gain," and he
smiled as though what had just happened was the thing he had always
desired.

The crowd gathered about the disabled airship, which was mostly consumed
by the flames before it had reached the earth. Herr Doodlebrod had the
men save what they could, and, not a bit discouraged, he set about
packing up the remnants to take away.

"Too bad," remarked Colonel Claflin, "but such accidents will happen.
He's a cool fellow, at any rate."

Dick and his father went home together in the runabout, the colonel
declining their invitation to pay them a visit. The German inventor went
away and that was the last seen of him.

Swiftly the days passed, and in sheer desperation Dick invested several
hundred dollars in three different schemes. But none of them paid. In
one he lost all his money and in the others he got his money back and
that was all.

"It's no use!" he groaned to himself. "I guess it takes a brighter
fellow than I to make money."

Mr. Hamilton did not say much, but he was almost as anxious as his son,
for he did not wish to see Dick fail.

One morning Mr. Hamilton went out with Dick in the youth's runabout.

"Well, my son, to-morrow is your birthday," remarked the parent, after
speaking of many things in general.

"I know it, dad," was the gloomy answer. And then Dick went on: "I
suppose there is no way of getting clear of the provisions of that
will?"

"I know of none. Your dear departed mother's wishes must be respected."

"Oh, dear!" Dick gave a long sigh. "Well, perhaps I can stand Uncle
Ezra, but it's going to be a--er--a stiff proposition."

"I'm sorry," commented Mr. Hamilton. "But perhaps it will be a good
thing for you. Your Uncle Ezra has excellent discipline, and he's a good
man of business."

"I don't doubt that, dad."

Father and son did not say much during the ride home, as each was busy
with his thoughts. As Dick went up the steps of the Hamilton mansion the
butler met him at the door.

"Your Uncle Ezra is here," he announced.

"Oh, dear!" commented Dick, with a groan.

"Ah, Nephew Richard," was Mr. Larabee's greeting when Dick found him in
the library. "I've come to pay _you_ a little visit, you see. I happened
to remember that to-morrow is your birthday, and, according to the--to
the provisions of your mother's will you may be going to pay _me_ a
visit. I can't say I altogether approve of that will, still we will not
discuss that now. The main thing is, Have you made the