CHAPTER XXIII. HIRAM FACES THE MUSIC.
"Read it out, Rob, please," pleaded Tubby, with round-eyed wonder.
Thus urged, the scout leader proceeded to oblige.
"This is what he says here," he announced. "'Come around to the aviationfield as soon as you possibly can. Something doing. Guess my chance isknocking at the door like opportunity that comes once to everybody, theysay. Please _hurry_!
"'Signed Hiram.'"
"Do we go, Rob?" gasped Tubby, with intense eagerness in his wholemanner.
"Without losing a single minute!" declared the other.
"Well, I should remark," added Andy. "We've been up to our earsinterested in this affair of Hiram's from the day we left home; and wemean to see him through his troubles to boot."
"So let's be on the move," suggested Rob.
"That suits me," breathed Tubby. "You see, I've gotten over my tiredfeeling. There's nothing can revive a weary scout half so quick as achance to get in the swim. Why, I feel as fresh as a daisy, whatever thatcan mean."
"Well, toddle along with us then, Tubby," said Andy; "and take myadvice--don't talk so much when you're hurrying; it's a bad thing,because you need every bit of breath you c'n get."
Evidently Tubby realized this fact for himself, because he subsided fromthat moment; all they heard from him were frequent heavy sighs thataccompanied his strenuous efforts to keep at their heels.
They knew the way to the aviation field, and took as direct a course aspossible when aiming for that favorite portion of the grounds. Therecould always be found a large crowd watching the bird-men in theirpreparations for going aloft, and making landings after showing whattheir airships were capable of doing.
As a rule most of the spectators were debarred from getting too close tothe aeroplanes, for many reasons; but Hiram had made himself so useful onformer occasions that no one questioned his right inside the ropes. Soalso the other three scouts would doubtless be allowed to loiter near thestarting point, where there were always a dozen or two air-pilotsgathered, comparing notes and joking each other after the manner ofdaring adventurers, which all of them undoubtedly are, since they taketheir lives in their hands every time they ascend.
Hiram was waiting for them on the border of the great throng of deeplyinterested spectators. They saw immediately that the inventor scout wasvery much worked up over something or other, and naturally all of theother boys were deeply curious to know what had happened to excite him.
Hiram was evidently on the lookout for his three chums, since he beckonedthem over as soon as he caught their eyes.
"Well, we've come!" said Tubby, breathlessly, as they lined up alongsidethe other.
"Now tell us what's in the wind!" added Andy, impatiently.
"Something has happened," began Hiram, mysteriously.
"You said that in your note," grumbled Andy.
"The Company," Hiram continued, "have been waiting for me to show up, andthey're just so eager to find out what my stabilizer can do that theycan't stand for the delay any longer."
"Great governor! they don't mean to steal your idea, I hope?" askedTubby.
"Oh, no, I guess not!" replied the other, calmly. "You see they'veapplied it to one of their best machines to give it a try-out."
"Bully! that suits you all right!" urged Andy, enthusiastically.
"I should say yes!" declared Hiram, with a wide grin. "And if you craneyour necks right now so as to rubber and look up you'll see that sameaeroplane soaring along there!"
"That monoplane you mean, don't you, Hiram?" asked Andy, after all ofthem had taken a good look to where the other was pointing.
"Yep, she's the one, and my stabilizer's aboard," Hiram went on to tellthem, with a pardonable touch of pride in his voice, though he wascareful that no one else should hear him speaking.
"Have they tried it out yet, d'ye know?" inquired Tubby.
"I think the pilot's just starting in now to see what she can do," he wastold.
"Oh! Did you see him tumble then?" ejaculated the fat boy, grippingHiram's arm nervously as he spoke.
"That was looping the loop," explained the inventor; "lots of pilots c'ndo that trick nowadays; why, I've heard that Beachey even makes twocomplete turns. That bird-man up there is second only to Beachey, I'mtold. Watch some more of his bold stunts; and hold your breath, Tubby,for he'll give you lots of thrills."
"But I've got to breathe, don't you see," complained the fat scout, whowas already unduly red in the face from his exertions in this line.
They watched the aviator go through a number of hazardous exploits. Itwas doubtless generally known among the pilots assembled that he wastesting some new idea, for he seemed to be closely observed by everybodywithin the enclosure.
Hiram could see that some of the bird-men were pleased, for they noddedtheir heads as they exchanged remarks. Fancy how this fact thrilled theboy, for it was _his_ invention that interested these veterans amongair-pilots.
"Now I kind of guess he's exhausted every trick he knows, and is goin' tocome down," said Hiram, presently. "We'd better be gettin' inside, for Iwant to be as close as I can when he makes his report to the folks."
Accordingly he led his chums inside the roped enclosure. He seemed tohave made good with the attendants, for they smiled and nodded to Hiram.That Yankee "gift of gab" which Hiram possessed was very apt to get himinto the good graces of those upon whom he chose to exercise it.
The scouts presently found themselves in close touch with many of theparticipants in the exhibitions that were hourly taking place. Here weremen famous in their line, from aviators to makers of machines. Here alsohad collected those who were interested in the future of aviation, andthinking more or less seriously of embarking in the business.
