Mr. Randolph had the president and two directors of the concern on hand to meet them. Their stirring story was taken in by the august business men with an attention and appreciation that of itself paid the lads well for all the duty done. The boys had remained long enough at Anseton to have some men go with them and locate the hidden sections of the Monarch II, and arrange to have them shipped by rail back to the factory. Dave felt pretty rich when he left the Interstate works with a check for five hundred dollars in his pocket, and an offer of advanced employment for himself and his loyal and useful assistant for two seasons ahead. "I want to see Mr. King before I decide what I will do," Dave told Mr. Randolph, his mind full of the much discussed flight across the Atlantic in the giant airship. "You can have your two hundred and fifty dollars any time you like, Hiram." he added to his chum on their way to the depot. As they now reached the Aegis hangar, Grimshaw stepped aside with a pleased laugh. "Safe and sound and famous. Here they are, Mr. King!" he shouted. "There's no doubt of that," chorused the friendly voice of the expert aviator. "Dave! Hiram! A thousand times welcome." If he had been own father to the lads, Mr. King could not have greeted them more affectionately. "You've done us all proud, Dashaway," he declared. "Got a telegram from the Interstate folks, and the noon paper. The paper has given you two columns. This way. A friend waiting to see you." Mr. King pushed Dave across the little room in the hangar he used as an office. A middle aged, noble looking gentleman arose from a chair as Dave entered. His face was beaming, and there was an eager light in his eyes. "Dave Dashaway?" he said, half inquiringly. "Yes, sir," assented Dave, grasping the extended hand of the gentleman. "My best and oldest friend's boy," continued the gentleman. "It is Mr. Dale, Dashaway," spoke Mr. King, following Dave into the room. Somehow the young aviator felt his heart warm to the man of whom he had heard so much, but had never before seen. The old gentleman's eyes rested on him in a kindly earnest way that made Dave feel less lonely in the world. Briefly Mr. King told of the chase he had made to locate Mr. Dale. "I've got a long story to tell," said the aviator, when he could get a chance to talk. He turned to Mr. Dale. "That is, if you wish me to tell it," he added. "Certainly," was the ready reply. "You can probably tell it better than I can." "Well, to begin with, it was no easy task to get on the track of this fellow Gregg," commenced the well-known aviator. "I had to do some tall hunting before I could locate him and his two cronies." "His cronies?" repeated Dave.