many of our secrets to allow them to wander about +unwatched." + +"Oh, two tramps like that wouldn't have the sense to make any use of what +they know," rejoined Fanning easily, "besides----" + +But Regina Mortlake's mind was busy on another tack. + +"Isn't it against the rules for women or girls to drive machines in this +contest?" she asked. + +"Say!" Fanning's eyes glistened, "I guess it is. Let's find out. If Peggy +Prescott is going to drive that machine we may be able to head them off +yet." + +The two conspirators hastened across the field to the unpainted wooden +shack that housed the committee. A crowd surged about it asking questions +and demanding impossible things. It was some time before Fanning, elbowing +people right and left as he was, could reach the front. He scanned a +printed list of the entries for the contest hung on the wall. As he read +it he blamed himself bitterly for not looking at it the day before. Near +the bottom was the name "Nameless, entrant Miss Margaret Prescott." + +Suddenly the disgruntled youth spied Lieut. Bradbury. + +"A moment," he cried. As the young officer turned, Fanning, without a word +of greeting, bellowed out: + +"Ain't it against the rules for a girl to drive an aeroplane in this +contest." + +"Not that I am aware of," rejoined the officer. He reached over to a stack +of pink booklets. + +"Here's a book of rules. Read it." + +"Hold on," cried Fanning, as the officer moved off, "I want to make a +protest I----" + +"Make your protest in writing. No verbal ones will be considered," said +the officer briefly. + +"But see here----" + +"I've no time to talk now, Mr. Harding. Good morning," and the officer +passed on. + +The crowd began to grin, and soon laughed openly. This enraged Fanning the +more. He angrily shoved his way to the outskirts where Regina was +awaiting him. + +"Well?" she said, lifting her dark eyebrows. + +"Well," echoed Fanning in a surly tone, "it's no go." + +"No go. What do you mean?" + +"I mean that there isn't anything in the rules, apparently, to prevent a +woman or a girl driving an aeroplane if she wants to." + +"Come and let's see my father," suggested the girl, presently, "he'll want +to know about this. It may mean a complete change of our plans." + +"You'll have to change 'em to beat the _Golden Butterfly_," muttered +Fanning; "if only those drawings hadn't been lost we'd have had that +balancer, and it looks to me as if we might need it before we get to Cape +Charles." + +"Why?" + +"The wind's freshening. Not more than a half dozen of these aeroplanes +will venture up. Bother the luck, if it wasn't for the _Golden Butterfly_, +we'd have a clean sweep." + +"This is only the first day," counseled Regina; "the points scored to-day +will not count for so very much. There's plenty of time." + +"Humph," grumbled Fanning, and as this conversation had brought them up to +the _Silver Cobweb_, he broke it off to communicate his intelligence +concerning the Prescott aeroplane to Mortlake, who heard it with a +lowering brow. + +Bang! + +A bomb shot upward and exploded, in a cloud of thick yellow smoke, in +mid-air. + +"The half-hour signal," cried Jimsy; "everything ready?" + +"As ready as it ever will be," rejoined Peggy nervously fingering a stay +wire. + +The navigators of the Nameless were still inside the shed. The doors were +still closed. Peggy had decided not to risk having the machine damaged by +the crowd by bringing it out before the very last moment. As the bomb +sounded Jimsy drew out his watch. He kept it in his hand awaiting the +elapse of the preliminary half-hour. + +Outside, as Fanning had prophesied, there had been a great and sweeping +reduction in the number of aeroplanes that were to start. The puffy wind +had scared most of the entrants of the freak types and only five of the +more conventional kind of aircraft were on the starting line. The _Silver +Cobweb_ was among them. + +Fanning was in the driver's seat. As a passenger he carried Regina +Mortlake. She looked very stunning in her lurid aviation costume, and her +handsome face was as calm as chiseled marble. Her nervousness only +displayed itself by a constant tapping of her gauntleted fingers. + +Fanning finished oiling the motor and adjusting grease cups and timers, +and straightening up, glanced nervously about him. Still no sign of the +Nameless. + +"I guess they've got scared off by the wind," he grinned to Mortlake, who, +with the elder Harding and several machinists, stood by the side of the +_Cobweb_. + +"I doubt it," rejoined Mortlake; "it would take more than that to alarm +those girls. And just to think that all our trouble to out-maneuver them +has gone for nothing." + +"You did a bad thing when you let Eccles and that other chap get away," +commented Fanning; "I don't like their disappearance at all." + +"Why?" + +"Well, for one thing, they know a good deal that would make it very +awkward for us if they fell into the hands of anyone who disliked us. And +again----" + +"Pshaw! You are alarming yourself over nothing. They were well paid and +they wouldn't dare to make trouble. If they told about us they'd implicate +themselves." + +"Just the same I don't feel easy. Hullo! there goes the second bomb. That +fellow's just going to touch it off, and----" + +At the same instant the doors of the Nameless's shed were flung open. +From them emerged the glistening form of the golden-winged _Butterfly_. +Half a dozen men whom Jimsy had hired pushed the aerial craft rapidly +across the field to the starting line. So engrossed was the crowd in +watching the other machines that they hardly noticed the arrival of the +added starter. + +But not so Mortlake and his companions. They watched, with jaundiced eyes, +the forthcoming of their dreaded rival, and if wishes could have disabled +her, the _Golden Butterfly_ would never have flown on that day. + +B-o-o-m! + +The echoes of the second bomb rang deafeningly. + +"They're off!" yelled the crowd, as if there might have been some doubt of +it. + +Up into the puffy air winged six aeroplanes. It