The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship
ey somehow within a short time we sh
n through the Venetian blinds, fell in patches on the polished floors-Peggy's work, for Miss Prescott's circumstances had been for some time too straitened to afford the servants she formerly had.
forward her brother's dreams. For poor Mr. Prescott had always been "just on the verge of making a fortune." Mr. Harding's errand was to state that the interest being long overdue and there being no immediate prospect of settle
quired poor Miss Prescott, who really knew no
I have refrained from telling you so till now, your account at the bank is much overdrawn. However," he had continued, "to show y
to Roy and Peggy that sunny afternoon that had brought fort
he man mean to say that there is nothing, absolu
t shook her
which the first Prescott settled on and which has been in the family ever since. Oh, dear!" and Miss Prescott, never the most strong-minded of women
bad as all that," she persisted.
dollars!" cried
ey," from Roy. But Peggy ha
ing. "We must write this very day for particular
burst out Roy, almost equally excited. "I'd forgotten
es, most of them far better than the Golden Butterfly, entered in the contest which they had re
committee in charge of the Higgins' prize. Under her brave, independent urgings things began
"if only I knew some one who needed a bright young
salary at it anyhow," r
ught you all I know about an aeroplane. The rest lies with you, of course.'" Peggy went on modestly: "I could run an auto before. I learned on the one that Jess had at school, so it reall
hat now, sis. There are more important things to be thought of than that. I'm going into town to
r!" snif
, "is to get a position. It's time I was a breadwinner." Roy
miringly, "do you think you'l
business houses would be glad-to have me with them," Roy was going t
could hardly be expected to appreciate the responsibilities of the man of the household. For sin
bank. On the contrary, had he been expected he could not have been ushered into the old ma
, "is there no way in which this
ter in front of him. Apparently he was in deep thought. But had Roy been able to penetrate that mask
built an aeroplane which i
e ideas we put into it were my father's-every one of the
ot look astonished. I know all about your affairs. More than you think for. And now having exp
of the Golden Butterfly-he had not given much thought to that part of it. He r
ent, sir. He wanted the United States to have the
an inventor. Now I have a business proposition to make to you. I
ve thought of in connection with "Old Money Grubber," as he was sometimes called, was an ae
ance to organize a company to give aeroplane exhibitions and also to manufacture them. But he has not been able t
he raised
Come here
d into an adjoining office, the figure of Simon Harding's son appeared. To his chagrin, Roy r
very high to exhibit electric blue socks of the same hue as his necktie, greet
oy," he said, "but you never wer
to Roy. The other's patronizing air angered him. He would have liked to make some sharp, meanin
overheard all that you said. Now, Roy, my father has stated the case to you correctly. I've got a ch
y boy, come to the po
ge any day we want to. But we won't do it if you give us a square deal. Forget the government. Make a deal with us consigning to m
t accept that offer
anxious to set up my son in a paying business," exclaimed old Harding. "Our offer is a fair
said Roy, in a steady voice, a
nning, eagerly. "We'll draw up th
knew that the offer just made
e to think it over,"
aid old Harding, with a wave of
nted to consult with Peggy, and somehow Fanning felt that in that case his
u think that if you don't accept my offer you'll all be without a roof over your
Roy, with a flushed face. He rose and picked up his hat. Someho
but what can you do?"