e his clothes before he got a chill; for though
summer had come, the air was far from hot right then by any means, a
storm having cleared the atmosphere during the preceding night, and
leaving it delightfully crisp.

"I saw a car buzzing along the road while I was up, but couldn't use my
glass to see who was in it. Did you notice, Larry?" Frank asked as
they stood there near the open door of the shop.

"I was just going to mention the fact that those two men act like they
had taken a great fancy to you and Andy," returned the other, readily.

Frank Bird frowned.

"H'm! I just don't like to hear that," he said. "Andy and myself have
been working on something lately that we want to keep a dead secret
from everybody. If we don't tell even our friends, then there can be
little chance of a leak. But I'm not inviting strangers to take a ride
with me, or visit us in our shop. Though you can come in now, any time
you want, Larry and Elephant."

"Sho! we wouldn't know the wing feather of a plane from one that
belonged in the tail or steering rudder," chuckled Larry.

"But I'm meaning to learn, Frank," put in the small chap, strenuously.
"It looks so easy for you fellows, knocking around up there, with
nobody ever getting in your way, like on our roads, that I want to fly."

"Well," pursued Frank, shaking his head. "I don't encourage anybody to
take up the business. It's certainly the most dangerous calling going
at present; but after the Wrights have put their latest balancing idea
into general use, the number of dead aviators will drop fast. In time
it may be a fellow can hardly fall out of a well-made flying machine if
he is the most reckless aviator going."

"Hear that, Elephant," laughed Larry. "Hope yet that some of us common
truck may be flapping through the upper currents, and getting out of
the wet when it rains, by sailing above the clouds. But I see some
fellow coming along the road on his wheel like he had a hurry call.
Looks like Nat Holmes too, and he's coming in here."

"Funny how badly balanced that fellow is," remarked Frank. "Always in
a hurry in everything he tackles; and then falling all over himself
when he tries to talk. He's waving his hat too like he had something
interesting to say. Let's hope, boys, it happens to be one of his good
hours; or we're in for a lot of gibberish Hottentot patter, I'm afraid."

CHAPTER IV

SUSPICION

"F-f-frank!" stammered the new arrival, as h