"Allow me to introduce myself," he said, with a German accent. "I am
Herr Wilhelm Doodlebrod, und I haf de airship at der freight station.
When can I gif you an exhibition?"

"Airship?" murmured Dick, in bewilderment, While Herr Doodlebrod nodded
several times and chuckled, as if it was the best joke in the world.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE FLYING MACHINE.

Dick looked closely at Herr Doodlebrod, as if to see if the German had a
bomb concealed about him, for the millionaire's son believed the man was
another of the unfortunate persons who had some impossible scheme he
wanted aid in perfecting.

"You vill like der airship, yes?" went on the smiling, little, old man.
"Ah, he is a beautiful airship!--so strong, so graceful, und he sails
along so just like a bird!"

Again he smiled, and then he laughed, as though he had just told Dick a
very funny story. The German's good nature was catching, and Dick also
smiled.

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand you," the boy said.

"Ach! Dot is easy!" replied Herr Doodlebrod. "See, listen, it is dis
vay. I am de greatest inventor of an airships vot efer vas," and he said
it as if he meant it, with child-like directness, "I haf der ship vot
all der scientists haf long been vaiting for. I haf bring him to your
town und I show you how he vorks."

"But why did you bring it to me?" asked Dick.

"Vhy? Because, listen," and the little man approached closer and began
whispering. "I read about you in der papers. Iss it nod so?" and he
smiled broadly. "You are der richest young man vot efer vos. Ach, I
know!" and he winked one eye at Dick, as though the millionaire's son
had tried to conceal something.

"So, now I proceed. I hear of your great wealth. I learn you vos a young
mans. You are bright, quick, smart. Yes, iss it not? Vell, I invent der
airships. I am a shoemaker in my city, many miles from here. Vun day der
great ideas comes to me. I see a bat fly. Quick, I say, I will make me a
airships like der bat. He is heavier as a bird, yet he flies. So I stop
making shoes und I make airships. Iss it not so?" and once more the
smile illuminated the kindly face.

"Did you succeed?" asked Dick.

"Not at first," replied the German, gravely. "Many, many times I t'ink I
fly into der air, but I falls to der ground. Sometimes it hurts. Vunce I
breaks my leg. But dot iss noddings. Ven I get vell I make improvements.
Now I haf der great machine vot flies; yes?"

"Where is it?" asked