was a glorious sight. From +the chassis of the various air craft the airmen waved farewells to the +cheering crowd. + +Flying, wing and wing, they dashed off toward where the sea lay, a deep +blue patch, beyond the shore. Presently they faded into dots and then were +blotted out altogether. + +"There's a thick haze out there," said one of the officers, as the +aeroplanes vanished. + +The word ran through the crowd and created a momentary sensation. Then the +big throng dismissed the flying aeroplanes from its mind, and wandered +about the grounds gazing openmouthed at the freak types, whose inventors +were willing enough--too willing--to explain their remarkable points. + +It might be a long time before the first of the homing craft would come in +sight and what was the use of worrying about them. Only in the wooden +structure housing the naval officers was there any concern displayed. + +"If it's thick weather," said Lieutenant Bradbury, summing up a +discussion, "they're going to have some trouble on their hands out there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE WHITE PERIL. + + +"What's that? No, not that schooner below there--I mean that sort of +whitish drift--it looks like cotton--on the horizon?" + +Jess leaned forward and addressed Jimsy. + +"You've got me guessing," rejoined that slangy young person. + +"Ask Peggy." + +"No, I don't want to bother her now. She's got her hands full, I fancy." + +The _Golden Butterfly_ was swinging steadily onward above a sparkling sea. +The slight haze perceptible from the land was not noticeable to the air +voyagers. Below them a four-masted schooner was tacking in the light wind. +Closer in shore lay several grim looking battleships and cruisers. In +their leaden colored "war paint" they looked menacing and bulldoggish. + +Far off, a mere speck, could be seen a dim and indistinct object pointing +upward from the cape like a finger. They guessed it was the light for +which they were aiming. Peggy's last glance at the compass had confirmed +this guess. + +Jimsy looked about him. About a quarter of a mile off, and slightly ahead +was the _Cobweb_. The silvery aeroplane was rushing through the atmosphere +at a great rate. But profiting by Mortlake's experience, Fanning was +evidently not speeding the 'plane to its fullest capacity. + +On the other side was a large red biplane flying steadily and keeping +about level with the _Golden Butterfly_. Far behind lagged a monoplane. +The other contestants had dropped out of the race. They were so manifestly +out of it that their drivers did not care to continue. + +A glance at the speedometer showed Peggy's two passengers that they were +reeling off fifty-five miles an hour. The _Cobweb_ was doing slightly +better. + +"We should round the light in a few minutes now," said Jimsy scrutinizing +his watch anxiously. + +"Will they report us?" asked Jess. + +"Yes. There is a wireless rigged up there. The minute we round it on our +return trip word will be flashed back to the starting point." + +Silently they sat counting the minutes roll by. All at once Jimsy noticed +that the air had become strangely damp and moist. He looked up. He could +not refrain a cry of astonishment as he did so. The _Golden Butterfly_ was +enveloped in a damp, steamy sort of smother. The _Cobweb_ had been blotted +out and so had the other aeroplanes. + +"Fog," he exclaimed. "What a bit of bad luck." + +"It's just as bad for the others," Peggy reminded him. + +"Have you got your course?" asked Jess anxiously. + +"Yes. Almost due east. But in this dense mist it will be hard to come +close enough to the lighthouse to be reported without the danger of +dashing into it." + +"Are you going to try for it?" + +"Of course," was the brief reply. Peggy slowed down the engine. The +_Golden Butterfly_ now seemed to be gliding silently through lonely +billows of white sea fog. It was an uncanny feeling. The occupants of the +machine felt a chilling sense of complete isolation. + +Thanks to their barograph, however, they could judge their height above +the sea. + +"Good thing we've got it," commented Jimsy; "otherwise we might have a +thrilling encounter with the topmasts of some schooner." + +"I only wish we had some instrument to show us where the other aeroplanes +are," said Peggy; "it's hard to hear anything in this fog." + +"Maybe it will clear off," suggested Jess hopefully. + +"Not unless we get some wind," opined Jimsy; "queer how quick that wind +dropped and this smother came up." + +Nobody even hinted at the deadly danger they were in. But each occupant of +the _Golden Butterfly_ knew it full well. Except for the compass, they had +no way of guiding their flight, and to turn about would have been to court +disaster. There was only one thing for it, to keep on. This Peggy did, +grimly compressing her lips. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Jimsy suddenly. + +Far below them they could hear a mournful sound. It was wafted up to them +in fits and starts. + +"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" + +"A church bell," cried Jess, "we must be over land, Peggy!" + +The other shook her head. + +"That's a bell buoy, I guess," she said. + +"I wish he'd tell us how to get out of here," joked Jimsy, rather wearily. + +"Who?" asked Jess. + +"That bell boy." + +Never had one of Jimsy's jokes fallen so flat. He mentally resolved not to +attempt another one. + +Presently he looked at his watch. + +"Almost eleven," he said, "we must have passed the light by this time." + +"I don't know," said Peggy helplessly; "if only the chart marked that bell +buoy--but it doesn't." + +She again scrutinized the chart pinned before her on the sloping slab +designed for such purposes. But no bell buoy was marked on it as being +located anywhere near where they estimated they must be drifting. +Drifting, however, is not quite the correct word. An aeroplane cannot +drift. Its life depends upon its motion. The instant it stops or decreases +speed beyond a certain point, in that same instant it must fall to the +earth. + +This fact is what made the position of the young sky cruisers particularly +dangerous. Although the gauge showed that they had plenty of gasoline, the +supply--even with the use of the auxiliary tanks--would not hold out +indefinitely. If the fog did not lift, or they did not land, sooner or +later they must face disaster. Worse still, they were--or believed they +were, navigating above the sea. + +Had the _Golden Butterfly_ been fitted with pontoons like some of the Glen +Curtiss machines, this would not have been so alarming. But a descent into +the ocean would inevitably mean a speedy death by drowning. + +Suddenly voices struck through the smother all about them. They seemed to +come from below. + +"It's thick as pea soup, captain!" + +"Aye, aye; I'll be glad when we're out of it I kin tell yer. This bay's a +bad place ter be in er fog." + +"A ship," cried Jimsy. "Quick, Peggy," he almost yelled the next instant. +"Set your rising levers." + +The girl swiftly manipulated the machinery that sent the _Golden +Butterfly_ on an upward course. + +But it was only just in time that this maneuver was carried out. All of +them had a glimpse for an instant of the gilded ball on the main-mast +head of the vessel beneath them. For an instant Peggy's watchful eye had +been deflected from the height gauge, and she had allowed the _Golden +Butterfly_ to drop almost on the top of some coasting vessel's mast. + +The danger over, they could not help laughing at the whimsical adventure. + +"Just to think how utterly unconscious those fellows were of the fact that +three human beings were hovering right above them and listening to every +word of their conversation," chuckled Jimsy; "isn't it queer?" + +A little while later a steamer's whistle boomed through the fog beneath +them, but as the altitude register showed five hundred feet, they did not +bother about it. + +"At all events we know we're still above the water and not in danger of +colliding with any church steeples," said Jess, and she found consolation +in the thought. + +"Have you any idea at all as to the direction of the light, Peggy?" +inquired Jimsy at length. + +"I--I really don't know," confessed Peggy, with a gulp; "everything's +mixed up. It's so thick I can't tell anything and I'm deathly afraid of +running into the lighthouse by mistake." + +"Then for goodness sake give it a wide berth," cried Jimsy; "if we keep on +cruising about for a while we'll be bound to land somewhere. Anyhow we've +got lots of gasoline, that's one comfort." + +It was, indeed. In the steady hum of their powerful motor the young +aviators found consolation in that lonely ride through the billowing +fog-banks. At all events, there was no sign of a falter or skip there. + +"If only we could get some wind," sighed Jess. + +"Might as well wish for the moon," said Jimsy; "the air is as still as it +used to be at noon out on the desert." + +"What a contrast between the Big Alkali and this!" cried Jess, half +hysterically. The strain of the white drifting fog was beginning to tell +upon her. + +Jimsy looked at her sharply. + +"Look here, Sis," he began and was going on when a sharp cry from Peggy +arrested him. At the same instant the _Golden Butterfly_ swerved sharply, +swinging over on her beam-ends almost. + +Right in front of them, for one dreadful instant, there loomed the +outlines of another aeroplane. The next instant it was gone. But the +picture of the deadly peril, its outlines exaggerated by the mist, was +photographed in the minds of every one of them. + +"We must land somewhere, soon," said Peggy, in rather a faint voice; "I +don't think I could stand many shocks like that. Another inch, and----." + +She did not complete the sentence. Her two listeners did not require her +to. It did not take a vivid imagination to have pictured the result of +that "other inch." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +OUT OF THE CLOUDS. + + +Ten minutes or so later, a puff of wind blew the folds of fog apart for a +brief instant. Beneath them Peggy could see a sandy beach and some +scrubby-looking brush. Like a flash she took advantage of the momentarily +revealed opportunity. The _Golden Butterfly_, under her guidance, sank +swiftly, grounding a few seconds later into a bed of soft sand. It was +like lighting on a pillow of down, so gently had the glide to earth been +made. + +Shutting off the engine, Peggy took hold of Jimsy's outstretched arm and, +followed by Jess, she jumped lightly out upon the sand. The roar of the +surf, as the big swells rolled upon the beach was in their ears. A +wholesome, stinging tang of salt in their nostrils. + +"I wonder where on earth we've landed," said Jimsy, looking about him; +"perhaps this is some enchanted land and we are to face new +perils--dragons or something." + +"Well, gallant knight," laughed Jess, in the highest spirits to be back on +the firm ground again--even if it was only shifting sand--"we trust to +you." + +"And by my troth," exclaimed the mercurial Jimsy, "ye shall not be +disappointed in me fair damsels. Hullo! an adventure already. Hark!" + +Through the smother a dull sound was borne to their ears. A sound that +came in muffled but rhythmic thumps. At intervals it paused, but then was +resumed again. + +"Somebody chopping wood!" exclaimed Peggy, recognizing the sound. + +"That's just what it is, if I ever wielded an axe in my life," agreed +Jimsy; "now logic tells us that an axe can't work itself. Therefore +somebody must be using it. Where there is human life there is--or ought to +be--food. How about it girls, are you hungry?" + +"Hungry! I could eat anything," declared Jess. + +"I'm almost as bad," laughed Peggy. + +"Well," said Jimsy, "as there is no sign of the fog lifting yet awhile, +what's the matter with our starting out to find the wood-chopper and +seeing if he has anything to eat?" + +"Jimsy, you're a genius," cried Jess. + +"That's what all my friends tell me," rejoined the modest youth. + +They set off over rough sand dunes, overgrown with coarse grass, in the +direction of the sounds of the axe. The sand was loose and their feet sank +ankle deep in it, but they plodded along pluckily. + +All at once, just as if a curtain had been drawn, the outlines of a rough +shanty appeared in front of them. It was a tumble-down sort of a place, +seemingly made of driftwood and old sacks and bits of canvas. From a rusty +iron stove-pipe on top, a feeble column of blue smoke was ascending. + +The noise of chopping had ceased on their approach and as they stood +hesitating a strange figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the +wretched rookery of a place. The man, who stood facing them, a startled +look in his light blue eyes, was apparently about middle age. He wore a +full beard of a golden brown color and was barefooted and hatless. His +clothes consisted of a tattered shirt and a pair of coarse canvas +trousers. + +"Well, shiver my toplights!" he cried as his eyes fell on the trio, "whar +under ther sun did you come from? Drop from ther clouds?" + +"That's just what we did," said the debonnaire Jimsy, as the girls drew +back rather affrighted at the weird looking figure and his queer, wild way +of talking. + +"What's that? Don't try to fool with me young feller. I ain't as crazy as +I reckon I looks." + +There was a certain dignity about the man when he spoke, that, despite +his ragged clothing and miserable habitation, was impressive. + +"No, it's really so," Jimsy hastened to assure him, "we--we came in an +aeroplane, you know." + +"Well, now," said the man scratching his head, "I reckon that's the first +of them contrivances to reach Lost Brig Island." + +"Lost Brig Island," echoed Jess in an alarmed tone; "is this an island?" + +"If the geography books still define an island as a body of land +surrounded by water, it is," rejoined the man, with a smile. + +"Are we far from Cape Charles?" asked Peggy, eagerly. + +"Why, no. Not more than six miles to the north. But what under ther sun +air you young folks in your fine clothes a-doin' out here?" + +Peggy hastily explained, and the man said that he had seen some reference +to the coming contests in a stray paper the light-keepers had given him +the last time he passed the lighthouse in a small boat he kept. + +"Is the island inhabited?" inquired Jimsy; "we'd like to get something to +eat. If there's a hotel or----." + +The man of the island burst into a laugh. Not a rough guffaw, but a laugh +of genuine amusement. + +"I guess I'm the only hotel keeper on the island," he said, "and my guests +is sea gulls and once in a while a turtle. But if you don't mind eating +some fish and potatoes, you're welcome to what I have." + +"I'm sure that's awfully good of you," said Peggy, warmly, "and we love +fish." + +"Well, come on in and sit down. This fog won't last forever. I was +chopping wood to get dinner when I heard you coming over the sands. I +don't often have visitors so you'll have to rough it." + +So saying, the strange, lone island dweller led them into his hut. It was +rough inside but scrupulously clean. Some attempts had been made to +beautify it by hanging up on the walls shells and curiosities of the +beach. Here and there, too, were panels of rare woods, which the +island-dweller explained had come from the cabins of wrecked ships. A big +cat, his only companion, lay beside the fire and blinked at the visitors, +as if they were an everyday occurrence. + +Chairs, fashioned out of barrels and boxes, stood about, some of them +cushioned after a fashion, with sacking stuffed with dried sea weed. + +"Sit down," said their host hospitably, "ain't much to boast of in the way +of furniture, but it's the best I can do. Can't expect to find a Waldorf +Hotel on Lost Brig Island." + +"You have been in New York, then?" exclaimed Peggy, struck by the +reference. + +The man's face underwent a transformation. + +"Once, many years ago," he said, "but I never like to talk about it." + +"Why not?" blundered the tactless Jimsy. + +"Because a wrong--a very great wrong--was done to me there," said the man +slowly. + +Without another word he rose and left the hut. None of the visitors dared +to speak to him, so black had his face grown at the recollections called +up by Peggy's unlucky remark. + +After an absence of some moments he came back. He carried a string of +cleaned fish in one hand and a tin measure of potatoes in the other. In +the interval that had elapsed he seemed to have recovered his equanimity. + +"Well, here's dinner," he announced in a cheery voice, "it ain't much to +boast of, but hunger's the best sauce." + +Sitting on an upturned box he started to peel potatoes, and presently put +them on the fire in a rough iron pot. When they were almost done, a fact +which he ascertained by prodding them with a clean sliver of wood, he set +the fish in a frying pan or "spider," and the appetizing aroma of the meal +presently filled the lowly hut. + +On a table formed of big planks, once the hull of some wrecked schooner, +laid on rough trestles, they ate, what Peggy afterward declared, was one +of the most enjoyable dinners of her life. Their host had at one time of +his life been a sailor it would seem. At any rate, he had a fund of +anecdote of the sea and its perils that held them enthralled. + +Every now and again, through the open door, Peggy cast a glance outside. +But the fog still hung thick. Suddenly, in the midst of their meal, +footsteps sounded and voices came to their ears. + +"Hullo, more visitors!" exclaimed the man of the island starting to his +feet, "this is a day of events with a vengeance. Who can be coming now?" + +The footsteps had drawn close now and a voice could be heard saying: + +"What a rickety, tumble-down old place. I wonder what kind of savage lives +here." + +"Fanning Harding!" gasped Peggy, as another voice struck in. A voice she +instantly knew as Regina Mortlake's. + +[Illustration: The next minute the man of the island ushered in his two +new guests.] + +"Oh, what a dreadful place. Why won't this miserable fog lift. I'll be +dead before we get