etimes. But early as it was they found
the little town all astir. Excursion trains were already pouring their
crowds into the place and the streets were fairly alive with humanity.
Peggy's first act on awaking was to gaze out of the window, beneath which
some fine trees grew. Not a breath of wind stirred their leaves. The air
was as clear and undisturbed as it was possible for it to be.

Donning a white duck skirt and a plain shirt waist, and dressing her hair
in a becomingly simple style, Peggy hastened to the office of the hotel,
and going to the telephone switchboard asked the operator to put her in
communication with Roy's room. But after several minutes spent in a vain
attempt to obtain an answer Central had to inform the anxious girl that
there was no reply.

Thinking that after his late absence of the night before Roy might have
overslept, Peggy despatched a bellboy to his room. But the report came
back that the room was empty and that Roy's bed had not been slept in.

"See if you can get the executive office on the aviation grounds," said
Peggy to the 'phone girl. But although the wire had been repaired and
communication was easily established, there was no news of Roy. Worse
still for Peggy's peace of mind, she learned now, for the first time,
that there had been no meeting at the aviation field the night before.

"If your brother got a note to that effect it was a forgery," said the
official who answered the call.

Peggy fairly flew upstairs to her aunt's room. Rapidly she informed Miss
Prescott of what had happened.

"Oh, I'm certain now that that hateful Fanning Harding has something to
do with it," she almost sobbed.

"Hush, dear," said her aunt, although in the gentle lady's breast a great
fear had arisen, "everything may be all right. At any rate, I do not
believe that any one, no matter how anxious they were that you should not
compete in the race, would dare to resort to such methods to keep Roy out
of the contest."

"I don't know so much about that, auntie," rejoined the girl. "I was in
our hangar yesterday afternoon and I noticed a horrid looking man
prowling about with Fanning Harding. If it had not been too improbable I
should say that I knew the man's face."

"My dear!" exclaimed the good lady in astonishment.

"Well," rejoined Peggy with conviction, "I'm almost sure that the man was
Jukes Dade, a workman who once was employed in his laboratory and
workshop by my father. He was a skillfu