"Could you take a run over there and leave him these securities? He asked me to get them for him out of the safe deposit box. I don't know what he wants of them, but they are his, and I have no time to take them to him myself. You can go in your airship, if you like, and give him a surprise." "No, I think I'll go in the auto. Mr. Vardon is making a change in the motor, and it isn't in shape to run today. I'll take the boys over to Dankville in the small car." A little later Dick and his chums were on their way to Uncle Ezra's. They reached Dankville in good time, but, on calling at the house, Aunt Samantha told them her husband was at the woolen mill. "We'll go down there and see him," decided Dick, after talking to his aunt a little while. She had been looking in the parlor to see that, by no chance, had a glint of light gotten in. Of late her husband and his airship-partner, Larson, had not used the "best room," and so Aunt Samantha's fears about the carpet being spoiled by cigar ashes had subsided. At the factory Dick was directed, by a foreman, to an unused wing of the building. "You'll find your uncle in there," the man said to Dick. "He's building an airship!" "A what!" cried the young millionaire in great astonishment, for he had been too busy, of late, to hear any news from Dankville. "An airship--a biplane, I believe they're called," the foreman went on. "Well, I'll be gum-swizzled!" cried Dick, faintly. "Come on, fellows. The world must be coming to an end, surely." As he started to enter the part of the factory whither he had been directed, his uncle, plainly much excited, came out. "Stop where you be, Nephew Richard!" he warned. "Don't come in here! Stay back!" "Why, what in the world is the matter?" asked Dick. "Is something going to blow up?" CHAPTER XVII OFF FOR THE START Uncle Ezra Larabee stood fairly glaring at his nephew. The crabbed old man seemed strangely excited. "No, there ain't nothing going to blow up," he said, after a pause. "But don't you come in here. I warn you away! You can go in any other part of my factory you want to, but not in here." "Well, I certainly don't want to come where I'm not wanted, Uncle Ezra," said Dick, with dignity. "But I hear you are building an airship, and I thought I'd like to get a look at it." "And that's just what I don't want you to get--none of you," went on Mr. Larabee, looking at Dick's chums. "I don't want to be mean to my dead sister's boy," he added, "but my airship ain't in shape yet to be inspected." "Well, if it isn't finished, perhaps we can give you some advice," said Dick, with a smile. "Huh! I don't want no advice, thank you," said Uncle Ezra, stiffly. "I calkerlate Lieutenant Larson knows as much about building airships as you boys do." "Larson!" cried Dick. "Is he here?"