saying: "I was going to make my first trip to
the States this winter."

"Next summer would be a better time. Why don't you go in style?" asked
Colonel Howell. "We'll come out in the spring and we ought to have a
comfortable enough home during the bad weather. You can't spend your
money and when you get back home you can make your trip and go all over
the States."

Both boys looked at him as if not knowing what to say next.

"I never hired any aviators," went on Colonel Howell, with his old smile
coming back, "and I don't know the union price of aerial operators, but
I'll give you your board and keep and three hundred dollars a month
apiece while you're with me. How does that strike you?"

"I don't think we'll be worth it," were the only words that Roy could
find to express his dazed feelings.

"But you don't know anything about that," said Colonel Howell promptly.
"You might easily be worth a great deal more."

While the colonel spoke, he could not help noticing Norman's rapid
calculation on the ends of his fingers.

"In April, that would be nine months," remarked Norman at last, "and
that's twenty-seven hundred dollars. We could go to France on that, Roy,"
he added suddenly. "Let's lock up and go home."

In a few moments the excited aviators and the well-satisfied Colonel
Howell emerged from the aerodrome just as young Count Zept ran up.

"Are you fellows going to stay here all night?" he exclaimed, almost out
of breath. "I thought you told me you'd meet me at seven o'clock at the
car. Father's been there for a half hour. We're waiting to take you
home."

It was necessary at once to introduce Colonel Howell to young Zept. As
the oil man heard the name, his face brightened anew.

"You're not the son of Jack Zept, are you?" the colonel asked as he
grasped the young man's hand.

"John C. Zept is my father's name," answered the Count. "He's a horse
ranchman. Do you know him?"

The colonel chuckled. "Of course," he answered hastily. "I met him on the
upper Peace; shot sheep with him in '95. Forgot he lived here. If I can
join you, I'd like to meet your father. You can put me down at the King
George. I think," the smiling colonel added, turning to Norman and Roy,
"that you boys had better go home, talk it over with your fathers, and
I'll look you up a little later in the evening."

"Anywhere you like," exclaimed the young Count, "the machine's waiting.
Father'll be glad to see an old friend."

CHAPT