dot I haf. Wid a new vun I
can. I need der money for der new motor. Vill you invest it?"

"I will!" exclaimed Dick, suddenly.

"Ach! Bless you, my young friend!" and Herr Doodlebrod rushed over to
the millionaire's son and threw his arms about Dick, an embrace somewhat
difficult to escape from, so hearty was it.

"But I must first talk to my father," went on Dick, when Herr
Doodlebrod's enthusiasm had somewhat cooled down. "If the ship is a
success so far, and by investing five hundred dollars a better one can
be entered for the prize, so that I can win part of it, I'm sure he
would have no objections."

"I go for my airship," said the German. "I bring him here und in two
days he is ready to fly."

"Better not bring it here," advised Dick. "There isn't much room to try
it around the house, and too big a crowd would gather. We'll go off in
the country somewhere. My father owns some property about five miles
from here. It's a big level field, and I think that will be the best
place."

"Der very t'ing," assented the German, and Dick told him how to get to
it. Herr Doodlebrod hurried off to the freight station to arrange for
having his dismantled flying machine brought to the place where the test
was to be made.

"This may be the very thing I've been looking for," reasoned Dick.
"Winning five thousand dollars on an investment of five hundred is
pretty good. I guess that will fulfill the conditions of mother's will.
The question is: will it fly? But if it doesn't at the first test I'm
out nothing. And if it flies with his present engine it surely will with
a better one. I must tell dad about it."

Mr. Hamilton was not much impressed with Herr Doodlebrod's plan. He
admitted that the government had offered a prize for a successful
airship, but he thought an old shoemaker was hardly a possible person to
win it.

"Scientific men have devoted many years of study to the problem," he
said, "and they have not solved it yet. Still, of course, there's a
chance. As you say, you're out nothing if it doesn't work the first
time. But how about after you have put the five hundred dollars in, and
the ship doesn't sail?"

"If it sails with the old engine it surely ought to with the new,"
declared Dick, repeating his favorite argument.

Mr. Hamilton consented that Dick might make the investment. It was a
queer one, he said, but he agreed that if Herr Doodlebrod won the prize,
and gave Dick half, the terms of Mrs. Hamilton's wil