Just what arguments the aviator had used to win over Uncle Ezra none
but he himself knew. I rather think it was the harping constantly
on the twenty thousand dollar prize.
That Mr. Larabee was hard to convince may easily be imagined. In
fact it was learned, afterward, that the lieutenant almost gave up
the attempt at one time. But he was persistent, to gain his own
ends at least, and talked earnestly. Finally Uncle Ezra gave a
rather grudging consent to the scheme, but he stipulated that only
a certain sum be spent, and that a comparatively small one.
To this the lieutenant agreed, but I fancy with a mental reservation
which meant that he would get more if he could.
At any rate preparations for building the craft, in an unused part
of Uncle Ezra's woolen mill at Dankville, went on apace.
I say apace, and yet I must change that. Uncle Ezra, with his usual
"closeness" regarding money, rather hampered Larson's plans.
"What do you reckon an airship ought to cost?" Mr. Larabee had asked
when he first decided he would undertake it.
"Oh, I can make a good one for three thousand dollars," had been
the answer of the former lieutenant.
"Three thousand dollars!" whistled Uncle Ezra. "That's a pot of
money!"
"But you'll get twenty thousand dollars in return."
"That's so. Well, go ahead. I guess I can stand it." But it was
not without many a sigh that the crabbed old man drew out the money
from the bank, in small installments.
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