ell pleased with these arrangements.
As he noted the foresightedness of the young mechanics his confidence
in them expanded.

"Don't hesitate to order anything you need, young men," he said warmly.
"Have them send the bills to me. If my trust in you is misplaced, I am
willing to stand the consequences. This is not only the best kind of a
practical education for Bob, but it is good business training for all
of us. Go ahead; go ahead!"

With such strong encouragement, is it any wonder that the three young
men continued their operations vigorously? Not one of them scarcely
wanted to stop long enough to eat and sleep, _a la_ Edison; and as it
was now summer vacation time, Paul and Bob were able to be with John
all day long in the old exhibition building. Neighboring boys and even
older people hung around the open doors to watch operations, but the
builders were careful not to let them get close enough to gain any
ideas which might be harmful to their interests.

On Tuesday evening of the week following the start of the Air Derby,
John and his brother put on their best clothes and hied themselves over
to the Giddings home. In Paul's hand was an envelope containing the
precious plans for the Sky-Bird II--completed at last by the young
draftsman, and ready to be shown to the financial member of the quartet.

When they were all seated in the Giddings library a little later, Mr.
Giddings scrutinized the plans with every evidence of satisfaction
written upon his strong features. Now and then he would ask a
question, as Paul explained view after view and detail after detail.
At length he pointed to an oblong object situated in the pilot's
cockpit just under the dashboard. "What is that?" he asked, curiously.

"That is what John and I call an 'automatic pilot,'" answered Paul.
"It is a new form of stabilizer, and made so as to overcome the defects
of others which are on the market. A stabilizer should automatically
keep an airplane on a fairly level keel no matter how air conditions
are, even so steady that it will travel along on its course for a
considerable distance with the pilot paying no attention to his
controls, perhaps eating his lunch or reading his orders."

"A mighty useful contrivance," commented Mr. Giddings. "I should think
that would also prevent lots of accidents in bad winds."

"It will--if it turns out as we expect," Paul remarked.

"Give me the full details of this," was the request. "Remember