Added to this the
suspicion that Larson might have had some hand in tampering with
the stabilizer of Mr. Vardon's craft, did not make Dick any too
anxious to see the birdman.
And yet he felt that in courtesy he must.
"I'll go in the library and meet him," said Dick, to the servant
who had brought the message. "I don't care to have him out here,
where he might see my airship," Dick added, to his chums.
"I guess you're right there," agreed Paul.
"He might take some of your ideas, and make a machine for himself
that would win the prize," added Innis.
"Oh, well, I'm not so afraid of that," replied Dick, "as I intend,
after I complete my craft, and if she wins the prize, to turn my
plans and ideas over to the government, anyhow, for their use. But
I don't just like the idea of Larson coming out to the work-shed."
Mr. Vardon and his men were in another part of the big barn, and
had not heard of the arrival of the army man.
"How do you do?" greeted Dick, as he met Larson in the library.
"I'm glad to see you."
This was polite fiction, that, perhaps, might be pardoned.
"I don't want to trouble you, Mr. Hamilton," went on the lieutenant,
with a shifty glance around the room, "but I have left the army, and
have engaged in the building of airships.
"I recall that you said at Kentfield, that you were going to
construct one, and I called to see if I could not get the contract,"
Larson went on.
"Well, I am sorry, for your sake, to say that my craft is almost
completed," replied Dick.
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