rfly--he had not given much thought to that
part of it. He realized this now with a rather embarrassed feeling. Old
Harding eyed him keenly.

"Why--father, before he died, spoke of the government, sir. He wanted the
United States to have the benefit of the machine if it proved successful."

"Bah!" sneered old Harding, scornfully, "a mere visionary dream of an
inventor. Now I have a business proposition to make to you. I myself am
interested in aeroplanes--or rather in their manufacture."

"You, Mr. Harding!" Roy looked his astonishment. The last vehicle in the
world one would have thought of in connection with "Old Money Grubber,"
as he was sometimes called, was an aeroplane. If he had been given to
such things Roy would have concluded the old man was joking.

"Yes, sir," snapped Mr. Harding, "I am. But not directly. It's on
Fanning's account. He tells me that he has a chance to organize a company
to give aeroplane exhibitions and also to manufacture them. But he has
not been able to find a suitable machine, or one that was not fully
covered by patents till he saw yours in flight the other day."

Suddenly he raised his voice:

"Fanning! Come here a minute."

Almost immediately, through a door which Roy had not hitherto noticed,
but which evidently led into an adjoining office, the figure of Simon
Harding's son appeared. To his chagrin, Roy realized that almost every
word he had said to the father must have been overheard by the son.

Young Harding, who was dressed in a flashy gray suit, with trousers
rolled up very high to exhibit electric blue socks of the same hue as his
necktie, greeted Roy, who felt suddenly very shabby and insignificant,
with a patronizing nod.

"Sorry you're in difficulties, Roy," he said, "but you never were a
business chap even at school."

The memory of certain monetary transactions in which young Harding had
been concerned occurred to Roy. The other's patronizing air angered him.
He would have liked to make some sharp, meaning retort. But the thought
of Peggy and his aunt restrained him. Roy was beginning to learn fast.

"You needn't bother to tell me anything about the case," went on the
younger Harding. "I accidentally overheard all that you said. Now, Roy,
my father has stated the case to you correctly. I've got a chance to make
money with aeroplanes if I can only get hold of a new model. You've got
just what I want."

"Come to the point, my boy, come to the point," urged his f