“I call that purty cute,” announced the farmer, a good deal interested. “Now then, stranger, what about them damages?”
“Just what I said,” replied Dave. “You have done us a great service and we appreciate it. There is your money.”
“Say, you’re square and white,” declared the farmer, overjoyed at the possession of so much cash.
“We try to be,” answered Dave, pleasantly. “Just sign that receipt, will you? The aeroplane company will pay for this, and I want my voucher all straight and regular.”
Dave wrote out a receipt on the back of a card and the man signed it. Then the young aviator proceeded to the automobile.
“Can’t I help you some?” inquired the farmer, accommodatingly.
“If you will loan us a tin pail for a bit it will be of service to us,” replied Dave. “There is plenty of spare gasoline in the auto tank, Hiram,” he explained.
It did not take the boys long to transfer enough of the gasoline to last the _Comet_ for a home flight. Dave arranged to fly the machine and directed Hiram to take charge of the automobile.
It was about two o’clock in the afternoon when the adventurers reported on the aero grounds. Mr. Brackett was delighted at their success and Elmer was fairly overjoyed. No damage whatever had been done to the biplane, it was found, after a careful inspection of the machine.
“I say, Dave,” spoke Hiram, as he and his chief sat eating a fine dinner sent by Mr. Brackett from the restaurant; “there’s a good deal about this business that puzzles me.”
“I suppose that is true,” responded the young aviator, with a slight smile. “What principally is troubling you, Hiram?”
“Why, the whole proceeding. If somebody wanted to put us out of business, why didn’t they sink the airship somewhere or burn it up?”
“I think they counted on the _Comet_ remaining undiscovered until long after the other entries had started,” said Dave.
“Then if that Vernon had anything to do with it——”
“I am satisfied that he did,” declared Dave. “His object was not to keep Elmer from getting out of the country, though.”
“Why, what else could it be?” questioned Hiram in wonderment.
“I shall tell you later, Hiram,” replied Dave in quite a serious way. “The fact is, there are some things about stealing the airship that I do not entirely understand myself. When I have posted myself on those details, I fancy I shall have a decidedly interesting story to tell you and Elmer.”