eerly than ever. He
received several other visits from the strange man who had given his
name to Aunt Samantha, when first calling, as "Lieutenant Larson."
Also, Mr. Larabee went off on several short trips.

"I wonder whatever's got into him?" mused Aunt Samantha. "I never knew
him to act this way before. I do hope he isn't doing anything rash!"

If she had only known!

Uncle Ezra became more and more engrossed with his caller who came
several days in succession. They were shut up together in the parlor,
and one window shutter was opened each time, to the horror of Mrs.
Larabee.

"That carpet will be faded all out, and clean ruined," she complained
to her husband.

"Well, if it is, maybe I'll get money enough to buy a new one," said
Uncle Ezra. "Mind, I'm not saying for sure," he added, cautiously,
"but maybe."

"Why, how you talk!" cried Aunt Samantha. "That carpet ought to last
us until we die! A new carpet! I never heard tell of such a thing!
Never in all my born days! The idea!"

Uncle Ezra chuckled grimly. It was clear that he was acting in a new
role, and he was a surprise, even to himself.

At last Aunt Samantha could stand the suspense no longer. One night,
after a rather restless period, she awakened Uncle Ezra who had, most
unusually, been talking in his sleep.

"Ezra! Ezra! Wake up!" she demanded in a loud whisper, at the same
time vigorously shaking him.

"Eh! What is it? Burglars?" he asked, sitting up in bed.

"No, Ezra. Nothin' like that!"

"Oh, cats, eh? Well, if it's only cats go to sleep. I don't mind 'em."

"No, Ezra, I didn't say cats. But you're talkin' in your sleep. That
is, you were."

"I was?"

"Yes."

"What'd I say?" and he seemed anxious.

"Why you were talkin' a lot about flyin' in the air, and goin' up to
the clouds, and bein' in a race, and winnin' twenty thousand dollars!
Oh, Ezra, if you care for me at all, tell me what mystery this is!" she
pleaded.

"Did I say all that?" he asked, scratching his head.

"Yes, and a lot more! You said something about an airship."

"Humph! Well, that's it!"

"What is?"

"An airship! I might as well tell you, I reckon. I'm having one of
them contraptions made."

"What contraptions? Oh, Ezra!"

"An airship," he answered. "I'm going to have one, and win a twenty
thousand dollar prize from the government. Then I'll go into the
airship business and sell 'em. I'll get rich, Samantha!"

"Oh Ezra! Do y