CHAPTER XIII
HIRAM DOBBS AND THE BIPLANE
Dave walked straight along the fence. By the shortest routepossible he reached the gateway entrance to the factory yard.
The tramp had put nimbly in the opposite direction. He was headedfor the nearest business street, where he could spend some of themoney that he had earned so easily.
The young aviator was very much excited. He had made certaindiscoveries that had amazed him. He could not help but mentallyrejoice over the strange fortune that had come from his straymeeting with the tramp.
"It's a clew--a sure clew," said Dave to himself. "Now to move justright in this affair and make no mistake."
The youth crossed the grounds of the plant and again entered theoffice building. He did not wait to announce himself, but, as hereached the door of the manager's room and found it closed, hetapped briskly.
"Come in," spoke Mr. Randolph. "Hello, you, Dashaway?"
"Yes, Sir," bowed Dave, removing his cap.
"You are back soon."
"Sooner than I planned," replied Dave, "But I--"
"You've thought the affair over, I hope?"
"Something more than that, Sir," responded Dave. "I have come totell you that I think I can be of some service to you about thatstolen aero-hydroplane."
"Good for you!"
"I've thought out a plan, Sir," went on Dave. "I feel certain thatthe people who raided the aerodrome and made off with the Drifterare bound for a distant and unsettled section."
"But why? What benefit can they hope to secure way off fromcivilization?"
"That we have to guess at and work out," replied Dave. "I will say,Mr. Randolph, that I think I have a faint clew to the disappearanceof the airship."
"You don't say so!"
"I shall know more inside of twenty-four hours. In fact, Mr.Randolph, I feel pretty certain that I can soon submit a plan thatwill satisfy you that I know what I am about."
"We already think that of you, Dashaway."
"And that I can bring results."
"Capital! I knew we were not mistaken in you. Now, see here, I seeyou have something working in your mind. I don't want to evenhamper you by asking what it is."
"I would like to go back to Columbus on the first train, Mr.Randolph."
"Very well."
"I want to look up some affairs there, consult with Mr. King, andcome back here the next day."
"And then?"
"I shall perhaps want to use the very best aircraft you have in yourfactory."
"To hunt for the Drifter?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Dashaway, the whole plant and everything in it is at your service."
"Thank you, Sir."
"I consider this theft of the Drifter even more important than I atfirst thought."
"How is that, Mr. Randolph?"
"I have been thinking that if some competitor was concerned in theaffair, he might steal and utilize many points in our new modelwhich are not yet protected by patents."
"I feel pretty sure that no business rival had anything to do withthe theft," observed the young aviator confidently.
"Well, you work this affair out in your own way. Remember, as Itold you, expense is no point whatever. When shall we see youagain?"
"To-morrow evening, or the next morning at the latest."
Something in Dave's manner seemed to convince the shrewd manager ofthe Interstate Aeroplane Company that their young employee wasstarted on the right track. He shook hands cordially with Davewhen the latter left the office.
Dave went at once to the railroad depot. He learned that a trainleft in two hours.
"That will bring me to Columbus before dark," he reflected. "Iwonder what Mr. King will say?"
The young aviator had a good deal on his mind, enough to make theaverage lad impatient. He had, however, learned a hard lesson ofdiscipline with his tyrannical guardian, old Silas Warner. Then,too, since coming under the helpful influence of Mr. King, he hadacquired a certain self reliance that now stood him in good stead.
Running an airship took nerve, steadiness of purpose, a definite,concrete way of looking at things. Dave knew in his own mind thatthe Drifter was each hour speeding farther and farther away from thehaunts of men. He recalled the old adage, however, which says "themore haste the less speed," and he determined to stick to the planhe had mentally outlined at the start.
"I'm going to work on this affair slow but sure," he told himself."I think I can guess where the Drifter is headed for. If I amright, I know that I shall find it."
