The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant Dirgible

t his plans for college had failed. Lolling on the grass in the pleasant June dusk, enjoying the comfortable relaxation after t

aid, "I am not going

ree pairs of eyes regar

in a hushed tone, laying a

with four times yesterday at the

ks he knows it all now," jeered the third; the

ted, then to

u know I live in Denver with my mother and two sisters. Boys, I've got the finest mother, and the sweetest kid sisters. Mother works. She never gets a vacation; couldn't even come to my Commencement. Gosh!

t you say something? Mother and father came right through De

nd I certainly appreciate it,

ge, Dave?" asked the

y, and only ten thousand dollars war risk insurance. We were in Washington when it happened. Mother took us back to Denver, where she had some relatives, and invested the insurance money in a little business. She has a shop where she sells things for women-a Spe

, telephone operator, handy man around the house-anything and everything. He had made his tuition and clothes, and hadn't cost

rs, but I have just found out that the girls have given up their plans for college, so that I can go! I had a letter from my little sister, and she spilled

lloons, David;

n always read about 'em; that will be some comfort. And it t

aid the tall boy. "Guess you know

d go

t, even if it is disappointing." He squared his shoulders. "Well," he said reluctantly, "I'd better g

ty connected with the school was finished. He had just jumped on his trunk and locked it. It was ready to be dragged out into the hall for the expressman to take at dawn. Another boy was filling his

l course of events. Surprised, David opened it, snapping on the light as he d

oremost. "'Fraid yo

Glad you happened along. Take an end of this tr

s they placed the trunk in the corri

p until I am all through. And be reasonable! Fact is, old man, we want you to borrow the cost of your college course from us. Now wait!" he demanded, as David shook his head. "Try to listen, you blithering idiot! We all have plenty of money, and we want

nds a fellow ever had, and it is worth giving up more than I have given up to find it out. But I don't want your money. I can't take anybody's

arried along by my friends. I won't be a sap, or a sucker, or a leech. I'll work my own way up, and boy! j

insistence, wondered if they would come in the

l show what I can do. I won't be carried along. I'll arrive somewhere, some day, on my own two

make real. Gone were his shining hopes, his resolves to follow in his father's footsteps. Not for him, in future days, to build ships such as the world had never seen. He determined to destroy all the careful plans and experiments he had so neatly drawn. In the bottom of his trunk were a score of technical books on di

family was resigned to his change of plans; but he was all the more de

ous trolley ride home, David had time to think. At school, he could always hop some fellow's car. Easy and pleasant. He'd never given it a thought, but that was sponging in a w

, the wholesale groceries might give him a good break. Lots

devil and getting on in groceries, but underneath he'd always be thinking about the ships, the roar of the engines, the feel of the rush

n, every little fat blimp that adventured into the upper tides! He couldn't give them up. As well ask a sailor to go inland and hoe turni

Great Source upon whom strong hearts are not asham

on an article on dirigibles. He commenced to read it. Parts of it

he cried. "Mothe

Mrs. Ellison and his

o see about a job. They will take me on at fifteen bucks a week, and a chance for a raise occasionally. Bu

goodness'?

ity of having expert pilots and mechanics, they are about to open a school for novices. It is a four-year course, in four departments. Fir

navigation. And there is a prize in each department given at the close of each year, for the student who has done the best work. They will accep

to do that, could they, D

themselves. Mother, if I can make it, it will fix everything. The students have their quarters at the plant; dormitories, I suppose. It is rather like

beautiful soft eyes filled with tears. "Fl

r time. It is peace that needs the dirigible. It is the greatest invention; the gr

Mrs. Ellison said proudl

tart, Davie?" asked hi

ve decided it," la

ment are only four days from

ave, you will have to start tonight. And what

y Bond father boug

d, but Lydia jumped up an

ke you in this. Come on, mother, get out his bond, and while you and David go o

mother, and sens

let him fly? We will be so proud of him. W

n. "That really means greater safety for futu

ave army and navy schools here in this country, but this school is to fit civilians for commercial flying, and is run on what you might call a co-operative basis. I wondered if we

just great!"

anxiously tow

he good word, m

would be to "measure coffee, and count sugar sacks." Her only son; but he was his father's son as

rse, David,