have to chase after these
fellows in our aeroplane, if they take a notion to fly away."

The girl hastened to lead the way into the stable where they did find
an apology for a horse, which she immediately unhitched, and led
outside.

"Hope she doesn't happen to run across that man on the way, because he
might wonder what was taking her off like that, and do something to turn
her back. What if he found your message on her, Frank?" and Andy, as he
said this, turned an anxious gaze upon his cousin.

But Frank shook his head.

"I saw him dodge out of the lane and take to the woods," he remarked,
"as though he knew of a short-cut across lots to the place where his
friend and the biplane were hidden. No danger of his seeing Sallie, so
don't mention it to her. Wait, I'll give you my hand to help you up,
Sallie!"

But the country girl had led the horse alongside the drinking trough,
and was on his back in a jiffy, long before Frank could come across.

"Goodbye, and good luck, boys!" she called back, as she gave the horse a
switch with the end of the halter, and was off at a lumbering pace.

They stood there a minute or so watching the girl flying down the lane.
She turned around once, and waved her hand at them, while her long hair
blew behind in a cloud. Frank would not soon forget the sight of Sallie
Hoskins going to carry the news to a point where it could be telephoned
in to town--news that would cause a tremendous wave of excitement to
pass over the whole of Bloomsbury.

"Hurrah! that's done, and well done too, Frank, I say!" exclaimed Andy,
turning on his cousin with a face that plainly said, "What's next on our
programme?"

"Before we pull out I guess we owe it to the good woman to tell her
something of the truth, for I don't believe she knows a single thing
about it from Sallie or the professor. So come along to the kitchen with
me, Andy. Then we'll chase off to where we left our aeroplane, and stand
ready for anything that may happen."

The two of them quickly reached the kitchen door. Inside they found Mrs.
Hoskins, tired looking and red of face, still busily engaged with her
canning operations; for peaches were ripe, and tomatoes needing
immediate attention if she hoped to lay away her customary stock for the
coming winter.

She came to the door where it was cooler, a look of rising curiosity on
her patient face. And Frank started in to tell what he thought
necessary. She was at first much worried to le