cing airplane
designers to-day. With a machine weighing only a trifle more than her
load of fuel and baggage, she will not only fly a lot faster but go a
lot farther, with a given supply of fuel, than the present-day planes.
And what is more, she could attain good speed with a single engine of
reasonable power, where now many machines are handicapped with the
burdensome weight of an extra power-plant. When will she be ready to
test out?"

"I had planned to give her a trial in the old fair-grounds Saturday
afternoon," said Paul. "I've asked Bob Giddings to go along."

"That's all right; Bob is a fine lad," said John; "but since you have
set the trial for Saturday afternoon, and Bob's father is usually at
home at that time, why don't you ask him to view the affair also? I'm
sure he would enjoy it. He's a great sportsman, you know, like most
newspaper men, and considerably interested in aeronautics."

"I had not thought of it; I'll do it," was the prompt response of Paul.
"But we must warn him to silence, John. Whatever happens, we don't
wish this to get into the _Daily Independent_."

"I'd say not," rejoined the former Air Mail pilot sententiously.
"Mum's the word; we've got something here, Buddy. Unless I'm greatly
mistaken we'll be consulting with the Patent Office at Washington much
sooner than little mother anticipates." He poked Paul in the ribs as
he spoke, and both young men gave vent to a low chuckle of intense
satisfaction. It was an even greater pleasure to look forward to
surprising their mother than to astonishing the world and winning its
plaudits.

As good an airplane mechanic and flyer as John Ross was, his younger
brother was little behind him in the matter of skill in handling a
modern machine. It had been John's habit to return to Yonkers every
two weeks for a week's lay-off, as customary with other pilots in the
Air Mail service. On these occasions he had arrived in his plane, and
during the term of his stay had often taken Paul up into the air for
pleasure flights, as well as his chum Bob Giddings. Both boys were
keen students, and it was not long before John could trust them to
operate his big Martin with every confidence. Once, indeed, he and
Paul had been caught over Long Island Sound in a bad storm, when the
latter was in the pilot's seat, but Paul had brought the craft through
like a veteran, winning his brother's unstinted praise and undying
respect.

CHAPTER III

A S