by Roy Rockwood
CHAPTER XIV
HIS FIRST AIRSHIP RIDE
Dave recognized the newcomer on the scene as Hiram Dobbs, his companionduring his first visit to the hangars. The latter had appeared likemagic through a near open doorway of the temporary restaurant building.
Hiram had said he was bigger than Jerry Dawson. He now proved that hewas also stronger. He grasped the surprised bully by the arm, gave him aswing, and sent him slamming up against the side of the nearestbuilding.
“Get out of here,” he ordered, “or I’ll run you out.”
The discomfited bully scowled frightfully at Dave’s champion. He made amove to seize a brick and hurl it. Then he changed his mind as Hiramstarted on a run for him.
“There’s a bully for you,” announced the country boy, stooping to pickup a little box he had placed on the ground when he ran to Dave’srescue. “Good thing I just happened around.”
“Yes, he acted pretty vicious,” replied Dave. “He’s mad because he’slost his place, and wants to scare me off from taking it.”
“Don’t you let him do it.”
“I won’t.”
“So you got a job with Mr. King?” questioned Hiram, his face lengtheninga trifle.
“Yes,” answered Dave. “You see——”
“You’re smarter than me? yes. A blind owl could see that. And I’m rightglad of it,” added Hiram heartily. “Some day I’ll hit it just as lucky.Oh, say,” and Hiram grinned drolly. “You tell Mr. King that I know whata biplane is now.”
“Do you, indeed?”
“Yes, and the difference between a pylon and aileron. And a lot of otherthings. And I’m going to learn a heap more,” declared Hiram confidently.
“Then you’ve begun your education already, have you?”
“The man Mr. King sent me to hired me right on the spot. There isn’tmuch to do here, but I’m to go with his crew to Dayton, and so allaround the circuit. Six dollars a week, and keep and commission.”
“What doing?”
“Helping in the restaurant and peddling novelties. I can’t be idle, soI’m trying to start an honest penny rolling among the stragglers aroundthe grounds,” and Hiram tapped the box under his arm.
“What have you got there?” inquired Dave.
“Souvenirs,” explained Hiram, opening the cover of the box anddisplaying a lot of pins and buttons bearing or stamped with miniatureairships.
“You’ll do,” declared Dave heartily, “and thank you for sending thatDawson fellow about his business.”
“All right, and you look out for him. He’ll do you some mischief if hecan.”
Dave went on his way with a word of good cheer to Hiram. He felt thatthey were bound soon to meet again, and prized the manly qualities ofthis new acquaintance. As he neared the hangars two automobiles flashedpast him.
“Hello!” cried Dave, “in that first one is my friend Dollinger, with thecamera man and his traps. Mr. Alden’s group are in the second machine.”
Dave reached Mr. King’s quarters to find the second automobile haltedthere. The other one, guided by Dollinger, he noticed had driven over toa clear stretch at the far end of the grounds.
“Motion pictures, of course,” thought Dave, and just then the man whohad acted the Indian in the motion scene of the day previous recognizedhim.
“Hello,” he hailed. “You’re on time. Going to help us out to-day?”
“I don’t know. I hope so,” replied Dave, and he returned the friendlynods of the lady and others of the party.
“We’re waiting for Mr. Alden,” explained the man who had first spoken toDave.
“I think he expects to be here soon, with Mr. King,” said Dave. Then hemoved around to the part of the building where the airship was housed ashe saw a man in overalls pottering about the open doors.
“Saw you with Mr. King,” said the man as Dave came up. “Going to workfor him?”
“I think so,” answered Dave.
“Well, you look a likely one. Seen much of airships?”
“Almost nothing, until this morning,” replied Dave.
“Well, I’ll show you the last word in aerial construction when Iintroduce you to the _Aegis_,” said the man. “Here, I’ll give you a lookat the beauty.”
Dave moved as gingerly about the machine as if it were made ofporcelain. His companion pointed out the main features of the splendidpiece of mechanism.
