"Tell you, Dashaway," said Mr. Randolph in conclusion, "I'll trust you with the Monarch II because you are something more than a grass-cutting pilot by mail trying to coast a flying machine off the ground." "I hope to deserve your compliment," laughed the young aviator. "You've got a horse power engine and planes hard to beat. There are self-priming oil pumps, an auxiliary exhaust, and the machine follows the lines of the lowest gasoline consumption. Remember the triple axis conditions, Dashaway. One controls the fore and aft axis, producing tipping. The second is the vertical axis, producing turning. The third is the lateral axis, producing rising and falling." "Some one at the office wishes to see Mr. Dashaway," just here interrupted a lad from the plant. "To see me?" spoke Dave in some surprise. "Yes, sir. He asked me to give you his card, and said he had come quite a distance to see you." Dave took the card the lad handed him. He was a little startled, and then curious, as he read the name-- "JAMES PRICE, Revenue Officer." CHAPTER XVI THE "MONARCH II" The manager of the Interstate factory and Dave and Hiram followed the messenger from the plant back to the office. "The gentleman who wishes to see me," the young aviator explained to Mr. Randolph, "is the revenue officer I told you about." "Ah, I think I understand the purpose of his visit, then," said the manager. Mr. Price was the same keen-faced, ferret-like person he always appeared, as Dave introduced him to the manager. "I have heard of you from our young friend, Dashaway," said Mr. Randolph. "Lucky I ran across him," responded the officer, in his usual short, jerky way. "Lucky to catch you here, too, before you got off, Dashaway." "Then you came specially to see me?" asked Dave. "And your friends," replied Mr. Price with a comprehensive wave of his hand. "Mutual interests all around, it seems. You see, I met Mr. King at Columbus after you left," explained the official. "He told me of your remarkable discoveries, Dashaway. You are keener than I, young man. I have been chasing all over the district, and here you get a clew to Ridgely, while I and my men were blundering around." "If it is really a dew to him, Mr. Price," submitted the young aviator. "You know, it is all a theory so far." "As the facts stand, I have no doubt from your story that Ridgely is one of the men who ran away with the Drifter," declared the officer. "Have you fathomed his purpose in taking the air route, Mr. Price?" asked the factory manager. "Most certainly." "I am puzzled to guess what it may be." "Why, it's plain as the nose on your face," said the officer bluntly. "How is that?" "You know that this man, Ridgely, is a professional smuggler?" "So Dashaway has told me."