aviators, or whatever they call themselves,"
bellowed Cassell, who was purple with fury; "they attacked Dan and
me and assaulted us brutally."

The landlord looked doubtingly at the man. Then he turned to Roy.

"What are the facts?" he asked.

Roy told him unhesitatingly the whole truth. When he had concluded Jonas
Hardcastle spoke.

"You've been hanging around here too long, Jim Cassell," he said, in a
voice that quivered with indignation; "now make yourself scarce, both
you and your son. Don't annoy my guests any more."

Cassell, nursing a spot on his jaw which was rapidly growing a beautiful
plum color, lurched off without a word. His son followed. It was not
until he reached the street that he spoke. Then, in a voice that
trembled from suppressed fury, he hissed out:

"All right for you kids. You think you've played a smart trick on Dan
and me; but I'll fix you! Just watch!"

Without uttering another syllable he slouched off into the gathering
darkness, followed by his son, who bestowed a parting scowl on Roy
and Jimsy.

"I'm sorry that you had a row with them," remarked Jonas Hardcastle,
as the pair vanished.

"How's that?" inquired Roy. "They forced it on us, and--" "I know. I
know all about that," was the rejoinder, "but Cassell is quite by way of
being a politician hereabouts, and he might try to make it uncomfortable
for you."

"In what way?" demanded Jimsy.

"Oh, many ways. Those fellows have no scruples. To tell you the truth,
boys, I guess you haven't heard the last of this."

With this he left them, a prey to no very comfortable thoughts.

"I'm half inclined to believe what he said," declared Jimsy.

"In just what way?"

"Why, about the harm this fellow Cassell can do us. In every community
like this you'll find one local 'Pooh-bah' who runs things pretty much
as he likes. They have satellites who will do just about as they're
told."

"You mean--" "That we'd better keep a good lookout on the aeroplanes.
From my judgment of Cassell I don't think he's got nerve enough to
attack us directly, but he can wreak his vengeance on our machines if
we don't watch pretty closely."

"I'm inclined to think you're right. But don't say a word of all this
to the girls. It might upset them. You and I will decide on a plan of
action later on. To tell you the truth, I'm not any too sure of our
newly acquired watchman, Tam Tammas."

"Nor I. We'll wait till the rest get back and then take a stroll down t