t on. "I've fully
made up my mind to have an airship, since dad consented, though I
believe he's secretly laughing at me. Now the kind of craft I want
doesn't come ready made--it will have to be built to order.

"So why can't I contract with your cousin to make my airship for me?
I'd be willing to pay all expenses and whatever his services were
worth, so he could make some money that way. I'd a good deal rather
give him a chance on the work, than some stranger. Besides, I like his
idea of a gyroscope, and, even if he doesn't want to build my craft,
I'd like to arrange to buy one of his stabilizers. Do yon think he
would like to take the contract from me?"

"Do I?" cried Innis earnestly. "Say, he'll jump at the chance! You try
him, and see! Say, this is fine of you, old man!"

"Oh, nonsense! It isn't anything of the sort," protested Dick. "I've
got to have somebody build my airship, and I'd rather it would be your
cousin than anyone else."

"It's fine and dandy!" Innis exclaimed. "Come on; let's find him and
tell him. He needs something to cheer him up, for he's got the blues
horribly. Come along, Dick."

To say that Mr. Vardon was delighted to accept Dick's offer is putting
it mildly. Yet he was not too demonstrative.

"This is the best news I've heard in a long while," he said. "I guess
my cousin has told you I'm pretty badly embarrassed financially," he
added.

"Yes," assented Dick. "Well, I happen to have plenty of money, through
no fault of my own, and we'll do this airship business up properly.

"I'd like you to get started at it as soon as you can, and as there
will be preliminary expenses, I'm going to advance you some cash.
You'll have to order certain parts made up, won't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I presume so," agreed the aviator.

"And, of course, I'll want your stabilizer on my craft."

"That's very good of you to say. It will give me a fine chance to
demonstrate it," said Mr. Vardon.

Later in the day, Dick, his chums, the aviator and Larry Dexter were
talking about some of the flights made in the army machines that
afternoon.

"Can you arrange to have a wireless outfit on my airship?" asked the
young millionaire, as an exchange of wireless talk had been a feature
of the exhibition that day.

"Oh, yes, that can easily be done," assented the birdman.

"Say, you're going to have a fine outfit!" complimented Paul.

"Might as well have a good one while I'm at it," answered Dick, wi