The Boy Aviators in Record Flight

edge that he had written a good introduction and account of the Planet's great offer, was slipping into his coat preparatory to

I want to see you,

to himself; but he answered cheerily: "All right, sir,

shing a first edition of the Planet's rival, the Despatc

st and warm as it had been run off the press. The sickly, sweet odor of printer's ink hung about it. But these detail

H" OFFERS FI

R A TRANSC

IG

tory eulogizing the enterprise of the Despatch in making the offer and giving a list

steal of the

were the same as those Mr. Stowe h

ne, in which Billy recognized the steely ring that

lly helplessly, "I ca

hoed the other i

lad, lifting his eyes

I c

can,

been so

ld

who could have had any knowledge of the secret. One is the

and looked straight at Billy, in whose

practically accusing h

such as the managing editor's, there would be no way of explaining mat

any one el

room, the latter's strange and defiant manner, and the unaccountable publishing by the Despatch of

roof h

osition of trying to throw the blame on a man whom he realized the managing editor

answer," came the col

ng reporter with a feeling that he had put t

y one person who could have done it, and that--" He paused.

tor was leading up to, was struck by a rude shock of surprise at the actual placing in

can say to have had to speak as I have. However, until you can clear yourself of the cloud

went

ilty of the worst crime a newspaper man

ve what you are sayi

ake little difference. In a short time the proprietor will hear of this, and I should h

my formal resignation," exclaimed Billy, hi

ad, scarcely knowing where he was going, left

inferior officer in the direction of the paper. Its owner, he well knew, was a man of violent temper and fixed convictions. When he saw the Despatch Mr. Stowe knew that the vials of his wrath would be emptied and that Billy would have

picion directed toward him," said Mr. Stowe; "bu

owner bitterly; "sold us out cold and noth

d Stowe softly, and lit a cigar, w

rief minute with suspicion that here might be the traitor. But he dismissed it-was compelled to, in fact. To his

them. One morning the Despatch would announce the entry of some prominent aviator in its cross-country contest, and the next the Planet woul

nge. It was he who first broached to Stowe the idea of flinging down the gauntlet to the Despatch and inviting that paper to start its contestants on the same day as

the Despatch, Billy Barnes had visited his friends, the Boy

p. To his surprise he found there old Eben Joyce, the inventor whom Luther Barr had treated so shabbily in the matter of

of a boxed flywheel of glittering brass encased in a framework of the same metal. It seemed quite a heavy bit of apparatus, withal

examining the bit of machinery that they did not hear Bill

ou fellows!" that they turned

aeroplane story here's a good one-a new adjustable gyroscopic appliance for at

y," enthusiastic

pliance, which is the invention of Mr. Joyce-has not yet been

as a cat knows of the solar system; "but you needn't worry about my p

" cried

matter of fact," explained Billy ruefully; "b

ommanded Frank, genuinely concerne

ries, Billy related his story, omitting nothing. On

, "and although I'm convinced that he gave our plan awa

k and Harry were

with his aeroplane attachment quite oblivious to their talk, announced that he would have

enough to be mighty uncomfortable, what do you say if we take a little s

thing," ag

ide in a train to his home in the outskirts of Jersey C

e aware of another car almost opposite to them in the space set apart for autos in the centre of the boat. Before five minutes had passed they also noticed that they were the object of close scru

he stern deck of the ferryboat as she made her way across the riv

os rolled over the apron and ont

seemed to have taken so much interest in the C