Dave Dashaway, Air Champion; Or, Wizard Work in the Clouds

by Roy Rockwood

  CHAPTER XVII

  TROUBLE

  It was hard for the young pilot of the Scout to set his mind uponanything outside of his missing chum. As Hiram approached Bruce,however, it was quite natural that he should be attracted by twodazzling sparks of flashing light.

  “Diamonds!” cried Bruce, moving the two pins about so as to displaytheir brilliancy to advantage.

  “Sure as you live!” agreed Hiram. “Where did you get them?”

  “I found them behind, and under the cushion of the cockpit seat. Don’tyou understand, Hiram?”

  “How they got there? I don’t.”

  “Why, it’s clear, to my way of thinking. The man the police chased, whomade you take him in the _Scout_——”

  “Why, say, that may be so,” agreed Hiram with a start. “He must havebeen loaded with them, to drop them around promiscuously that way.”

  “They slipped from his pocket probably,” explained Bruce. “I don’tbelieve he had got rid of his plunder, as the police think, when hemade for the _Scout_. I believe he had them with him, else what arethese pins doing here? Hiram, you said it was Wayville, didn’t you?That was the town nearest to the place where the robber fell into thegully.”

  “You’ve remembered it so pat you must have heard of it before,”suggested Hiram, with a shrewd glance at his companion.

  “That’s so,” answered Bruce. “I was there once. It was when the circusman, Wertz, was in hiding. I was traveling with him then. He and someother men at the show robbed an old farmer, and had to get out of theway. It was near Wayville that we stayed for a week, till things ‘blewover,’ as they called it. In fact, when you described that thicket andthe gully, it came right back to me, as natural as life. It’s set methinking, Hiram. I’ve got a theory, somehow, that the diamond thief gotrid of his plunder after he left the _Scout_.”

  “Shouldn’t wonder,” remarked Hiram rather indifferently, “but we’lltalk about that some other time. My mind is full of nothing but Daveand the _Ariel_ just now. I’ve decided what I’m going to do, and youare to help me do it, if you will.”

  “I’m glad, Hiram,” responded Bruce readily. “I’ll work my finger nailsoff to be of any use to you, or your partner.”

  “I know that, Bruce,” said Hiram, “and I know that I can trust you,which is a great relief to me now, when I’m in such trouble. Bring thatbench out of the hangar, will you?”

  “What for, Hiram?” asked Bruce in some wonder.

  “I want to have a long talk with you, and I want to sit here in theopen while we’re at it, so we can watch out that no one hears us.”

  Bruce brought out the bench, setting it near the _Scout_, and facingthe grounds in such a way that they could see in three directions.Hiram’s face wore a serious, business-like look as he sat down besidehis young friend.

  “Maybe I’ve got it all wrong,” he began, “but I’ve tried to imaginejust what level-headed Dave Dashaway would do if he were in my fix. Ofcourse I haven’t got his brains or smartness, but I know one thing—hewouldn’t get rattled. So I’m trying not to fly all to pieces and do allkinds of rash things. There’s two men I want to see and get word to.”

  “Who are they?” inquired the interested Bruce.

  “First, Mr. Brackett.”

  “Oh, sure, him!” exclaimed Bruce. “I’ve thought that all along.”

  “He’s the head of all our plans,” went on Hiram. “He’s a good businessman, he’s rich and powerful, and he’d know how to handle this muddlebetter than I. Mr. Brackett must be seen, and you can get ready to takethe first train for the town where he has his plant, Bruce.”

  This looked like a pretty important mission to Bruce. He was silent,however, as his companion proceeded:

  “You are to see Mr. Brackett, tell him everything that has occurred,and ask him to send me instructions as to what I am to do. He willprobably come right back with you. I hope so. There’s a train leavinghere inside of two hours. You will get to the little Ohio town wherethe Aero plant is located by early morning. Then, I suppose, Mr.Brackett will wire me.”

  “See here, Hiram,” interposed Bruce, “do you think it’s as good for meto go as yourself? There’s lots of things in detail about the plotsthat have been working against you that I don’t know about and you do.”

  “No,” answered Hiram definitely, “I can’t go. As I told you, there weretwo men to see about this affair.”

  “Yes, I remember. Who is the other one?”

  “Mr. Borden.”

  “Oh, I see,” said Bruce promptly. “Yes, indeed. If he’s the true-bluefellow you think he is he can do something to help you.”

  “He gave us that warning,” remarked Hiram. “He knew that something wasgoing to happen. He was on the watch for our benefit.”

  “But Mr. Borden doesn’t dare to show himself here and you can’t go tothe Syndicate camp,” argued Bruce.

  “I’ve got to see that man just as soon as I possibly can,” said Hiram,his eyes snapping with determination. “You leave that to me. I’ve gotto go down to the offices of the meet for some money. You get ready tostart for the train as soon as I come back.”

  Bruce smiled to himself as he proceeded to “get ready.” His wardrobewas not very extensive, and he could pack in his pockets the extracollars and handkerchiefs that comprised it. Hiram came back in half anhour, and handed him some bills.

  “Here’s a time-table,” he added. “I shall be anxious till I hear fromyou.”

  “Say, Hiram,” said Bruce, “that fellow, Valdec——”

  “Yes, what about him?” demanded the young airman, sharply.

  “He strolled by here while you were gone. He was with one of the crowdthat hangs around their camp. He looked at me and scowled. Then hegrinned.”

  “I’ll go with you down to the train,” said Hiram. “Then I’ll know whathe was grinning about, or my name isn’t Dobbs!”

  The boys kept their eyes open on the way to the railroad depot. No oneof the Syndicate crowd seemed to be following, or watching them,however.

  “Tell Mr. Brackett everything, Bruce,” directed Hiram, “and get me wordjust as soon as you can.”

  “Hope for the best, Hiram,” said Bruce cheeringly. “There’s surely someway out of this trouble for two smart fellows like you and DaveDashaway.”

  Hiram waved his hand in adieu to Bruce as the train started. Then Hiramproceeded back to the hangar, his lips compressed and his face lookingresolute.

  “Now to wait until dark!” grimly soliloquized the young pilot of the_Scout_.

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