While the boys talked, the door to the private office opened softly. Mr. Havens stood for a moment on the threshold and then stepped up to the fire. The young man was tall, slender and supple, with a dusky complexion and black hair and eyes. He was twenty-four years of age, but looked much younger. The millions he possessed had been inherited from his father, and instead of spending them along the Great White Way, he was devoting his entire attention to aviation. “What’s the argument, boys?” he asked, standing before the grate with a smile on his face. “Machines working all right?” “Finely!” replied Jimmie. “I had a fine ride over the bay this afternoon. The _Louise_ motor runs like a watch!” “I saw you from Battery park,” Havens answered. “Then you must have seen the gink chasing me up?” Jimmie asked, tentatively. “I noticed that,” Havens replied. “What was the occasion of it?” “That’s just what we were discussing,” Jimmie said. “And we had about concluded,” Ben interrupted, “that our plans regarding the visit to the Pacific coast must have leaked out.” “That doesn’t seem possible!” exclaimed Havens. “Why,” he went on, “even the intimates of the chief of police at headquarters know nothing whatever of the matter. There must be some other explanation of what took place this afternoon.” “I have known crooks to have friends among the men higher up!” laughed Jimmie. “It may be so in this case.” “There is one sure thing about it,” Havens went on, “and that is that if any hint regarding your proposed trip in quest of the murderers has by any chance become known to the friends of the crooks, the exact tactics shown this afternoon would be likely to be resorted to.” “Yes,” Ben agreed, “it does seem that the first thing the crooks would do would be to prevent our departure for the Pacific Coast. A group of flying machine boys certainly represents a new element in secret service work! We must watch our machines after this!” “If the fresh aviator really belongs to the crowd of crooks connected with the murderers,” Carl broke in, “we’ll hear from him again. He’ll follow us to the coast! He wouldn’t cease his efforts after chasing the _Louise_ up New York bay.” “He will have to chase us up if he continues his surveillance, for he won’t have long to spy on us here,” Jimmie declared. “We’re to leave for the Pacific coast day after to-morrow, as I understand it!” “How about to-night?” asked Havens. The boys sprang to their feet excitedly. “To-night!” shouted Carl. “That will be fine!” “That appears to me to be a good way of dodging trouble,” Ben acknowledged. “I’d like to go to-night, all right,” Jimmie broke in, “but I’d like to form the acquaintance of that impudent aviator before I go!” “I have an idea that you’ll meet him before you reach Monterey bay!” Havens replied. “You would know him again?” he asked. “Of course!” replied the boy. “He’s a low-browed brute with wing ears and a hunch in his shoulders. I’d know him anywhere.”