CHAPTER II
The "BABY RACER"
"You know all about it?" repeated Dave Dashaway, looking up in greatsurprise.
"That's what I do," declared Hiram positively.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain."
"I wish you would."
"I'm a blockhead, that's just what I am!" cried Hiram. "I don'tknow what possessed me that I didn't tell you all about it before."
"See here, Hiram," broke in Dave, "What are you talking about?"
"Why, about Mr. Timmins. You know he here night before last andleft us then?"
"Yes, Hiram, to go to Kewaukee."
"Well, he just didn't go to Kewaukee at all."
"That's no news, for this telegram shows that couldn't have doneso."
"You see, when Mr. Timmins got telling us about the big sale he wasgoing to make at Kewaukee," continued Hiram, "and how the Star Aeropeople were bidders for the same contract, you warned him againstthe Dawsons, and the people they are working for!"
"I know I did. That was because the Dawsons are stunting for theStar people."
"Exactly. Then when I caught Jerry Dawson and Brooks, that preciouschum of his, sneaking around the Aegis hangar, I made up my mindthat they were up to no good. I know what they were snooping aroundfor, now."
"What was it?"
"To pick up what information they could about Mr. Timmins' plans,so, when Mr. Timmins went away, I was awful glad. I felt pleased,for Mr. King told as you know that he was a free and easy fellow,friendly to everybody, and sometimes drank more than he ought to."
"Yes, I know that, Hiram."
"Well, last night I went to town to get some supplies for Mr.Grimshaw. There's a tavern at the cross roads, and some men were inthere. I saw them through an open window. There were six of them.Brooks was there, and Jerry and his father, and three more of thecrowd. They were playing cards and making a great deal of noise.Just as I looked in some one pulled down the shade. I caught asight of the other man, though. Right off, even at the distance Iwas, it struck me he looked like Mr. Timmins. Then I rememberedthat Mr. Timmins had certainly gone to Kewaukee the night before, soI put it off my mind. Now, I see the whole trick."
"What is that?"
"The crowd kept Mr. Timmins here, delaying and entertaining him.Maybe later some of them led him still further away from Columbus.Their man is probably on the spot at Kewaukee now, ready to get thatbig contract for show biplanes."
Dave had been anxiously walking up and down the floor while Hiramwas talking. Now he took his cap off a peg and picked up anumbrella.
"You wait here till I come back, Hiram," he said.
"Where are you going, Dave?"
"Down to the Aegis hangar. This telegram disturbs me very much. Ihave no idea where Mr. Timmins can be, and something must certainlybe done about this contract."
"That's so, Dave," agreed Hiram. "It isn't exactly our business,but it would be a big feather in your cap to help out the people whoare hiring you."
"That's what I want to do, if I can," replied Dave, as he left theplace.
The youth went straight to the Aegis hangar, where he found Grimshawtinkering over a broken airplane wing. Mr. King had a desk in onecorner of what he called his office room.
Dave was free to use this at all times. He opened it now, and forten minutes was busy with some railroad time tables he found there.Then he consulted an aero guide map.
Grimshaw watched him from under his shaggy eyebrows, but saidnothing until Dave got up from the desk, buttoned his coat andprepared to face the storm again.
"What's the trouble, Dashaway?" he asked.
"Why, Mr. Grimshaw?" inquired Dave, wishing to evade directquestioning.
"You seem bothered about something, I see."
"Well, as a matter of fact, I am," confessed Dave.
"What is it?"
"I'm trying to find a way to get to Kewaukee," explained Dave."Something has come up that makes me think I ought to be there inthe interests of my employers early to-morrow morning. I am figuringout how I can make it."
"See here, Dashaway," spoke the old airman in a grim, impressiveway, "don't you do anything reckless."
"I won't," answered Dave. "You know you once said I was allbusiness. Well, I'll always try to do my duty without anyunnecessary risks."
Dave laughed carelessly and got away from the hangar. A daring ideahad come into his mind. Perhaps Grimshaw suspected it, and Dave wasafraid he might. The lad knew that the eccentric old fellow likedhim, and would try to dissuade him from any exploit of unusualperil.
"I'll do it, I'll have to do it or let the company lose out,"breathed Dave, as once outside he broke into a run across theaviation field.
Dave found Hiram winding the alarm clock as he re-entered the halfshed, half canvas house where the Baby Racer was stored. Althoughthey got their meals at Mr. King's headquarters, the boys had twolight cots and slept near to the machine which Dave had beenexhibiting.
Dave glanced at the clock, and Hiram noticing the look, said:
"Eleven thirty, Dave. I've set the alarm clock for five thirty.You know that new hydroplane will probably come in on an earlyfreight. What's the programme?"
