“Hello, strangers! It’s a wonder you wouldn’t take possession of the whole road! How long have you been in this part of the country?” “Just lit!” answered Ben. “Come on in,” he added with a chuckle. “We’ll make way for you. We don’t own this road.” Indeed it was necessary to shift the great planes of the _Ann_ before the ranger could ride up to where the boys stood. “You’ve got some fine machines there!” the ranger commented. “You bet we have!” answered Ben. “Are those the machines that have been racing about in the air all day?” asked the ranger. “We haven’t been in the air all day,” replied Carl, “but I reckon the _Bertha_ and the _Ann_ have been doing considerable flying.” “And there’s been something of a ruction over at Monterey about a machine, too,” said the ranger. The boys were all attention in an instant. “Whose machine was it?” asked Carl. “That’s what they don’t know,” answered the ranger. “A man who claimed to come from New York dropped in a big machine early this morning and went to bed at a hotel. In an hour or two a couple of Japs claimed the machine and induced an officer to help them get it away.” “Did you hear any of the names?” asked Ben. “Havens, the man’s name was,” replied the ranger. “Well,” Ben said, “that’s the name of the man who owns this big machine.” “Where is Havens now?” asked Carl. “My informant stated that he was in jail!” replied the ranger. “Jail?” demanded Ben. “What for?” “It seems that this man Havens and a friend of his beat up a deputy sheriff, and the hotel detective, and shook up a hotel clerk like a rat.” “Then why didn’t they give him a chance to pay a fine and let him go?” demanded Carl. “Perhaps he hasn’t got money enough with him to pay the fines which may be imposed.” “Money enough with him!” shouted Carl scornfully. “Louis Havens could buy the whole town of Monterey, and then have money enough left to make your state debt look like thirty cents!” “Is this Havens the noted millionaire aviator?” asked the ranger. “That’s the man!” Carl declared. “And he’ll do something to those folks back there in Monterey before he gets done with them, too!” “I hope he will!” replied the ranger heartily. The boys now turned their attention to the machines, and were soon ready for flight. “Where are you going?” asked the ranger. “Where should we be going but to Monterey?” asked Carl. “Look here, boys,” the ranger began, “my name is Gilmore. I’m chief ranger of this district, and I know the officers at Monterey are not the kind of people you seem to think they are. Now, if you don’t mind carrying me, I’ll leave my pony in a little shack over the hill and go with you to Monterey.” “Will you?” shouted Ben eagerly. “That’ll be fine!” declared Carl. “Of course you can get Havens out of jail?” asked Ben.