"Another thing," Dave had added--"the coat found on the barb wire top of the factory fence I have seen Jerry wear many a time." "And the card?" pressed Hiram. "The card has some scrawls on it, made by Jerry, I think. It shows a sort of rough outline of the upper lake district here. Some arrows show a straight course due northwest. I believe the Drifter was started on its way over the Canadian border." "And the two men with Jerry?" asked Mr. King. "I can't figure out that they could be anybody but Jerry's father and the man who left Columbus with them--Ridgely." "The man the revenue officer was looking for!" exclaimed Hiram. "The smuggler, as he was called, yes," replied Dave. Mr. King and Hiram indulged in all kinds of conjectures as to the possible motive of the party of three in stealing the aircraft. "The way I figure it out," said Mr. King, "is that this Ridgely wanted to get out of the country knowing that the revenue people were dose on his trail." "Perhaps," agreed Dave thoughtfully. "There's another thing, though." "What's that?" inquired the interested Hiram. "His coming all the way around the lakes to find his friends, the Dawsons, looks as though he had some future scheme in view, with an airship a part of it." "That's so," assented Mr. King. "Well, Dashaway, you have done famously so far in finding out what you have. The Interstate people think the only way to chase the fugitives is with one of their own machines. I don't know anybody better adapted to do just that than yourself." "Thank you, Mr. King," said Dave modestly The two boys left Columbus with pretty clear minds. They had a definite purpose in view, and Mr. King, Dave felt sanguine, would do all that the interests of Mr. Dale required while they were gone. "Say, Dave," spoke Hiram, as they boarded the train bound for Bolton, "this is just like acting out some story, isn't it?" "In a way," acquiesced the young aviator, "only there won't be much acting--it will be real, earnest hard work." "I see that, and I am anxious to do my share," declared Hiram. "You always are, Hiram," said Dave. Now, the morning following, the two aviator friends found themselves at the Interstate factory, where both received a warm welcome from Mr. Randolph. Dave now related to the manager all that he had held back during his first visit to the great plant. "I say, Dashaway, that's simply wonderful," was Mr. Randolph's enthusiastic comment. "Anybody with the genius to gather up all those clews cannot fail to work out this entire case. We shall soon receive some great reports from you." "I hope so," said Dave. "Now then, you and your friend go over to the aerodrome and see which one of our machines there suits you best." It was after Dave and Hiram had spent the most fascinating half hour of their lives viewing the wonders of mechanism on display, that the manager rejoined them. It was then, too, that Dave reported to him with the words: