ugful!"

"There's no danger," answered Dick quietly, though he wanted to laugh.
"My airship is all finished. We've used her, and she's all right. I
wouldn't change her no matter what I saw on yours."

"Wa'al, you might think so now, but I can't trust nobody--not even you,
so you can't come in," said Uncle Ezra.

"Oh, we won't insist," answered Dick, as he passed over the bonds.
"Father said you wanted these, Uncle Ezra."

"Yes, I do," and an expression, as of pain, passed over the man's face.
"I've got to raise a little money to pay for this airship. It's costing
a terrible pile; a terrible pile!" and he sighed in despair. "But
then, of course, I'll get the twenty thousand dollars, and that will
help some. After that I'm going to sell plans and models of my
successful airship, and I'll make a lot more that way. So of course
I'll get it all back.

"But it's costing me a terrible pile! Why, would you believe it," he
said, looking around to see that the door to the factory was securely
closed, "would you believe I've already spent five thousand, six
hundred twenty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents on this airship? And
it ain't quite done yet. It's a pile of money!"

"Yes, they are expensive, but they're worth it," said Dick. "It's
great sport--flying."

"It may be. I've never tried it, but I'm going to learn," declared
Uncle Ezra. "Only I didn't think it would cost so much or I never
would have gone into it. But now I'm in I can't get out without losing
all the money I've put up, and I can't do that. I never could do
that," said Uncle Ezra with a doleful shake of his head.

He gave a sudden start, at some noise, and cried out:

"What's that? You didn't dare bring your bulldog in here, did you,
Nephew Richard? If you did I'll--"

"No, I left Grit at home, Uncle Ezra."

Then the noise was repeated. It came from the part of the factory
where the airship was being constructed, and was probably made by some
of the workmen.

"I guess I'll have to go now," said Mr. Larabee, and this was a hint
for the boys to leave.

"Lieutenant Larson said he wanted to consult with me about something.
I only hope he doesn't want more money," he added with a sigh. "But he
spends a terrible pile of cash--a terrible pile."

"Yes, and he'll spend a lot more of your cash before he gets through
with you, if I'm any judge," thought Dick, as he and his chums went
back to the automobile. "To think of Uncle Ezra buildi