The Aeroplane Boys on the Wing | Page 9

trouble."
"Oh, don't mind that, dad, one little bit; you know I'm only too glad to
be of any assistance to you. What's gone wrong now? Machine laid off
again and garage closed? But you won't need it till nine tomorrow, will
you?"
There was a world of affection in the very way Frank used that word
"dad." It might seem disrespectful coming from the lips of many boys,
but to the ears of the good doctor it was as sweetest music.

"That's the trouble, Frank. I do need some means of getting around
tonight the worst kind. Fact is the car broke down just as I got it in the
yard. Same old trouble, and will take an hour to fix it up. And all at
once it dawned on me that I had forgotten to take the medicine out to
Farmer Lovejoy, which I surely promised tonight. It lies under the seat
of the machine. Slipped my mind entirely when I was out. And Frank,
there may be a serious turn to that child's sickness unless that medicine
gets there within the next hour or so."
"Don't say another word, dad," declared Frank, jumping up and getting
his cap. "My wheel is in fine shape and with a good lantern I can make
the run in a jiffy. Only too glad to be able to help out. The packet is
under the seat in the car and you left that in the side yard? All right, I'm
off!"
CHAPTER IV.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
It did not take Frank many minutes to get started on his little trip.
As he had said, his wheel was in good shape, with neither tire needing
any pumping up. And even his acetylene headlight had only to be
attached, which task took but a short time.
"I declare!" he exclaimed, as he rested his wheel against the gate and
turned back, "that would have been a rough joke on me if I'd gone
spinning off and only remembered after I'd almost got there that I
forgot to take the package of medicine out of dad's little runabout. So
much for having my brain full of that wonderful scheme of Andy's."
He found the medicine, and as the packet turned out to be small enough
to be stowed away in one of his coat pockets, Frank so disposed of it.
Then wheeling his machine out into the road he took a last look at the
lantern, to see that the water might not be dripping on the carbide too
rapidly to combine the greatest efficiency. After that he swung into the
saddle, starting off with the perfect freedom that proclaims the rider a
master of his wheel.

Once he passed out of town Frank made good progress. He had a ride
of several miles before him, ere he could expect to reach the farmhouse
of Jason Lovejoy, one of his father's oldest customers and friends.
There was no help from the moon, because the sky had clouded up and
screened the young queen of the skies. But Frank needed no other light
than the brilliant glow that spread out along the road ahead of him
coming from his lamp.
It happened that he passed the home of Colonel Josiah Whympers, the
retired and lame traveler, in whose care Andy had been left by the will
which his father had made before starting on what had proven his last
air voyage.
"Guess Andy's gone to bed," he mused, as he saw the house wrapped in
darkness, for it was now after half past nine.
Frank cast a glance back toward the big field where the shed stood in
which the great little monoplane, in which they had won their victory
during Old Home Week, was stored. But he could just barely make it
out, owing to the distance and the faint light of the moon coming
through the clouds.
Naturally the hearts of both lads went out toward the gallant aircraft
which had answered every call made upon it for speed and endurance.
It was equipped with an engine of the latest make, weighing only a
third as much as the average aeroplane motor and a triumph of modern
scientific discovery. Since the Bird boys had constructed that
monoplane themselves, after patterns obtained elsewhere, surely they
had reason to be proud of their work and the gallant victory which had
come to them.
Frank pedaled on, thinking nothing of the trip. He was accustomed to
being abroad at night with his wheel, and, indeed, had taken many a
twenty-mile run by the light of his lamp alone.
What was there to fear? Bloomsbury was a peaceful community. Rarely
did anything occur to indicate that a spirit of lawlessness was abroad.

Occasionally the police had some trouble with wandering