back to the hotel." + +The man of the island had hastened hospitably out to welcome the +newcomers. + +Peggy, Jess and Jimsy exchanged glances. The prospect of spending the +afternoon marooned on an island with Fanning Harding and Regina Mortlake, +was not alluring. But there was no escape. The next minute the man of the +island ushered in his two new guests. + +"What, you here?" said Fanning in an ungracious tone, while Regina +Mortlake, more skilled at disguising her feelings, exclaimed: + +"Oh, how perfectly wonderful that we should both have landed on the same +island." + +"It wasn't from choice," grumbled Fanning in a perfectly audible tone. + +Jimsy flushed a dark, dangerous flush. + +"Jess, tell me not to punch that chap," he muttered to his sister. + +"I certainly do tell you not to," whispered Jess emphatically. + +The man of the island looked on wonderingly. + +"Did you come in an aeroplane, too?" he asked Fanning in the manner of a +man prepared to hear any marvels. + +"Yes. We had the race won, too. But this fog has delayed us. What can you +give us to eat. I can pay for it," said Fanning in a loud, rude tone. + +"I don't take pay," said the hut-dweller in a quiet tone that ought to +have caused Fanning to redden with shame, "but if you are hungry I can +cook some more fish. There are plenty of potatoes left." + +"They'll be very nice, I'm sure," Regina had the grace to say. But Fanning +mumbled something about "pauper's food." + +But nevertheless he ate as heartily as Jimsy himself, when the food was +put on the rough table. It was hard work trying to be pleasant to the two +young people who had so unexpectedly come into their midst, and the +conversation languished and went on by fits and starts. + +"Hullo, the fog's lifting," cried Fanning suddenly; "I'm off. Come on +Regina." + +The girl rose, and as she did so the trio from the Prescott machine +noticed the island dweller's eyes fixed on her in a curious way. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but is your name Regina?" + +The girl looked at him in a half-startled way, while Peggy, as she said +afterward, felt as if she was watching a drama. + +"Yes," she said; "why?" + +"Because," said the island dweller slowly, "because I once knew someone +called Regina who was very dear to me." + +"Come on," called Fanning from outside, "we've got to win this race back." + +The girl lingered hesitatingly an instant and the next moment was gone. + +"The fog is lifting," said Peggy, "we must be going, too. Come along Jess. +Come on, Jimsy, we don't want to let the Mortlake craft beat us at the +eleventh hour." + +"What name was that you just mentioned?" asked the man of the island, +quickly. He was bending forward eagerly, as if to catch the answer. + +"Do you mean Mortlake?" + +"Yes, that's the name. What of him? Do you know him?" + +The man's eyes gleamed brightly. He seemed to be much excited. Peggy +answered him calmly, although she felt as if some sort of a life tragedy +was working out to swift conclusion. + +"Of course, Mr. Eugene Mortlake is the man who is manufacturing the +Mortlake aeroplane. He is our chief rival. That's the reason we must hurry +off." + +"Why, did they?" the man nodded his head in the direction in which Fanning +and Regina had vanished, "did they come in a Mortlake aeroplane?" + +"Yes," said Peggy, "didn't you know? That girl is Mr. Mortlake's +daughter, Regina Mortlake." + +The man gave a terrible cry and reeled backward. Jimsy stepped forward +quickly and caught him. For an instant they thought their host was going +to swoon. But he quickly recovered. + +"Good heavens," he cried, "Eugene Mortlake is here. Close at hand?" + +"He is in Hampton--why?" + +"I must see him as soon as possible. No, I can explain nothing now. But I +must see him." + +The man's manner showed that he was terribly in earnest. He seemed almost +carried away by excitement. Outside came suddenly a whirring sound. + +"Fanning is starting his engine," exclaimed Jimsy; "we must hurry." + +"Will you do something for me--will you aid a miserable outcast to right a +great wrong?" pleaded the ragged man who faced them. + +"What can we do for you?" asked Jimsy. + +"Take me back to Hampton in your aeroplane. I must see Mortlake at once. +It is imperative I tell you. See, I am not poor, although I appear so." + +In two strides the man had crossed the room and lifting a board in the +floor he drew forth bag after bag. The seams of some of them were rotten. +Under the sudden strain they broke and streams of gold coin trickled out +upon the floor. + +"Years ago when I was first an exile here," said the man, "a Spanish ship +came ashore one stormy night. Not a soul of her crew was saved. I found +this money in the wreck. I will give you half of it if you will take me to +Hampton with you. The other half I must keep till--till I learn from +Mortlake's lips the secret he holds." + +"Put your money back," said Jimsy quietly after a telegraphic exchange of +looks with Peggy, "we'll take you to Hampton; but hurry!" + +Fifteen minutes later a golden-hued aeroplane flashed past the Cape +Charles light. The announcer posted there, instantly sent in a wireless +flash to Hampton. + +"Number Six has just passed. Two minutes behind Number Five (The _Silver +Cobweb_), four persons on board." + +Mortlake was among the crowd that read the bulletin which was instantly +posted upon the field outside Hampton. + +"I wonder who the fourth can be?" he thought, little guessing that through +the air fate was winging its way toward him. + +"Anyway," he added to himself the next instant, "the _Mortlake_ is +leading. Now if only----" + +But what was that roar, at first a sullen boom, gradually deepening into +the excited skirling cheers of a vast throng. + +Mortlake looked round, startled. Out of the distance two tiny dots, +momentarily growing larger, like homing birds, had come into view. Hark! +What was that the crowd were shouting? Those with field glasses threw the +cry out first, and then came a mighty roar, as it was caught up by +hundreds of throats. + +"The Nameless! The Nameless wins!" + +Mortlake paled, and caught at a post erected to hold up a telephone line. +He gazed at the oncoming aeroplanes. There were three of them now, but one +was far behind, laboring slowly. But the first was unquestionably the +_Golden Butterfly_. He could catch the yellow glint of her wings. And that +second craft--its silvery sheen betrayed it--was the Mortlake _Cobweb_, as +Roy had called it. