"Well, I'll say good-bye, Nephew Richard," spoke Uncle Ezra, after
walking about the big airship, and looking at it more closely than
would seem natural, after he had characterized it as a "foolish
piece of business."
"I'm sorry you won't stay until my father gets back," spoke Dick.
"I expect him tomorrow, or next day."
"Well, if I stayed I know my hired man would waste a lot of feed on
the horses," said Uncle Ezra. "And every time I go away he sits up
and burns his kerosene lamp until almost ten o'clock at night. And
oil has gone up something terrible of late."
"Well, I hope you'll come and see us again," invited Dick, as his
uncle started to go. "But won't you let me send you to the station
in the auto? It isn't being used."
"No, Nephew Richard. Not for me!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "You might
bust a tire, and then you'd expect me to pay for it."
"Oh, no, I wouldn't!"
"Well, then, there might be some accident, and I might get my
clothes torn. That would mean I'd have to have a new suit. I've
worn this one five years, and it's good for three more, if I'm
careful of it!" he boasted, as he looked down at his shiny, black
garments.
"Then you're going to walk?" asked Dick.
"Yes, Nephew Richard. There's grass almost all the way to the
station, and I can keep on that. It will save my shoes."
"But people don't like you to walk on their grass," objected Dick.
"Huh! Think I'm going to tramp on the hard sidewalks and wear out
my shoe leather?" cried Uncle Ezra.
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