CHAPTER IV.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
It did not take Frank many minutes to get started on his little trip.
As he had said, his wheel was in good shape, with neither tire needingany pumping up. And even his acetylene headlight had only to beattached, which task took but a short time.
"I declare!" he exclaimed, as he rested his wheel against the gate andturned back, "that would have been a rough joke on me if I'd gonespinning off and only remembered after I'd almost got there that Iforgot to take the package of medicine out of dad's little runabout. Somuch for having my brain full of that wonderful scheme of Andy's."
He found the medicine, and as the packet turned out to be small enoughto be stowed away in one of his coat pockets, Frank so disposed ofit. Then wheeling his machine out into the road he took a last look atthe lantern, to see that the water might not be dripping on the carbidetoo rapidly to combine the greatest efficiency. After that he swung intothe saddle, starting off with the perfect freedom that proclaims therider a master of his wheel.
Once he passed out of town Frank made good progress. He had a ride ofseveral miles before him, ere he could expect to reach the farmhouse ofJason Lovejoy, one of his father's oldest customers and friends.
There was no help from the moon, because the sky had clouded up andscreened the young queen of the skies. But Frank needed no other lightthan the brilliant glow that spread out along the road ahead of himcoming from his lamp.
It happened that he passed the home of Colonel Josiah Whympers, theretired and lame traveler, in whose care Andy had been left by the willwhich his father had made before starting on what had proven his lastair voyage.
"Guess Andy's gone to bed," he mused, as he saw the house wrapped indarkness, for it was now after half past nine.
Frank cast a glance back toward the big field where the shed stood inwhich the great little monoplane, in which they had won their victoryduring Old Home Week, was stored. But he could just barely make it out,owing to the distance and the faint light of the moon coming through theclouds.
Naturally the hearts of both lads went out toward the gallant aircraftwhich had answered every call made upon it for speed and endurance. Itwas equipped with an engine of the latest make, weighing only a third asmuch as the average aeroplane motor and a triumph of modern scientificdiscovery. Since the Bird boys had constructed that monoplanethemselves, after patterns obtained elsewhere, surely they had reason tobe proud of their work and the gallant victory which had come to them.
Frank pedaled on, thinking nothing of the trip. He was accustomed tobeing abroad at night with his wheel, and, indeed, had taken many atwenty-mile run by the light of his lamp alone.
What was there to fear? Bloomsbury was a peaceful community. Rarely didanything occur to indicate that a spirit of lawlessness wasabroad. Occasionally the police had some trouble with wandering tramps,but Chief Waller's strong point seemed to lie in that direction, and asa rule hoboes gave Bloomsbury a wide berth. The word had gone out thatthey made stragglers _work_ when caught there, and nothing could bemore horrible in the eyes of these "Wandering Willies."
After passing Andy's home it was not more than twelve minutes beforeFrank found himself approaching the quiet farmhouse where he was toleave the medicine.
The doctor had told him to ask a number of questions with regard to thelittle sufferer, and Frank was well enough up in medicine to know whatto say when he learned how matters were going.
A big watchdog boomed his hoarse bark upon the night air, as Frankdropped off his wheel at the gate where the mail box was fastened.
"Hello, Kaiser! Good dog! Don't you know me, old fellow? Come here andbe friends, Kaiser! It's all right! I'm coming in!"
Frank knew how to use a wheedling voice that a dog instantly recognizedas belonging to a friend. Besides, instinct doubtless told Kaiser thatany one who had evil intentions would come sneaking around and not inthis bold fashion.
At any rate, the big mastiff began to wag his tail, and though he stillbarked, it was by way of a welcome now. Frank fearlessly opened the gateand walked in. The guardian of the farm came up to him, sniffing, andFrank, without hesitation, rubbed his hand over the shaggy head ofKaiser.
So side by side they advanced to the house. Already a door had opened,showing Farmer Lovejoy with a lamp in his hand. Evidently they had beenanxiously waiting for the coming of the good doctor, and were possiblybeginning to worry because he had failed as yet to show up with themedicine he had promised.
"It's you, Frank, is it?" asked the farmer, as the lad drew near thestoop.
