CHAPTER XX
A BIG REWARD
There were several more events to come off in the aviation meet, butour friends were unable to take part in them because they found ita harder and longer task to put in the new cylinder than they hadanticipated. But they had time to stop occasionally, and watch thebirdmen in their dizzy flights high in the air or about the big valleywhere the contests were held.
Jerry and his chums finished work on the engine one afternoon, the daybefore the close of the meet, and yielding to the entreaties of thesecretary and the other officials they gave an exhibition flight thatwas greeted with cheers.
"And this is the end of the meet," remarked Jerry as they sat in theirtent that night, for the next day would come the awarding of suchprizes as had not previously been given out, and then the affair wouldbe over.
"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Bob. "Have you made up yourmind any further regarding Noddy and the robbery, Jerry?"
"No, and I can hardly say what we ought to do. Sometimes I feel liketelling President Carter and the detectives everything, and again,suppose I should be wrong? It wouldn't be very nice falsely to accuseeven a fellow like Noddy Nixon."
"Why don't you tell the facts in the case, and let people draw theirown conclusions," suggested Ned. "You can tell of the conversation youheard between Bill and Noddy, and about the tires on Noddy's machine.Then drop out of it, and tell them to work the clews as they see fit."
"I believe that would be a good way out of it," assented the tall lad."I'll do it. We'll go to the bank to-morrow, and then we'll starton a trip out west and see if we can't get that flying frog for theprofessor."
"Oh, you don't know how anxious I am to start on that quest!" cried thescientist. "I can hardly wait! And so we will go to-morrow. Still, Ican't complain. I caught a pink striped June bug to-day, a very rareand valuable specimen," and then the little man began poring over hisnote books.
There was little of interest to our heroes at the aviation grounds thenext day, and Jerry and his chums made a trip in to Harmolet with theintention of having an interview with the bank president and the chiefdetective.
As they neared the bank building they saw in front of it almost aslarge a crowd as had been there the morning after the robbery.
"Hello!" exclaimed Ned. "I guess the run is still keeping up. Let's getoff the car and see what's doing."
"Maybe the robbers came back for the silver they didn't take,"suggested Bob with a laugh.
By dint of pushing this way and that, the lads managed to get to aplace where they could read a notice, which, printed in large type,posted on the side of the bank building. It caught Jerry's eyes atonce. The notice read:
$10,000 REWARD!
The above reward will be paid to any person or persons who shall cause the arrest and conviction of the robber or robbers who, on the night of July 15, broke into this bank, and stole bank notes to the amount of sixty thousand dollars, and negotiable securities to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand. About four thousand dollars in gold was also taken.
It is believed that the robbers used an aeroplane to land on the roof and in which to make their escape. The above reward will be paid immediately on the conviction of the robbers.
THOMAS CARTER,
President.
"Well, they've officially adopted our airship theory," remarked Ned,with a smile at his chums.
"Yes, and I guess now will be as good a time as any to tell what morewe know," suggested Jerry. "Come on, we'll ask to see Mr. Carter."
They were making their way through the press of people and finding itno easy matter, when Ned almost knocked down a boy who, with threesmall bicycle tires hanging over his shoulder was standing on histiptoes, trying to look over the heads of the crowd to read the rewardnotice.
"I beg your pardon!" exclaimed Ned. "Did I hurt you?"
"Naw, not a bit!" exclaimed the lad good naturedly. He was a typicalerrand boy, always glad of an excuse to stop and "kill" time. "Dat's aswell reward de bank is offerin'," he volunteered. "I wish I could copit."
"Yes, it wouldn't be bad," said Bob. As for Ned, after the first shockof the collision, and his apology, he was looking at the lad in acurious fashion--yet not so much at the boy as at the bicycle tires hecarried.
"Look!" whispered Ned to Jerry, pointing to the rubber circlets. "Thoseare tires for aeroplane wheels," went on the merchant's son, "andthey're marked just like those Noddy had on his machine. Jerry, here'sa clew right under our noses!"
The Motor Boys on the Wing; Or, Seeking the Airship Treasure Page 20