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mortlake, uselessly as he knew, "what's the +matter with you?" + +But alas, the _Cobweb_ didn't "come on." Some three or four minutes after +the _Golden Butterfly_ had alighted and been swallowed up in a surging, +yelling throng of enthusiasm-crazed aero fans, the _Cobweb_ fluttered +wearily to the ground, unnoticed almost amid the excitement over the +_Golden Butterfly's_ feat. + +Mortlake raged, old Mr. Harding almost wept, and Fanning sulkily explained +that it wasn't his fault, the cylinders having overheated again. But not +all of this could wipe out those figures that had just been put up on the +board, which proclaimed a victory for the Prescott aeroplane by a margin +of three and twenty-one hundredths minutes! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FRIENDS AND FOES--CONCLUSION. + + +The winning of the "Sky Cruise," as the newspapers had dubbed it, was the +talk of Hampton that night. Not a small part of the zest with which it was +discussed was caused by the fact that a young girl had driven the machine +through its daring dash. The wires from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, +Boston and Richmond were kept hot with instructions from editors to their +representatives demanding interviews with the Girl Aviators. But to the +chagrin of the newspaper representatives, after seeing their machine +housed, the party had vanished. + +This, on investigation, was not as mysterious as it had at first appeared. +There was a small door in the back of the Nameless's shed, and at this +door there had been waiting, for some moments before the conclusion of the +race, a big automobile. In it were seated a bronzed man, with broad +shoulders, and an alert, wideawake expression, and a boy, whose foot was +propped up on an extemporized contrivance affixed to the seat. + +While the crowd had hovered about the front of the shed, awaiting the +reappearance of the girl aviator, whose feat had caused such a furore, +this boy had limped from the machine, assisted by his stalwart companion, +and had entered the shed by the rear door. It would have astonished the +crowd, and delighted the reporters in search of a story, if they could +have seen Peggy rush at the youth, and with a wild cry of: + +"Roy! You darling!" throw her arms about his neck. + +Mr. Bell, for he was the stalwart personage, stood aside with a look of +warm satisfaction, as Peggy's turn over, Jess and Jimsy came forward. What +a joyous reunion that was, I will leave you to imagine. Then came Mr. +Bell's story of his telegram to Sandy Beach to the judge, who was a +friend of his. The message had announced that he had obtained complete +confessions from both Joey Eccles and the unsavory Slim. Roy's release +from bail and suspicion at once followed. + +Eccles had owned up to his part in the mischief that had been wrought +against the young Prescotts. Frankly, and without reserve, he had sworn to +a statement before a local attorney, in which he admitted losing the bill +with the mark upon it, on the night he had aided in decoying Roy to the +old house. His assistant had been a cast off workman of the Mortlake +plant, of whose whereabouts Joey said he was now ignorant. + +Then had come Slim's turn. Sullenly, but with the alternative of prison +staring him in the face, he had admitted to impersonating the foreign spy. +The part of Roy on that eventful night had been played by: + +"Guess whom?" said Mr. Bell, looking round. + +They all shook their heads. + +"I'll tell you about that part of it later," said Mr. Bell. "There are +still one or two things to be cleared up in that connection. But," he +continued, "Palmer confessed that it was Mortlake who robbed the +farm-house safe, the object being, of course, not so much the money, as a +chance to put Roy out of the race contest. It has been a record of vile +plotting all the way through," said the Westerner warmly, "but the toils +are closing in about Mortlake & Co. Of course, my first step was to take +the fellows before an attorney--luckily I knew one in Hampton, and he, as +it happened, was a friend of the Sandy Beach judge. We had to move +quickly, but, thanks to the telegraph wire and fast trains, I got Roy +released from bail and suspicion, and here in time to greet you." + +They could only look their gratitude. Just as the strain was becoming +almost too taut, Mr. Bell, who had noticed it, broke the tension. + +"Let's sneak out of the back door," he said, "and all go to some quiet +place to dine. Hullo, who's this?" he exclaimed, as the tattered figure of +the man of the island appeared. + +"I am what is left of Budd Pierce, Jim Bell," said the man, in his queer, +tired tones. + +"Budd Pierce!" exclaimed the mining man, falling back a step. "No--but, +yes, now I look again--it is. But, man, what has happened to you? What are +you doing here?" + +"It's a long story," said the ragged man, while the younger members of the +party looked on in astonishment, "but I can tell you that Gene Mortlake +has reached the end of his tether. I've heard all you said about him, and +my interest in him you know already." + +"I know that you were swindled out of your fortune by some man years ago, +and then disappeared," said Mr. Bell. "But I had forgotten the name of the +rascal." + +"It was Eugene Mortlake," said the man of the island slowly. "After I knew +I was ruined, I fled down here, where I was raised, and became a recluse +on that island. It was cowardly of me, I know, but from now on I am going +to lead a different life." + +"You have found yourself!" cried James