"He? Who?" he asked quickly. "Hebler?" "Hebler! She'd rather dodge him than you. No; I mean that aviator who landed over toward Westcott's a little while ago. I heard one of those fliers had been in town giving an exhibition. He was down to earth just about long enough to pick some one up. That was what she meant in the note she left for me when she said she was going by the Excelsior route." "How would she know him, and how would she get word to him to come out here?" "She told me she spent the day in town--let me see--day before yesterday, I think it was. Said she met a man there she used to know." "She told me, too, she had been to town, but I thought she was only joking. I didn't believe her." "There's a lot you could hear about her, Kurt, that you wouldn't believe right off the bat; but it's not me who's going to put you wise. Talk to Mrs. Kingdon about her. You'll not get the chance to interview Penny Ante very soon, I imagine. In the craft she must be traveling in, there's nothing about this ranch that can overtake her, but I'll do my level best. Let me see! She won't go to town. She'll want to keep out of Hebler's reach, of course." "Why?" asked Kurt. "Do you know?" "I know more than you do about her. A girl has to have some one to confide in and Little Penny Ante chose me. You scared her out, you know." Kurt winced. "They will naturally go in an opposite direction," pursued Jo. "They may fly over to the next station and take the east-bound. I'll take your car." "No; you take the children to town, and I'll go in pursuit--" "That'll never do. She won't try to dodge me." CHAPTER XV In the little valley by Westcott's, Pen stood waiting and staring upward. At last she heard the sharp sound of an engine and saw the plane describing a sweeping circle. It came gently down, the little wheels rolling along the grass. "I'm in debt to Hebler," said Larry. "It was only your fear of him that overcame your fear of flying." Then looking at her, he continued, confidingly, "I wouldn't take up the average girl, Pen, and especially one who owned up to being afraid. But I know you. You'll forget fear in the thrills. All you've got to do is to sit still, hold on and look out on the level. We won't do any swivels; just straight stuff, and you'll be as safe as you would any place." She put on the hood and goggles and was adjusted to the seat. "Now where do you want to go?" he asked. "Anywhere to lose myself. Hebby is in town and so--are others. Let us take the opposite direction and you can land me at some place where the east-bound stops and I can get some more luggage. Then we'll make plans." "Suits me. First thing we'll do is to have a grand flight. Then I'll leave you at a nice, little, sky-high inn I know up in the clouds. I'll fly back to town, pay my bill, pack my traps and join you by train."