Dave reached Columbus about dark. He went straight from the depotto the aero grounds. The plan he had formed in his mind took in atalk with Mr. King right away. The Baby Racer hangar, however, wason his way to the Aegis quarters. As he neared it he saw a light inthe shed where the little biplane was housed. Dave went to the halfopen door of the place to find Hiram Dobbs with a lantern putteringabout the machine.
"What have you been up to, Hiram?" challenged Dave.
"Why, hello! Got back? Good!" cried Hiram, rushing forward towarmly welcome his best friend.
"Yes, just arrived," answered Dave.
"I've been cleaning up the machine," explained Hiram. "It's oldGrimshaw's fault."
"What is?"
"Taking the Baby Racer out."
"Oh, the machine has been out, then, has it?" remarked Dave.
"Yes, and up. Say, Dave, I made the five hundred feet level. Ihope you're not put out. It was a chance to make fifty dollars."
"Fifty dollars?"
"Uh-huh," bobbed Hiram in a broad grin.
"How was that?"
"Why, Grimshaw was piloting a party over the grounds. Rich man andhis family-wife, son and two daughters. The youngest one was adaring little miss. She wanted to fly, and would fly. Grimshaw gotto bragging about what you had done with the Baby Racer. Well,nothing would do but I must roll the little beauty out."
"That was all right, Hiram," the young aviator hastened to say. "Ishould always feel that the biplane is safe in your hands."
"Well, finally the father consented to let his daughter try a flyalong the ground. I settled her in a comfortable seat, and away wewent. I made it a good stiff run, and there was some jolting, butthe girl was wild over it. She begged for a second run. We gotsuch a fine start that I lifted about twenty feet in the air."
"And then, of course, she screamed out in fear?" said Dave, with asmile.
"Screamed nothing," dissented Hiram. "She just spoke one delighted'O-oh!' and then: 'Higher, oh, please keep on going!' Say, Dave,she looked so bright and brave I couldn't help it--Z--I--P!"
"What does 'Z--I--P!' mean, Hiram?" asked Dave.
"A slide, a swoop, then a circle, another, a shoot upwards, and thegirl laughing out, 'Oh, this is just grand!' Her sister shrieked,her mother fainted away, and her father was shaking his cane at usand yelling for us to come back. The Racer did her prettiest in twogrand circles of the grounds, and came down light as a feather. Thegirl jumped out, one big smile. 'Just think of it!' I heard her cryto her sister, 'when I've told my seminary chums that I've been upin a real airship!' Then, seeing that she was safe, I think herfolks were just as proud of her exploit as she was. Anyhow, she ranup to her father in a coaxing way, and came back to place a banknote in my hand. When they were gone, and I found that it was afifty dollar bill, old Grimshaw chuckled and said he had hinted tothe party that the regular fee for a ride in an airship was onehundred dollars. I'm mighty glad you're back, Dave."
"Why, you seem to have got along finely without me," said Dave.
"We've missed you, all the same. Where you going, Dave?" askedHiram, as his friend moved out of the shed.
"Why, I'm anxious to see Mr. King as soon as I can. I havesomething very important to talk about with him."
"It's about that rush telegram?"
"Yes, Hiram."
"What did it mean?"
"When we meet with Mr. K
ing you shall, hear all about it, Hiram."
"Well, Mr. King isn't home yet," explained Hiram.
Dave looked disappointed.
"That is," continued Hiram, "he hadn't got back when I was last upat the Aegis hangar."
"When was that?"
"About four o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Grimshaw, though, said heexpected him on the six o'clock train."
"We'll go and see if he has returned," said Dave.
They started for the aviator's headquarters. Half the distancecovered, they met him coming in search of them. Mr. King lookedpale and worried. Dave knew that something had happened to upsethim.
"I'm glad you're back, Dashaway," said Mr. King. "Grimshaw told meyou had been called to headquarters by the Interstate people. Ishould have wired you to return right away if you had not returned.Something very important has transpired."
"About Mr. Dale--about my father's old friend, Mr. King?" askedDave.
"That's it exactly. Bad news, Dashaway, I'm sorry to say,"announced the aviator in a very serious tone.