tor rapidly scanned the pages. Something on
the front sheet, under a heading of big, black type caught his eye. He
started as he read it.

WANTED FOR ROBBERY!
BANK LOOTERS ESCAPE IN RED AIRSHIP--FIRED AT
BUT DISAPPEAR

"Great Jehosophat!" exclaimed Tom, in a low voice. "What on earth can
this mean?"

"What?" inquired Mr. Damon. "Has anything happened?"

"Happened? I should say there had," was the answer. "Why, we're accused
of having robbed the Shopton Bank of seventy-five thousand dollars the
night before we left, and to have taken it away in the Red Cloud.
There's a general alarm out for us! Why this is awful!"

"It's preposterous!" burst out Mr. Damon. "I'll have my lawyers sue
this paper. Bless my stocks and bonds, I!"

"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned Tom, for the pretty waitress was
watching them curiously. "Here, read this, and then we'll decide what
to do. But one thing is certain, we must go back to Shopton at once to
clear ourselves of this accusation."

"Ha!" murmured Mr. Damon, as he read the article rapidly. "Now I know
why they fired at us. They hoped to bring us down, capture us, and get
the five thousand dollars reward!"

Chapter 18

Back For Vindication

Tom glanced around the restaurant. There were few persons in it save
himself and Mr. Damon. The pretty waitress was still regarding the two
curiously.

"We ought to take that paper along with us, to show to Mr. Sharp," said
Tom, in a low voice to his friend. "I haven't had time to take it all
in myself, yet. Let's go. I've had enough to eat, haven't you?"

"Yes. My appetite is gone now."

As they arose, to pay their checks the girl advanced.

"Can you tell me where I can get a copy of this paper?" asked Tom, as
he laid down a generous tip on the table, for the girl. Her eyes opened
rather wide.

"Yo' all are fo'gettin' some of yo' money," she said, in her broad,
southern tones. Tom thought her the prettiest girl he ever seen,
excepting Mary Nestor.

"Oh, that's for you," replied the young inventor. "It's a tip. Aren't
you in the habit of getting them down here?"

"Not very often. Thank yo' all. But what did yo' all ask about that
paper?"

"I asked where I could get a copy of it. There is something in it that
interests me."

"Yes, an' Ah reckon Ah knows what it is," exclaimed the girl. "It's
about that airship with th' robbers in it!"

"How do you know?" inquired Tom quickly, and he tried to seem cool,
though