EZRA

Dick Hamilton had not been very friendly with Lieutenant Larson during
the aviation instruction at Kentfield. In fact the young millionaire
did not like the army officer. Added to this the suspicion that Larson
might have had some hand in tampering with the stabilizer of Mr.
Vardon's craft, did not make Dick any too anxious to see the birdman.

And yet he felt that in courtesy he must.

"I'll go in the library and meet him," said Dick, to the servant who
had brought the message. "I don't care to have him out here, where he
might see my airship," Dick added, to his chums.

"I guess you're right there," agreed Paul.

"He might take some of your ideas, and make a machine for himself that
would win the prize," added Innis.

"Oh, well, I'm not so afraid of that," replied Dick, "as I intend,
after I complete my craft, and if she wins the prize, to turn my plans
and ideas over to the government, anyhow, for their use. But I don't
just like the idea of Larson coming out to the work-shed."

Mr. Vardon and his men were in another part of the big barn, and had
not heard of the arrival of the army man.

"How do you do?" greeted Dick, as he met Larson in the library. "I'm
glad to see you."

This was polite fiction, that, perhaps, might be pardoned.

"I don't want to trouble you, Mr. Hamilton," went on the lieutenant,
with a shifty glance around the room, "but I have left the army, and
have engaged in the building of airships.

"I recall that you said at Kentfield, that you were going to construct
one, and I called to see if I could not get the contract," Larson went
on.

"Well, I am sorry, for your sake, to say that my craft is almost
completed," replied Dick. "So I can't give you the contract."

"Completed!" cried Larson, in tones that showed his great surprise.
"You don't mean to tell me you have undertaken the important work of
constructing an aeroplane so soon after coming from the military
academy?"

"Well, I didn't want to waste any time," replied Dick, wondering at the
lieutenant's interest. "I'm going to try for the government prize, and
I wanted to be early on the job."

Larson hesitated a moment, and resumed:

"Well, then it is too late; I suppose? I hoped to get you to adopt my
plans for an aeroplane. But I have been delayed making arrangements,
and by resigning from the army.

"Perhaps I am not too late, though, to have you adopt my type of
equilibrizer. My mercury tubes--"

"I am s