"
"No, that gyroscope began to act wrong before we started to fall,"
went on the helper. "I noticed it, and I believe that mean
lieutenant monkeyed with it. He wanted you to think your plans were
failures."
"I should dislike to believe that of anyone," spoke Mr. Vardon,
seriously.
"Well, I'm going to keep my eye on him," said Jack. "He won't get
another chance at any of our machines."
It was a day or so after this conversation that Dick came upon his
chum Innis, talking to Mr. Vardon. They seemed very much in
earnest, and at Dick's approach the aviator strolled away. Innis
stood regarding him a moment, and remarked, in a low tone:
"Poor chap!"
"What's the trouble?" asked Dick, quickly. "Has anything happened
to him?"
"Yes, Dick, a whole lot of things!" replied Innis earnestly. "I
feel mighty sorry for him. You know how his airship was wrecked,
but that's only one of his troubles. He's practically lost every
cent he has in the world, and he's deeply in debt, for he borrowed
money to build his aircraft, and perfect his stabilizer. He's just
about down and out, poor chap, and he feels mighty blue, I can tell
you.
"When you came up I was just trying to figure out a way to help him.
But I don't see how I can. My dad hasn't any too much money
himself, since some of his investments failed, or he'd pull my
cousin out of this hole. But, as it is, I don't see what's to be
done. And his gyroscope stabilizer will work, too, only he won't get
a chance to prove it, now.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61