"That was all right, Hiram," the young aviator hastened to say. "I should always feel that the biplane is safe in your hands." "Well, finally the father consented to let his daughter try a fly along the ground. I settled her in a comfortable seat, and away we went. I made it a good stiff run, and there was some jolting, but the girl was wild over it. She begged for a second run. We got such a fine start that I lifted about twenty feet in the air." "And then, of course, she screamed out in fear?" said Dave, with a smile. "Screamed nothing," dissented Hiram. "She just spoke one delighted 'O-oh!' and then: 'Higher, oh, please keep on going!' Say, Dave, she looked so bright and brave I couldn't help it--Z--I--P!" "What does 'Z--I--P!' mean, Hiram?" asked Dave. "A slide, a swoop, then a circle, another, a shoot upwards, and the girl laughing out, 'Oh, this is just grand!' Her sister shrieked, her mother fainted away, and her father was shaking his cane at us and yelling for us to come back. The Racer did her prettiest in two grand circles of the grounds, and came down light as a feather. The girl jumped out, one big smile. 'Just think of it!' I heard her cry to her sister, 'when I've told my seminary chums that I've been up in a real airship!' Then, seeing that she was safe, I think her folks were just as proud of her exploit as she was. Anyhow, she ran up to her father in a coaxing way, and came back to place a bank note in my hand. When they were gone, and I found that it was a fifty dollar bill, old Grimshaw chuckled and said he had hinted to the party that the regular fee for a ride in an airship was one hundred dollars. I'm mighty glad you're back, Dave." "Why, you seem to have got along finely without me," said Dave. "We've missed you, all the same. Where you going, Dave?" asked Hiram, as his friend moved out of the shed. "Why, I'm anxious to see Mr. King as soon as I can. I have something very important to talk about with him." "It's about that rush telegram?" "Yes, Hiram." "What did it mean?" "When we meet with Mr. King you shall, hear all about it, Hiram." "Well, Mr. King isn't home yet," explained Hiram. Dave looked disappointed. "That is," continued Hiram, "he hadn't got back when I was last up at the Aegis hangar." "When was that?" "About four o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Grimshaw, though, said he expected him on the six o'clock train." "We'll go and see if he has returned," said Dave. They started for the aviator's headquarters. Half the distance covered, they met him coming in search of them. Mr. King looked pale and worried. Dave knew that something had happened to upset him. "I'm glad you're back, Dashaway," said Mr. King. "Grimshaw told me you had been called to headquarters by the Interstate people. I should have wired you to return right away if you had not returned. Something very important has transpired." "About Mr. Dale--about my father's old friend, Mr. King?" asked Dave.