"And I'm not any too proud of the fact that I was so careless about a valuable necklace," returned Ralph. "So we'll keep it our secret."
There was no time for further words. Everybody rushed at them, shouting joyous welcomes. Louise was the first to kiss Linda--then all the others, and finally her aunt.
"Thank Heaven you're safe!" cried the latter. "I couldn't eat a bite of lunch, I was so uneasy."
"Of course we're safe," assured Ralph. "And maybe if we'd come by motor, we should have had an accident. There was a big smash-up--two automobiles--outside of Spring City this morning."
"Isn't the air up here wonderful!" exclaimed Miss Carlton. "After that stuffy town of ours!"
"I think the _airport_ is wonderful," replied Linda, "for so small a place. But as for the air--well, don't forget Auntie dear, that Ralph and I have been having marvelous air--up in the skies!"
"Hope you didn't give him the air," remarked Maurice Stetson, solemnly.
Kitty Clavering gave the young man a withering look, and inquired of the flyers when they might hope for rides. "Oh, I don't mean today," she added, "for I know you must both be nearly dead."
"Not a bit of it!" denied Linda, who still looked as fresh as a flower in her becoming blue and white suit. "But it's supposed to be wise to have a mechanic go over your plane each time you fly. Just a precaution, you see."
"A very good rule to follow," commented Miss Carlton. "Now everybody get into their cars, and we'll go over to our bungalow for some ginger-ale and sandwiches."
"Just a moment, please!" interrupted a voice at her elbow, and everyone turned to see a newspaper man with a camera. "Pictures, please!"
Linda and Ralph smilingly agreed, and their friends stepped aside. Then they all piled into the three machines that were waiting for them; while the strangers who had been watching commented on the beautiful biplane, and the handsome couple who had been flying it, and wondered whether they were married.
"Did you bring my necklace, Ralph?" asked Kitty Clavering, as he got into her roadster with her and Maurice.
"Surest thing!" he replied, as if nothing at all had happened on the way. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the pasteboard box, with the French jeweler's name engraved on the lid.