"
"I will, hey? Well, I'll show you, Ezra Larabee. I'll teach you
to come around here bustin' my things up with your old airship!
You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a man of your age, trying to
fly like a hen or rooster."
"I'm trying for the government prize," said Dick's uncle, weakly.
"Huh! A heap sight chance YOU have of winnin' a prize, flyin' like
that!" sneered Mr. Crittenden. "Comin' down in my orchard that
way!"
"It was an accident," went on the former army man. "We were making
a landing, but we did not intend to come clown just in that spot.
We are sorry the tree is broken, but accidents will happen, and--"
"Yes, and them as does 'em must pay for 'em!" exclaimed Hank.
At the mention of money Uncle Ezra looked pained. He looked more
so when Hank went on:
"I'll have damages for that tree, that's what I'll have and good
damages too. That was my best Baldwin tree--"
"You told us that before," said Larson, as he began to wheel the
aeroplane out into an open space where he could get it started
again.
"Here, where you takin' that?" demanded Hank, suspiciously.
"We're going to fly back to Dankville," replied Mr. Larson.
"No, you ain't! You ain't goin' t' move that machine until you pay
fer the damage to my tree!" insisted Hank, as he took a firmer grasp
of the club. "I want ten dollars for what you done to my tree."
"Ten dollars!" grasped Uncle Ezra. "Tain't wuth half that if it
was loaded with apples.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168