THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP.
In the midst of the hum and excitement and the crossfire of questions
which immediately followed, there occurred a startling interruption. From
the further side of the grounds there arose a cry, which swelled in
volume as it advanced.
"Fire! One of the hangars is on fire!"
The group immediately broke up and orders and commands flew thick and
fast. In the midst of the excitement Roy and his chums found an
opportunity to slip away.
"There's the fire. Off by our hangar!" shouted Hal Homer, pointing across
the field.
By the side of the Prescott's green aero shed a big cloud of smoke was
ascending, mingled with yellow flames. It seemed to be a hot blaze.
"It's Fanning Harding's hangar!" cried Roy suddenly; "come on, let's go
over and see what the matter is."
"I've got the car right here," said Jimsy. "I'll get you over in a jiffy."
Soon they were speeding across the field toward the blaze. In the
meantime an emergency fire corps, composed of men employed on the
grounds, had attached a line of hose to a hydrant and were drenching the
flames. Such good work did they do that it was not long before they had
the fire under control.
As soon as it was out our party, which had managed to get through the
lines formed to keep back the curious, gazed into the ruins with some
interest.
"Why, say!" cried Jimsy suddenly, "the place was empty."
"So it was!" cried Roy in astonished tones, "except for that big box kite
over in the corner there. Whatever kind of a game of bluff has Fanning
Harding been playing?"
"I guess I can imagine it," struck in Hal Homer. "From what you have told
me his little game was to bluff you into thinking he had a fine airship
that could beat yours, and in that way induce you to sell out to him."
"By George, I never thought of that!" exclaimed Roy, "but--hullo, here
comes Peggy in the farmer's wagon!"
He ran through the crowd to the side of the wagon, which had been driven
in by Farmer Ingalls.
"You dear, dear boy, I've heard all about it already," cried Peggy,
throwing her white arms about Roy's neck, while Miss Prescott, whom they
had picked up at the hotel, sat by, hardly knowing whether to laugh or to
cry, as she expressed it later.
I am not going to describe that reunion by the side of Fanning Harding's
burned hangar, but each reader can imagine for herself what a joyous one
it was.
"I know a place in town where they sell the bulliest sodas and sundaes,"
cried Jimsy suddenly. "Everybody come up there in the car and we'll
celebrate!"
"In one moment, Jimsy," said Roy. "There's one thing still I don't
understand about this whole business, and that is this. It is clear
enough that Fanning Harding was bluffing about having an aeroplane in
that shed, but how was it that he made a night ascent with red and green
lanterns?"
"Oh, you mean the time you saw him in the air at night, the time we went
to Washington?" asked Jimsy.
"That's it. How do you account for it?"
"Give it up," rejoined the other lad.
"Perhaps this may help to explain it."
Hal Homer came up carrying two much scorched lanterns he had found in the
debris of the hangar. One was red, the other was green.
"I don't quite see," said Peggy, but Hal, with an apology interrupted her.
"It's plain as day to me," he said; "these two lanterns attached to that
big box kite on a breezy night would certainly give any one the
impression that an aeroplane was sailing about. Harding knew you would be
flying home in that vicinity on that night and rigged up this contrivance
to delude you."
"A phantom airship!" cried Peggy.
"That's about the size of it," put in the slangy Jimsy, "and I think that
friend Homer here has hit on the correct solution."
"But if that were so, why did Fanning fit up a shop out at Gid Gibbons's
place?" asked Jess in a puzzled tone.
"I guess that shop had no more in it than this hangar," was Roy's reply.
"Gid Gibbons is a bad character who would do anything for money, and I
think it likely that he fell in with Harding's schemes because he had no
great liking for any of us."
"Looks that way," agreed Jimsy.
"But that doesn't explain that ruby which Hester was wearing," thought
Peggy to herself as the laughing party of young folks drove off up the
town, followed by Farmer Ingalls and his good wife, who had been invited
to take part in the little celebration of their triumph. Here and there
they were recognized and cheered, but among the crowds on the sidewalks
all discussing the thrilling race, there were three that took no part in
the good-natured jubilation. Who these were we can guess.
Jukes Dade at Fanning's side had to listen to some savage abuse as they
slunk along, avoiding as far as possible the crowds.
"I told you to burn up the hangar so that there would be no trace left of
the bluff we had been putting up," he growled.
"Well, didn't I soak the place with gasolene," protested Dade; "how was I
to know a kid would come along and give the alarm before it got fairly
alight?"
"It's been a dismal failure all the way through," lamented Harding, as if
he had been engaged on some praiseworthy enterprise.
"Incidentally," purred Jukes Dade, but with a menace under his silky
tones, "I'd like to see some of that money you've been promising me all
along."
"You'll have to wait till I see my father," snapped out Fanning savagely.
"Well, see him quick then, or I may have to take other means of getting
it," snarled Dade.
"What do you mean?"
"Why, by telling a few things I know. About the loss of a certain lady's
jewels, for instance."
Fanning went white as ashes.
"You sneak! You've been listening at keyholes!" he cried.
Dade returned him look for look defiantly.
"Well, what if I have?" he snarled. "I've got a hold on you now, Master
Harding. I've got you where I want you and I'm going to keep you there."