Bell, gleefully clasping the +other's thin, worn hand. + +"I have found something dearer to me," was the quiet reply; "but come, let +us be going. I have much that is strange to tell you." + +With wondering looks, the young aviators--Roy leaning on Peggy's devoted +arm--followed James Bell and the man from Lost Brig Island out of the +aeroplane shed. + + * * * * * + +In his suite of rooms at the Hotel Hampton, the best hotel in the place, +Eugene Mortlake sat opposite old Mr. Harding. His brow was furrowed, and +little wrinkles that had not been there earlier in the day, appeared at +the corners of his eyes. Old Mr. Harding seemed to be trying to cheer him +up. In another corner of the room, sullen and depressed, Fanning Harding +was standing puffing a cigarette and filling the atmosphere with its +reeking fumes. + +"All is not lost yet, Mortlake, hey, hey, hey?" said the old man, laying a +skinny, claw-like hand on the other's arm. "Why, to-night we'll put into +execution a plan that will permanently put these young Prescotts out of +it. Fanning knows what I mean. Hey?" + +He glanced up at his ill-favored son. + +"I know fast enough," said that young hopeful, "but it's a risky matter. +Why don't you get somebody else to do it?" + +"Pshaw! It's only filing off a padlock and then smashing a few of the +motor parts," said the old man, in as calm a tone as if he were proposing +a constitutional walk, "that's soon done, hey?" + +A sharp knock at the door interrupted any reply Fanning might have been +about to make. + +"Come in," snarled Mortlake. "It's the mail, I suppose," he said, turning +to old Mr. Harding, but, to his surprise and consternation, the opened +door revealed Roy Prescott. Close behind him came Mr. Bell and Peggy, with +Jimsy and Jess bringing up the rear. + +"To what am I indebted for the pleasure of this visit?" asked Mortlake, +glowering at the newcomers, as they filed in, and Mr. Bell closed the door +behind them. "Why didn't you send up your cards, and I'd have torn them up +and thrown them out of the window." + +"Just what I thought you'd do, so we came up ourselves," said Mr. Bell +cheerily. "Now, look here, Mortlake--no, sit down. I've come up here to +right a wrong. You've tried to do all in your power to injure these young +people, whose only fault is that they have built a better aeroplane than +you have. It's their turn now, and you've got to grin and bear it." + +Mortlake's jaw dropped. His old bullying manner was gone now. Old Man +Harding cackled inanely, but said nothing. Only his long, lean fingers +drummed on the table. Fanning turned a pasty yellow. He had some idea of +what was to come. His eyes fell to the floor, as if seeking some loophole +of escape there. + +"Well," growled Mortlake, "what have you got to say to me?" + +"Not much," snapped the mining man, "but I wish to read you something." + +He drew from his pocket a paper. + +"This is the confession of Joey Eccles," he said quietly. "I've another by +Frederick Palmer." + +Mortlake leaped up and sprang toward the Westerner, but Mr. Bell held up +his hand. + +"Don't try to destroy them," he said. "They are only copies. The originals +are by this time in the hands of the authorities at Sandy Beach." + +Mortlake sank back with staring eyes and white cheeks. + +"What do you want me to do?" he gasped. + +"Listen to these confessions and then sign your name to them, signifying +your belief that they are true documents." + +"And if not?" + +"Well, if not," said Mr. Bell, measuring his words, "do you recollect that +wild-cat gold mine scheme you were interested in more years ago than +you'll care to remember?" + +Mortlake seemed to shrivel. But he flared up in a last blaze of defiance. + +"You can't scare me by rattling old bones," he said, "What do you know +about it?" + +For reply, Mr. Bell stepped to the door. + +"Mr. Budd," he called softly, and in response the man of Lost Brig Island, +but now dressed and barbered into civilization appeared. + +"Pierce Budd!" gasped Mortlake. + +"Yes, Pierce Budd, whom you ruined," said Mr. Bell. "But for my +persuasions, he would have sought to wipe out his wrongs in personal +violence. But you needn't fear him now," as Mortlake looked round with +hunted eyes; "that is, if you sign." + +"I'll sign," gasped out the trapped man. He reached for an inkstand. "Give +them to me." + +"I'll read them first," said the mining man, and then, in slow, measured +tones, he read out the contents of the convicting documents. As he +concluded, Mortlake seemed about to collapse. But he took the papers with +a trembling hand, and wrote: + +"All this is true.--Eugene Mortlake." + +"Good," said Mr. Bell. "Now your future fate is in the hands of these +young people. Pierce Budd has forgiven you, though it has been a struggle +to do so. But I have one surprise left for you all," said Mr. Bell, +stepping to the door. "Regina," he called softly. + +In reply, the dark-eyed girl, in a sheer dress of soft, clinging stuff, +glided into the room. She slipped straight to the side of the outcast +Pierce Budd, and stood there, holding his hand. Peggy looking at her in +amazement, saw that the hard, defiant look had vanished from the girl's +face, and that its place had been taken by an expression of supreme +happiness and peace. + +"Tell them about it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No. She has not yet recovered from the shock of the discovery," said +Pierce Budd softly. "Let me do it. When Mortlake ruined me, and I fled +from my former surroundings," he said, "I left behind me a baby girl. +Mrs. Mortlake, a good woman if ever there was one, took care of that +child. All this I have only just learned. She grew up with the Mortlake's, +and when that man's wife died he did the only good thing I've ever heard +of him doing--he took care of her and brought her up as his daughter. +To-day in the hut you saw me looking at her closely. It was because I +thought I recognized a bit of jewelry--a tiny gold locket she wore. It +contained the picture of her mother, who died