"So I can't give you the contract."
"Completed!" cried Larson, in tones that showed his great surprise.
"You don't mean to tell me you have undertaken the important work
of constructing an aeroplane so soon after coming from the military
academy?"
"Well, I didn't want to waste any time," replied Dick, wondering at
the lieutenant's interest. "I'm going to try for the government
prize, and I wanted to be early on the job."
Larson hesitated a moment, and resumed:
"Well, then it is too late; I suppose? I hoped to get you to adopt
my plans for an aeroplane. But I have been delayed making
arrangements, and by resigning from the army.
"Perhaps I am not too late, though, to have you adopt my type of
equilibrizer. My mercury tubes--"
"I am sorry, but you are too late there," interrupted Dick.
"What type are you using?" the lieutenant cried, dramatically.
"The Vardon. I might say that Mr. Vardon is also building my
airship. It will contain his gyroscope."
"A gyroscope!" cried the former officer. "You are very foolish!
You will come to grief with that. The only safe form is the mercury
tube, of which I am the inventor."
At that moment Vardon himself, who wished to consult Dick on some
point, came into the room, not knowing a caller was there.
"I am sorry," went on the young millionaire, "but I am going to use
Mr. Vardon's gyroscope."
"Then you may as well give up all hope of winning the prize!"
sneered Larson.
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