"That's just time enough for me to get a lunch. I got interested in a little work at the office and forgot to go out and get supper." Tim ordered a hot lunch and while he ate scanned the last edition of the _Advance_, the rival newspaper. He chuckled once or twice as he read the story of the pursuit of McDowell. The _Advance_ had only the sketchiest of details and all of the rest of the story was obviously the product of the imagination of Mogridge, the reporter who had been assigned to the story. It could not compare with the brilliant accurately written story which Tim had woven for the _News_ and which had been featured on the front page through all the editions that day. As Tim finished his lunch the drone of twin motors sounded high overhead. The amphibian was coming in. He stepped out of the lunchroom. The riding lights of the plane were visible as it circled to come down into the wind. Tim walked over and stood beside Hunter as the big ship dropped down and rolled to a stop on the ramp. The amphibian was a beauty, trimmed in green and silver, and with a large cabin. "Twin-engines, 575 horsepower each," said Hunter. "That's a high-speed ship." "Stream-lined down to get every ounce of speed out of it, too," said Tim. "It cost plenty of shekels to build that flying boat." Inside the commodious cabin men were preparing to get out through the hatch at the rear. The first to appear was short, squat, with a nose that looked like a substantial fist had pushed it back against his face. "Nice looking customer to meet on a dark night," said Hunter. Tim recognized the second man to appear as Sladek. He looked to be about 40 with a strong, hard face and eyes set so far back that they had a peculiar penetrating intentness and gave you the idea that Sladek was trying to ferret out your innermost secrets. The owner of the amphib was followed by a third man, who appeared to be a second-rate fighter, while the pilot was the last to emerge. Hunter stepped forward and spoke to the former rum runner. "We'll have your ship refueled and ready to go in fifteen minutes." "Thanks. I've got to look at some maps. We'll be here half an hour at least; perhaps longer." Tim remained in the background. He'd pick up as much as he could from the conversation of the visitors before stepping in and asking for a story. It was evident that the two with Sladek and the pilot were bodyguards, for they kept close to their employer and scanned everyone with suspicious eyes. Sladek went into the administration building and scanned the large scale map of the state which hung on one wall. Tim, loitering behind, started involuntarily as he saw the section of the state which interested Sladek. It was the Cedar river country--the same section into which his mysterious "Mr. Seven" had gone. CHAPTER SEVEN On the Trail of "Mr. Seven"