soon after her birth. When I +heard her name was Regina, and on the top of that heard you mention the +name of Mortlake, I knew that fate, in its strange whirligig, had brought +my daughter back to me." + +"To-night, with Mr. Bell, I sought her, and she has consented to forgive +me for my years of neglect. The rest of my life will be spent in atoning +for the past. That is all." + +His voice broke, and Regina--a different Regina from the old defiant one, +gazed up at him tenderly. + +"So," said Mortlake, "I'm left alone at last, eh? Regina, haven't you a +word for me? Won't you forgive me for deceiving you about your father all +these years?" + +"Of course I forgive, freely and wholly," said the girl, stepping toward +him, "but it is hard to forget." + +Very tenderly, Mortlake raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he +drew himself erect. + +"What do you want to do with me?" he said defiantly. "I've confessed +everything. Why don't you call the police?" + +"Because we want you to have a chance to be a better man," said Mr. Bell. +"The past is over and done with. The future lies before you. You can make +it what you will--bad or good, we shall not interfere with you." + +Mortlake looked at them unsteadily. Then his voice broke and he stepped +quickly toward Budd. The recluse of Lost Brig Island extended his lean +palm and met the other's outstretched hand half way. + +"I bear no grudge, Mortlake," he said. "You will always be welcome at our +home--Regina's and mine." + +"Oh, yes--always," cried the girl, with a catch in her voice. + +"Thank you," said Mortlake simply. "I don't--I don't dare trust myself to, +speak now; to-morrow, perhaps----" + +He strode abruptly through the door and was gone. + +Old Mr. Harding arose to his feet. + +"After this affecting tableau, is there anything you wish to say to me, +hey?" he grated out. + +"Nothing, sir," said Mr. Bell, turning his back upon the wizened old +financier. "I have seen to it that the money taken from them has been +returned to the Galloways." + +"Then, I'll bid you good-night, too, since you seem to have taken +possession of these rooms. Come, Fanning." + +Without a word, Fanning shuffled across the room and reached his parent's +side. Not till they were both at the door did he speak. Then, with a +malevolent look backward, he paused. + +"Roy Prescott," he said, "you've always beaten me out--at school, at +college, and twice since we've both lived in Sandy Beach. There'll be a +third time, and you can bet that I'll not forget the injury you've done +me. Good night." + +He was gone, a sinister sneer still curling his lip. + +"Well," said Mr. Bell, looking round him with a smile, "who says that all +the adventure and excitement is in the West?" + +"Not the Girl Aviators, certainly," laughed Peggy, stealing a look at +Regina. The girl colored, and then, after a visible effort, she spoke. + +"I want to say something," she said, and stopped. Her father bent on her +an encouraging look. Bravely she nerved herself, and went on. + +"It--it was I who dressed up like you that night, Roy Prescott, and--and +I'm awfully sorry." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Roy uneasily, and then, "say, you can run +like a deer!" + +In the laugh which followed they left the room and adjourned to a jolly +supper, at which, who should walk in but Aunt Sally Prescott and Mr. and +Mrs. Bancroft. They had been reached by telegraph early that morning, and +had started on the next train to Roy. How the hours flew! It was almost +midnight before they knew it. In the midst of the feast, a waiter brought +in a message to Mr. Bell. The mining man excused himself and left the room +for a short time. When he returned he was smiling. + +"I've just signed on two new workmen for the mine," he said, "and I think +they'll make good." + +"Who are they?" asked Roy. + +"Well, one answers to the name of Eccles. The other was, on one occasion, +a foreign spy, but he bears the very American name of Palmer. They leave +for the West to-night." + + +How the Prescott aeroplane, under Roy's management, captured the coveted +highest number of marks for proficiency, and how a sensation was caused by +the sudden withdrawal of the Mortlake aeroplanes from the naval contest, +all my readers are familiar with through the columns of the daily press. +The paper, though, didn't print anything about an offer made by Pierce +Budd to Eugene Mortlake to finance the _Cobweb_ type of machine. Needless +to say, the offer was not accepted. Mortlake, a changed man, is now +building and selling aeroplanes in a far eastern principality, and they +are good ones, too. No letters are more welcome than those that arrive +occasionally from him and are delivered at Pierce Budd's home in New York. + +Under Lieutenant Bradbury's kindly auspices, Roy instructed a class of +young seamen in the management of the Prescott type of aeroplane, which +has become the official aero scout of the United States Navy. From time to +time improvements are added. + +But, as the young officer says: + +"It was really the Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, that won out for the +Prescotts." + +And here, though only for a brief period, we must bid _au revoir_ to our +young friends. But we shall renew our acquaintance with them, and form +some new friends, in the next volume of this series. This book will be +replete with adventures encountered in the pursuance of the wonderful new +science of aviation, as yet in its infancy. In the clouds and on the solid +earth, the Girl Aviators are destined to have some more eventful times. +What these are to be must be saved for the telling in--The Girl Aviator's +Motor Butterfly. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise, by Margaret Burnham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE *** + +***** This file should be named 10954.txt or 10954.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/5/10954/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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