"Why, by telling a few things I know. About the loss of a certain lady's
jewels, for instance."

Fanning went white as ashes.

"You sneak! You've been listening at keyholes!" he cried.

Dade returned him look for look defiantly.

"Well, what if I have?" he snarled. "I've got a hold on you now, Master
Harding. I've got you where I want you and I'm going to keep you there."

CHAPTER XXII.

JIM BELL OF THE WEST.

Some days after the events described in the last chapter, and following
the receipt by Roy of a pink check for $5,000.00, a strange visitor
arrived at the Prescott home--their very own home now, for the mortgage
had been paid off, much to Mr. Harding's disgust.

The stranger was a bronzed man and wore a broad-brimmed sombrero which
would have marked him anywhere as a Westerner. Of Miss Prescott, who, in
a new lavender silk dress, came to the door, he inquired if he could see
Mr. Roy Prescott.

Miss Prescott smiled at this ceremonial way of mentioning her young
nephew, but directed the stranger with the breezy Western manner to the
workshop at the rear of the house, where Roy and Peggy were "fussing," as
Jess called it, with their beloved Golden Butterfly.

"Good morning," he said, doffing his sombrero with a sweep and a
flourish; "can I have a word with you?"

"Certainly. Two or three if you want them," rejoined Roy, while Peggy
gazed in some surprise at the queer-mannered newcomer.

"The fact is," went on the stranger, "that I'm in the market for
aeroplanes such as yours. I happened to be on the train some nights ago
when you came flying through the air with two belated young passengers.
Well, sir, thinks I, if such a machine can make a train on schedule time
it ought to be good for other purposes. I took the liberty of making some
inquiries about you from your two young friends after the train had
started, but asked them not to mention the matter to you yet awhile.

"In New York I looked up my partner and we discussed the plan and he
agreed with me that it was a good one. Now, I'm down here this morning to
offer you $10,000 outright for the use of half a dozen of your
aeroplanes, and a salary of $5,000 as instructor to the aviators I shall
have to have to run them. How does the offer strike you?"

"I--er--well, I hardly know what to say," responded Roy; "you see, it's a
bit sudden. It rather takes my breath away."

"Well, that's a way we have in the West," was the response, "but maybe