reached into his pocket and
drew out an envelope such as Johnny had learned to associate with money.

"Here's two thousand dollars, old man. The boss knows the risk and
added a couple of hundred for good measure, this week. When you land
me over there to-night I'll give you this." He smiled disagreeably.
"I think you'll fly, all right--for this."

"Sure, I'll fly--for that. I was kidding. For two thousand I'd fly to
Berlin and bring back a lock of old Kaiser Bill's hair."

"That's the way to talk, old man! I knew you were game. I told the
boss so, when he asked if we could count on you. I said you had nerve,
no political prejudices, and--that you need the money."

"That's my number, I guess," Johnny admitted, grinning.

Cliff laughed again, which made three distinct impulses to laughter in
one conversation. This was not like Cliff's usual conservatism. As
Johnny had known him he laughed seldom, and then only at something
disagreeable. He was keyed up for something; a great coup of some sort
was in sight, Johnny guessed shrewdly, studying Cliff's face and the
sparkle in his eyes. He was like a man who sees success quite suddenly
where he has feared to look upon failure. Johnny wondered just what
that success might mean--to others.

"I bet you're putting over something big that will tickle Uncle Sam
purple," he hazarded, giving Cliff a round-eyed, admiring glance.

"It will tickle him--purple, all right!" Cliff's tone had a slight edge
on it. "You're sitting in a big game, my boy, but you aren't paid to
ask questions. You go ahead and earn your two thousand. You do the
flying, and let some one else do the thinking."

"I get you," said Johnny laconically and took himself and his thinkless
brain elsewhere.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

JOHNNY MAKES UP HIS MIND

"No political prejudices--hunh!" Johnny was filling the gas tank, and
while he did it he was doing a great deal of thinking which he was not
paid to do. "This newspaper business--say, she's one great business,
all right. It's nice to have a boss that jumps your wages up a couple
of hundred at a lick, and tells you you needn't think, and you mustn't
have any political prejudices. Fine job, all right. Will I fly by
moon-light? Will I? And them government planes riding on my tail like
they've been doing the last two trips? Hunh!"

Cliff came then with a bundle under his arm. Johnny cast a suspicious
eye down at him, and Cliff held up