“Of course I can,” replied Gilmore. “Unless there is a charge of murder or some other felony against the man, something which will require the action of the county court, I can get him out of that country pen in about three minutes.” “If you do,” laughed Carl, “Havens will fix you up all right! He’s got a pull with the department at Washington, and he never forgets a friend.” Gilmore rode his horse away to the little shack which he had mentioned and then hastened back to the _Ann_. In five minutes all were aboard, Gilmore riding on the Havens’ machine with Ben. “Can you drive an aeroplane?” asked Ben. “I surely can,” answered Gilmore, almost screaming the answer in the boy’s ear. “I had a year’s experience at the game.” Ben nodded in appreciation of the information and turned on full speed, traveling in the direction of Monterey. An hour later the _Ann_, accompanied by the _Bertha_, settled down on the field at Monterey from which she had been so lawlessly abducted that very morning. It was evident that the town was still excited over the incidents of the day, for the minute the flying machines appeared in the sky there was a rush for the open field. Among the first to approach Gilmore and the boys as they stepped from the machines was the red-faced deputy sheriff who had received Stroup’s fistic attention earlier in the day. He approached the boys swaggeringly but hesitated a moment when he saw Gilmore’s uniform. However, he kept his ground and glared at the boys angrily. “Where did you get this machine?” he demanded, pointing to the _Ann_. “Where did you get those black eyes and that red nose?” returned Carl. “You look as if somebody had been taking a punch at you!” The deputy stroked the injured members sympathetically and took a step toward the boy. Gilmore blocked his passage. “Perhaps you can tell me!” shouted the deputy. “Tell you what?” asked Gilmore. “Where these school-boys got this machine. Only a few hours ago I delivered it to the owners from whom it had been stolen.” “Yes, you did!” replied Ben. “You delivered it to a couple of thieving Japs! That’s what you did!” “Where is the owner of the machine now?” asked Gilmore. “You ought to know if you got the machine of him,” returned the deputy. “I refer to the man who brought the machine to town,” said Gilmore, coolly. “I asked about Louis Havens, the millionaire aviator.” The deputy swung his fists wildly in the air and his face became, if possible, redder than before. “You can’t fool me with any stories about millionaire aviators!” he shouted. “The ruffian who assaulted me and brought a stolen aeroplane to town is in jail, where he ought to be.” “Did Havens assault you?” asked the ranger. “He caused it to be done,” was the hot answer. “I saw him wink at the man, and then the man struck me on the nose.” “And you’ve got a peach of a nose at that!” laughed Carl. The deputy grabbed at the boy, but Gilmore stood in the way.