Dave heaved a great sigh as he came out from the exhibition. He wasfairly fascinated with what he had seen and what had been explained tohim.
Mr. King and the motion picture manager came up a minute later. Theytalked together. Then Mr. King got into the automobile with the others.
“All oiled up and ready, Mason?” he called out to the caretaker of thehangars.
“All ready, Mr. King.”
“Then run her down to where you see that automobile. Dashaway will giveyou some help.”
“It seems just like a dream, all this,” ruminated Dave, as he assistedMason in propelling the monoplane down the course.
The sky was clear, with a moderate breeze, the day cool and bright. Forthe time, Dave forgot all the past, and a rare golden future seemedspreading out before him.
Soon the _Aegis_ was in place where the aviator wanted it. Dave listenedwith interest to the talk of the motion picture man. He soon understoodthat they were to take a series of pictures bringing in something of astory.
“We will work in all our interiors at our city studio,” explained themanager. “What we want to do here first, is to picture out—here it is,”and the speaker read over his scenario—“‘scene in prison yard. Convictat the rock pile.’”
“That’s me,” announced the man who had acted the hunter’s part the daybefore.
“Get in trim, then,” ordered the manager.
The actor went behind one of the automobiles where there was a largewardrobe trunk. In a minute or two he reappeared arrayed as the typicalconvict.
The camera man had produced from his properties various needed articles.When the convict was posed, he sat with a hammer in his hand breakingstones on a rock heap.
“Miss Mowbeay,” spoke the manager. “‘Veiled lady in black.’”
“All ready.”
“‘Visit of the Convict’s Wife.’”
Wher—rr—r! went the camera, and the actress advanced to where theconvict was at work. A prison guard kept near her. At the end of theinterview the wife secretly dropped a folded note on the stone heap.
“We are ready for you, Mr. King,” next spoke the motion picture man.“Flight of the Airship.”
“What do you want me to do?” asked Mr. King, going up to his machine.
“Oh, about five minutes thrilling stunts. Then I want you to swoop downnear the convict. You drop him a rope——”
“Hold on, I don’t,” cried the aviator.
“Can’t work out our plot unless you do,” declared the motion pictureman.
“Say,” inquired Mr. King with a smile, “was you ever up in a monoplane?”
“Well—no.”
“Try it once, with eye, hands and mind set on dodging a single quirkthat may send you diving like an arrow, and you will understand that Ican’t run my machine and drop a rope at the same time.”
“Well, the best part of the scenario is where the convict is told by thenote left by his wife to look out for the rescue. As I said, you was toswoop near him, drop the rope.”
“What does the convict do then?” questioned the aviator, with an amusedsmile.
“He grabs the rope, up he goes, and bang! bang! go the rifles of theguards.”
“See here, Mr. Alden,” objected the airman, “do you know how long thatconvict would hold on to that rope?”
“He don’t hold on six feet. Just clutches it for an instant. Only enoughto take the act of rising. Then we shut off the camera. We finish up hisdashing against chimneys, flag poles and the clouds with a dummy in ourstudio.
”
“I see,” nodded Mr. King, enlightened. “About dropping that rope,though, some one will have to assist me. Let one of your men go up withme.”
Just here the hunter man sneaked behind the automobile. The Indian actorgot very busy donning the garb of a prison guard.
“They don’t seem to want to try it,” laughed Mr. King.
“Would I do?” asked Dave, promptly stepping forward.
“The very thing,” exclaimed the motion picture man.
“Not afraid, Dashaway?” asked Mr. King.
“Afraid? With you? I’d be the happiest boy in the world,” declared Dave.
“All right—get aboard,” directed the aviator.
“Here’s your rope,” added the motion picture man. “I’ll signal with aflag when I want you to make the swoop, Mr King.”
The airman pointed to a seat directly behind his own. Nimbly Daveclambered over the wing and gearing and began his first ride in anairship.
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