he had not expected to see. A tall, broad-shouldered young man, with a bronz

d his brown hand. "Why, John!" he excla

telling mother, two days ago I didn't know myself that I would be anywhere at this hour except speeding through the air between New York and Washington on my usual mail run in m

matter, John?" as

e Air Mail appropriation, in order to reduce expenses. Well, the upshot of it all is, they made the cut, and not having enough money to carry on the service as it has been, the head

u on again soon, Jo

say that he would give me the first opening in the transcontinental line, since my records lead the

pted Paul, with conclusive

aps have been killed in the last year-and that may let me back in again. But I won't wait for it; I'll get after some of the commercial flying companies next week and see if

up, as our present airplanes. How many of your own unfortunate associates can lay their untimely deaths to either one of these causes! It was only the last time you were he

restarted in the air, and when accidentally ignited fuel will burn itself out with no harm to either the machine or its occupants. The fact is, Paul and I have some ideas now as to how

n as fine a home as the Giddings's over on Shadynook Hill, and when you wish to go into the city to do any shopping, John or I will take yo

n had drawn, more because he spoke with such seriousness, and b

ily," she said, as she arose to resume her household du

on down in the basement, John," he said; "I wish to show you our lates

f chisels, bits, countersinks, etc. In a splendid oak cabinet attached to the wall above was a more extensive array of wood- and metal-working tools, some of which the brothers had bought with money earned

r and striking design. It was glistening in several coats of spar-varnish, and so light and delicate was its spider

ked closely at the long, graceful pair of wings, which were of an unusual thickness and a slight upward thrust like those of a bird, and which widened batlike as they ran back and joined t

the last time you were here, I could have pumped in twice the quantity, I think, and that would have made her so light she woul

solved the biggest problem facing airplane designers to-day. With a machine weighing only a trifle more than her load of fuel and baggage, she will not only fly a lot faster but go a lot farther, with a given supply of fuel, than the

ld fair-grounds Saturday afternoon," said P

Bob's father is usually at home at that time, why don't you ask him to view the affair also? I'm sure he would e

e of Paul. "But we must warn him to silence, John. Whatever h

g with the Patent Office at Washington much sooner than little mother anticipates." He poked Paul in the ribs as he spoke, and both young men gave vent to a low

r Mail service. On these occasions he had arrived in his plane, and during the term of his stay had often taken Paul up into the air for pleasure flights, as well as his chum Bob Giddings. Both boys were keen students, and it was not long before John could trust them to opera