As may be expected, the talk was "shop" every minute of the time. Nomatter what terrible distress the war over in Europe might be causing,these enthusiasts could only think and speak of matters that wereconnected with the game of rivaling the birds in their flights. If theymentioned the battles that were taking place day in and day out, it wasonly in connection with the exploits of the aviation corps on the side ofthe French, the German, the British or the Belgian armies.
"See that gentleman with the white mustache, the one that looks like aKentucky colonel, or an army officer?" whispered Hiram. "Well, that's thehead of the Golden Gate Aviation Supply Company, and the person I expectto do business with pretty soon."
"He's a fine looking gentleman, I must say," admitted Rob. "I thinkyou'll have no trouble making fair terms with him, if I'm any judge offaces."
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Rob," breathed Hiram, with a sigh,"because one minute I think everything looks rosy, and the next I'mgroveling in the dust. But the agony will soon be over. There, he meansto land this time; get ready to stick by me, because I want to be nearwhen he climbs out of his seat and meets that boss of the whole companyface to face."
The monoplane came swooping down, and like a great bird with wingsextended, sailed along close to the ground, with constantly decreasingspeed, as the power had been shut off.
Now the wheels under the frame had come in contact with the ground, and adozen eager hands were outstretched to bring the machine to a full stopon the border of the group. This assemblage was being constantlyaugmented by fresh arrivals, all eager to pass the good word with thepilot, and possibly congratulate him on the fine showing he had justmade.
Hiram was looking as sharp as a fox as he strained his ears to catchevery syllable that the air-man uttered.
He leisurely climbed out of his seat and reached the ground. There was asatisfied smile on his face that sent a wave of delight to the anxiousheart of the waiting boy, to whom the success or failure of this, hisfirst real invention, meant so much.
The pilot looked around. He was evidently expecting to make an immediatereport to the gentleman with the white mustache, and Hiram had
been verycareful to keep in close touch with that man.
Yes, the pilot, after exchanging a little badinage with some of hiscomrades, immediately pushed directly toward the spot where the fourchums stood. Straight up to the head of the large firm by whom he wasemployed the bird-man strode.
"Well, what is the decision?" Hiram heard the gentleman say, a note ofanticipation in his voice.
"Decidedly favorable, Mr. Curley. In fact, with only one trial I amconvinced that it is going to be the best stabilizer so far on themarket. You have made no mistake, take my word for it!"
Rob almost feared Hiram was going to faint. He leaned so heavily againsthim, as though for the moment his heart had ceased to beat. And yet,strange to say, the very first thing the overjoyed inventor did was toturn and clap his mouth close to the ear of the scout leader and mutterin trembling tones:
"By jinks! Did you hear _that_, Rob? Say, I meant to ask 'em justtwenty-five hundred cash for the patent, but she's doubled in price now.And don't you think they'll pay the five thousand all right, Rob?"
The Yankee in Hiram was on tap, Rob saw with amusement. At the same timehe hastened to assure his chum that he was well within his rights indemanding all he thought he could get for his cunning device.
Evidently Hiram had determined to break the ice while the opportunity laywithin his reach. Long had he waited for this glorious moment to arrive.By day he had pictured it in a dozen fantastic forms, and while he slepthis dreams must have carried him through numerous interviews with thepowers that swayed the fortunes of the wonderful Golden Gate AviationSupply Company.
He pushed forward a little further. If some of those present noticed theboy in scout uniform they paid little attention to him, being taken upwith what was passing between the pilot and the builder.
So Hiram managed to squeeze himself along until he could put out his handand actually touch the two central figures in the discussion.
Rob and the other boys were not quite so fortunate, but being within easyhearing distance, they believed they would not be apt to miss anythingthat went on.
They saw Hiram put out his hand and give a tug at the coat of thefine-looking gentleman with the white military mustache. The latterlooked down and was apparently annoyed to see that it was only a youthwho sought to distract his attention.
"What do you want, boy?" he was heard to ask, impatiently.
Then Hiram spoke up. If his voice quavered a little that was notsurprising; indeed, in Rob's mind the wonder was that the excited scoutcould find his tongue at all.
"Do you think, Mr. Curley, that the little stabilizer has proved to beall that was claimed for it, sir?" was what Hiram asked.
The gentleman stared hard at him. Others who heard his question did thesame, and Rob saw a smile as of amusement appear on the bronzed face ofthe noted air-pilot who had just come down, after experimenting with thedevice, bringing a favorable report; it was as though he had begun tosmell a rat, and realized what a joke it would be to have a boy inventsuch an important appendage to a heavier-than-air flying machine.
"Why, what business is that of yours, may I ask, boy?" demanded thebusiness head of the big company, as he continued to stare at the eager,flushed face of the lad who wore the khaki of a Boy Scout.
"Oh! Because I happen to be the Hiram Nelson you've been correspondingwith, sir, that's all!" said Hiram. "I used the money you sent me to comeout here, but was a leetle bit afraid to face you. But I guess it's allright now, Mr. Curley, because I heard your pilot say the thing workedfine. That suits me; and I'm ready to talk terms with you right away!"