"Well, Hiram," responded Dave, throwing off his coat and hat, "I'mgoing to dress up for a ride."
"Eh?" ejaculated Hiram, staring hard at the set resolute face of hiscomrade.
"Yes, I've got to get to Kewaukee."
"Oh, you mean going by train?"
"No. Last one left an hour ago. Next one nine o clock to-morrowmorning."
"Automobile, then?"
"On the country mud roads we've been having for the last week?"
"That's so. Then--"
"It's the airship route or nothing, Hiram," said Dave. "I'm goingin the biplane."
"The Baby Racer?"
"Yes."
"On such a night as this! Why, Dave," began Hiram, almost in alarm.
"Don't say a word," interrupted Dave with a preemptory wave of hishand. "I've made up my mind, and that ends it."
"It usually does," said Hiram. "If you're bound to do it, though,Dave--"
"I certainly am."
"Ask Mr. Grimshaw's advice, first."
"Not for worlds."
"Why not?"
"I think he would try to stop me. See here, Hiram, I've thought itall over. I know it's a hard, rough night, but I also know what theBaby Racer can do."
"It's a pretty bad night to do any fooling in the air," remarkedHiram.
"There won't be much fooling about it, Hiram. I know the chancesand, I shan't look for any fun. It is a bad night, I know, but thewind is right, and I can head straight into it in reachingKewaukee."
"How far away is Kewaukee, Dave?"
"Ninety-five miles."
Dave, while he talked, had been putting on his regular aviator'ssuit. As he finished up with a helmet, he noticed Hiram changinghis coat for a sweater.
"What are you up to, Hiram," he inquired quickly.
"Getting ready, of course."
"Getting ready for what?"
"The trip to Kewaukee."
"Oh, you think you're going?"
"If you are," retorted Hiram, "I know I am. Now, see here, Dave,"continued Hiram, waving a silencing finger as Dave was about tospeak, "I know I'm not an aviator like you, and never will be. Allthe same, I am some good in an airship, if it's only to act asballast. The other day when I was up with you in the Racer, you.said I shifted the elevator just in time to save a smash up. In astorm like the one to-night, you my need me worse than ever.Anyhow, Dave Dashaway, I won't let you go alone."
The young airman looked at his loyal, earnest friend with pleasureand pride. Hiram was only a crude country boy. He had, however,shown diamond in the rough, and Dave appreciated the fact.
Hiram had made several ground runs in an aeroplane. He had gone upin the Baby Racer twice with Dave, and had proven himself a modelpassenger. As he had
just hinted, too, he had been familiar enoughwith the mechanism of the biplane to operate some of its auxiliarymachinery so as to avert an accident.
"You are the best company in the world, Hiram," said Dave, "but Iwouldn't feel right in letting you take the risk of a hazardousrun."
"Dave, I won't let you go alone," persisted Hiram.
Dave said nothing in reply. He went outside, and Hiram followedhim. They unlocked the door of the shed adjoining where the BabyRacer was housed, and lit two lanterns.
"Get a couple of the nearest field men, Hiram," directed Dave, "andI will have everything in order by the time you get back."
There was not much for Dave to do. Only the noon of that day theyhad got the little biplane ready for a cross country spurt. Thenthe rain came on, and they decided to defer the dash till theweather was more propitious. Dave was looking over the machinery,when a gruff hail startled him.
"Hello!" challenged old Grimshaw, appearing at the open doorway ofthe hangar. "What you up to, Dashaway?"
Dave flushed guiltily. He was dreadfully embarrassed to be "caughtin the act" as it were, by his great friend, the old airman.
"Why--you see, Mr. Grimshaw--" stammered Dave.
"Yes, of course I see," retorted the old man firmly. "You're goingto start out a night like this."
"I've got to, Mr. Grimshaw," declared Dave desperately.
"Business, eh?"
"Of the most important kind."
"What is it?"
It was in order for Dave to explain details, and did so briefly.
"H'm," commented Grimshaw, when his pupil concluded his explanation."And so you thought you'd steal away without letting me know it?"
"Oh, now, Mr. Grimshaw!" Dave hastened to say--"that was not thespirit of the thing at all."
"Go ahead, Dashaway."
"Well, then, I think so very much of you I didn't want it to worryyou."
"Roll her out," was all that Grimshaw would say, placing his onehand on the tail of the biplane. "Hold on for a minute. Gasolinesupply?"
"Twenty-five gallons."
"That will do. Lubricating oil-all right. Now then, lad, hit thathead wind every time, and you'll make it, sure."