"Yes, sir," replied the boy, cheerily. "His machine broke down and I hadto come on my wheel. But father said it was very important that you havethis medicine tonight. He expects great things of it by morning."
"Well," said Farmer Lovejoy, warmly, "that was right nice of you to comeall this way on your wheel, Frank. But I guess it's on'y what we'dexpect from Doc Bird's boy. I saw ye make that trip up to the top ofthe mountain in your airship, Frank. I tell ye it was wuth seein'! Won'tyou come in? The missus'd like to see ye."
"Why, yes, I will; because dad asked me to explain something to you andalso get some information about Sue. A few minutes will make littledifference," Frank said.
But, although he did not suspect it just then, even seconds came verynear being of the greatest importance.
Perhaps he spent all of ten minutes in the Lovejoy home and in that timelearned what his father wished to know. The old farmer came to the doorwith him, shaking hands warmly.
"Once again I say I'm obliged to ye, Frank," he remarked, with feeling,"for comin' away out here to fetch the medicine. It may be the means ofsavin' our gal to us, who knows? But I've got faith in your father. Ifanybody kin fetch our Sue around he will. Good night, lad. Kaiser, mindyour manners. This is one of the best friends we've got."
"Oh, that's all right, sir," declared Frank, quickly, as he patted theshaggy head of the big mastiff. "We understand each other, don't we, oldboy? He knew my voice, because a dog never forgets a friend, and I'veplayed with him many the time. Good night, Mr. Lovejoy. Keep up yourspirits. Dad says Sue is going to get over this all right in a littletime."
Once again on the road he turned his face toward home. After all, thissix or seven-mile run was only a good touch of exercise, and he wouldsleep all the sounder on account of it. Besides, Frank loved nothingbetter than to do something for the parent who all his life had been soindulgent to him.
As he pedaled along, keeping his eyes well ahead, so as to glimpse anyvehicle that might loom up in his path, he was thinking of what Andy hadin mind. While the project was as yet rather uncertain, Frank seemed tofeel that his cousin could never be wholly satisfied that he had donehis duty by his father until he had spent some time down on the Isthmustrying to get some traces of the lost aeronaut.
"I reckon I ought to know something of Andy's persistence," he said tohimself, with a chuckle. "And now that he's got this bee in his bonnetthere'll be no peace until he tries the scheme out. Sure I'm with himfrom the word go. It makes me shiver all over with expectation just tothink of what glorious times we two chums might have--hello! there'ssomething ahead, and I'd better slow up!"
It proved to be a farm wagon, pulled by two tired nags, and headed forhome, after a day in the town market. The driver was asleep on the seat,leaving to the sagacity of his animals the successful navigation of theroad.
Perhaps some movement of the horses or else the bright light of theacetylene headlight falling on his face aroused the man, for he sat upas Frank was about passing.
"Hello! is that you, Frank Bird?" he asked, leaning forward to lookcloser at the rider of the bicycle.
"Sure; just been up to your neighbor's, Lovejoy's, with some medicinefor his Sue," returned the boy, recognizing the farmer.
"How is the gal gettin' on?" called the other, over the canvas top ofhis seat.
"Fine. No danger, dad says!" answered Frank.
"That's good!" he
heard the sympathetic neighbor remark, as he moved on.
Five minutes later and Frank once more found himself approaching theWhympers place. As before, the house was in complete darkness, as if theinmates were long since abed. Frank knew that the old man kept earlyhours, seldom sitting up, for he read much during the day, havingnothing else to look after.
Then, as was only natural, the eyes of the bicycle boy turned once againwith more or less affection toward the quarter where he could just dimlymake out the long, squat shed out in the field, in which the preciousmonoplane was stored.
As he did so Frank uttered an exclamation of surprise.
"Why, there's a light over by the hangar!" he burst out. "Now, whatunder the sun do you suppose that old fool of a Shea can be doing? Oh,my! Look at the flame jump up! Why, as sure as you live I believe theshed's afire! And I can see the figure of a man moving about. This is noaccident, but something worse! And it looks as if the little 'Bug' mightbe going up in smoke in a jiffy unless I can sprawl over the fence hereand get on the spot mighty quick!"
Aeroplane Boys on the Wing Page 4