, what's the trouble? You look as if you were
going to attend a funeral."

They looked up to see the figure of Hal Homer, clad in white flannels,
and with a checked cap on his curly head, standing in the doorway.

"Can I come in?" he asked, and without waiting for an answer in he came.

"Oh, Mr. Homer," cried Jess, fairly pouncing on him, "we're so glad
you've come; we are in a dreadful fix."

"A dreadful fix? Why, my dear young lady, I read in the local paper that
I bought on my way from the depot that Roy's machine, judging from the
trials, was going to have things all her own way."

"So much so," struck in Jimsy, "that it looks as if some of Roy's enemies
have spirited him away."

"What? I'm afraid I hardly understand."

The aviation instructor looked at Jimsy in a puzzled way, rather as if he
thought the youth might be having some fun with him.

"No, no, this is serious. I mean it," spoke Jimsy quickly. "Roy has gone!"

"Gone!"

"Yes. He vanished last night. But sit down and we'll tell you all about
it. Maybe you can help us out."

Absolutely "flabbergasted," to use his own expression, the good-looking
young flying man sank down on an upturned case, while Jimsy went on to
relate all that had occurred, with Peggy every now and then striking in
with additions and corrections.

Another ear also took in the conversation--that of Jukes Dade--who had
seen the arrival of the well-dressed young aviator, and had instantly
slipped back to his eavesdropping post to learn what the newcomer's
business might be.

It might have been an hour later that a chauffeur, summoned by 'phone
from the grandstand, brought the Bancrofts' car up to the hangar and Hal
Homer, Jess and Jimsy emerged.

"Drive to the police station," ordered Hal Homer as he stepped in,
leaving Jess and Jimsy behind.

Jukes Dade, peering around a corner of the hangar, heard the order and
grew pale.

"Looks bad," he muttered as the car rolled off; "I wonder if they know
anything. If they do, I'm off. This isn't a healthy part of the country
for Jukes Dade from the minute that kid is found. He didn't recognize Gid
or young Harding, but he knew me all right. I could tell it by the way he
looked at me, and if he's found the first man they'll hunt for is me."

With snake-like caution he glided behind the hangar once more.

It was not long after this that the Golden Butterfly was wheeled out by
some of the mechanicians attached to the track, whose se