As soon as the ships had rolled up oh the ramp, Tim stepped out to greet McDowell. The head of the High Flyers was even shorter and swarthier than Tim had expected. His hand was cold and limp and Tim felt a chill run along his spine as the close-set eyes seemed to bore into him. "Nice field," commented McDowell. "Hope we have a good crowd." "We've been giving the show plenty of publicity," said Tim. "That's good. I'm pulling a new stunt tomorrow afternoon. It's a head-on collision at 2,000 feet between two planes. That's why I'm wheeling those ancient trainers along. They'll go up in smoke tomorrow." "Pretty risky sort of a stunt, isn't it?" asked Ralph. "Not as much so as it sounds. The pilots will chase each other for a while and then come on head first. Just before they crash both men will dive over the side in their chutes." "Who's going to handle the ships?" asked Tim. "I'll fly one of them. Tommy Larkin will handle the controls in the other. By the way, you must meet Larkin. He's a fine flyer." At the mention of Larkin's name, Tim felt a sickening premonition. It was the fear that McDowell suspected Larkin of being a federal agent. It would be so easy for him to crash into Larkin before the scheduled time. McDowell called to a flyer who was squirming out of coveralls. "Tommy," he said, "come over and meet the flying reporters from the _News_. There isn't enough going on here on the ground, so these fellows hop around in the clouds hunting stories." "Glad to know you," grinned Tommy, as he shook hands with Tim and Ralph. "I've read a lot about you, first getting the Sky Hawk and then cleaning up the rustlers in the mountains west of here." "I was in on the pursuit of the Sky Hawk," said Ralph, "but Tim ran down the rustlers single-handed. He's getting to be quite a sleuth." Tim saw McDowell's eyes narrow and he felt them boring into him. He changed the trend of the conversation at once. "We brought several cars from the _News_ down," he said. "Let's get out your baggage and we'll be glad to take you uptown." By pre-arrangement, Ralph stepped over to help McDowell while Tim went with Tommy Larkin. They reached into the baggage compartment of Larkin's monoplane and Tim whispered, "Prentiss is in town. He got your message and everything's set for tomorrow afternoon." "Tell him the stuff is in McDowell's ship in a special compartment under the floor. Be careful. I've a feeling that McDowell doesn't trust me." "Then don't risk your life by going up tomorrow in one of those old trainers and staging that crazy stunt." "I'll keep a sharp lookout. McDowell will never be able to crash me before I jump. Better not say anything more or try to talk to me. It might arouse suspicion." Tim nodded and picked up the large suitcase. Together they walked across the ramp and joined Ralph and McDowell.