ke her riding, Tom," said the jolly,
eccentric man. "Bless my umbrella! she'd never forgive me if I went off
with you. But I'll run you to your first stopping place, Ned, and you
to your hangar, Tom."

His invitation was accepted, and, in due season, Tom was soaring aloft
in one of his speedy cloud craft.

"Guess I'll drop down and get Mary Nestor," he decided, after riding
about alone for a while and finding that the motor was running sweetly
and smoothly. "She hasn't been out lately."

Tom made a landing in a field not far from the home of the girl he
hoped to marry some day, and walked over to her house.

"Go for a ride? I just guess. I will!" cried Mary, with sparkling eyes.
"Just wait until I get on my togs."

She had a leather suit, as had Tom, and they were soon in the machine,
which, being equipped with a self-starter, did not need the services of
a mechanician to whirl the propellers.

"Oh, isn't it glorious!" said Mary, as she sat at Tom's side. They
were in a little enclosed cabin of the craft--which carried just
two--and, thus enclosed, they could speak by raising their voices
somewhat, for the noise of the motor was much muffled, due to one of
Tom's inventions.

Other rides on other days followed this one, for Tom found more rest
and better refreshment after his hours of toil and study in these rides
with Mary than in any other way.

"I do love these rides, Tom!" the girl cried one day when the two were
soaring aloft. "And this one I really believe is better than any of the
rest. Though I always think that," she added, with a slight laugh.

"Glad you like it," Tom answered, and there was something in his voice
that caused Mary to look curiously at him.

"What's the matter, Tom?" she asked. "Has anything happened? Is Rad's
case hopeless?"

"Oh, no, not yet. Of course it isn't yet sure that he will ever see
again, but, on the other hand, it isn't decided that he can't. It's a
fifty-fifty proposition."

"But what makes you so serious?"

"Was I?"

"I should say so! You haven't told me one funny thing that Mr. Damon
has said lately."

"Oh, haven't I? Well, let me see now," and he sent the machine up a
little. "Well, the other day he--"

Tom suddenly stopped speaking and began rapidly turning several valve
wheels and levers.

"What--what's the matter?" gasped Mary, but she did not clutch his arm.
She knew better than that.

"The motor has stopped," Tom answered, and the girl became aware