Peggy in the meantime, like an anxious little mother fussing over dolls,
had been examining the aeroplane once more. Suddenly she gave a little
cry. The exclamation interrupted Roy who was explaining, with great
satisfaction, that everything was all right.

"I've looked it over and if there had been anything wrong it couldn't
have escaped my notice," he observed rather pompously.

"Oh, Roy! Just look here! The spring of this landing wheel is all slack!"

This was the exclamation from Peggy that brought up Roy somewhat shortly
in the midst of his self-confident harangue.

"By George, so it is, sis!" exclaimed Roy, reddening a little, while Lem
Sidney, one of his chums, observed with a chuckle to Jeff Stokes, that
Peggy appeared to know as much, if not more, about the machine than did
Roy.

The spring was soon tightened by means of a monkey wrench. But that did
not prevent them all realizing that had it not been for Peggy's acute
observation a serious accident might have occurred. This done, even
Peggy's anxious glances could not detect any other flaw in the machine.

"What time did that aviator fellow say he would show up?" then demanded
Jimsy, abruptly.

"He should be here now," rejoined Roy. "I've half a mind to start anyhow.
I can manage the machine I am very certain."

"Oh, Roy!" cried Peggy, reprovingly, "you know you promised aunty that
you wouldn't do anything till Mr. Hal Homer got here."

"All right, sis," put in Roy, hastily, "don't be scared. I'll stick to my
word."

"Hullo!" cried Jimsy, suddenly, "there comes an auto now."

"So it is," exclaimed the others, as a black touring car came whizzing
down the road below them. It soon halted, and a figure in leather
garments with gaitered legs alighted and hastened across the fields
toward the party clustered about the aeroplane. The car was left in
charge of the chauffeur.

As Jimsy had guessed, the new arrival proved to be Hal Homer, the
well-known cross country flier, from whom Roy had taken some vacation
time aviation lessons.

"He's awfully good looking," whispered Jess to Peggy, after introductions
to the dapper young aviator had been extended by Roy.

"Oh, so--so," rejoined Peggy, with a toss of her head.

"Maybe you know some one who is handsomer?" questioned Jess with a
mischievous side glance of her fine eyes.

Peggy flushed under her fair skin. But Jess laughed with good-humored
raillery.

"Jimsy surely is a good-looking boy," she sa