| Show ‘Checkmate him” composed tihe was affords more satisfaction than persist ent chicanery will produce Wo must have variety in our pleasures in order to get the most from them” "To be sure” said Sybil “Meantime you are forgettingyour Uncle Burthon” They iodo in silence for time Then reply “How sir?" "Well we know pretty well all Bur-tiion’s plans He doesn’t suspect we know a thing believes he will bo able to his keep secret until his aeroplane is ready and he can announce it in the newspapers and create a sensation He has concocted a pretty trick very Until this date no one has ever heard of the Kane aircraft After the Bur-thon improved biplane is exploited and its praise on every tongue you won't be able to get even a hearing with your invention much less a cliiarnoe to ily it” Steve sat down and covered his face with hds handls His attitude was one of desipair Miy will "When jo finished ?" fully "lie expects Burthen’s asfked Orissa to interested I I I I your fits for the first three is (absurd sdr” will bo little profit at cent of it pro “That “There ten per veal's” Steve declared -first wouldn’t amount anything" a It important reluctantly s ni! CHAPTER ’ 0 Interested completion to darlc tTVA-nrinfl- Angelos -Burtihon - -wotulld' a ' a ex-hdbiion “ advertisements exhibition appeared Dominguez aircraft The Opening Gun SYBIL town rode On U I J3I de-mianding thorough' parts and then put on iris close-fitting and cap goggles burttoaied a sweater over his chest and nodded to his tothrow back th© entrance curtainsmen Two policemen cieai’til the way andl as tlie aviator drew baick (his lever the aircraft rolled kout of tbe hajigur into luil of t’hft A View mniltihUrlA ahnmi went handkerchiefs were up waved and the band played frantidally On wheels which were almost large enough for a motorcar the aeroplane the across field turned passed the grandstand and with accelerating ’ -taped itsbig ortoedflelded l a5May farther end- ' In jrmur arose which surprise and disappointment were Intermingled One fat gentleman who had patiently wni ring for two houns' been “Why it’s onlv a sort frwl bale with crossed airplanes set over mo Hl thought they claimed the tiling could fly” Those who knew something of aviation however the were ones astonished at Steve’s preliminary They realized the advantage of being able to drive an aeroplane own wheels as an automobile' goes In case of emergencies and moreover the "kmossed planes”— a distinct in construction— gave them’ food for thought Usually the two surfaces or ftaaita exactly parallel are one above the uomer om m stove mactiine the plane ran fore and aft while the upper one extended sidewise 'At a glance at was possible to see the advantage of this arrangement as a (duplex- balance Which" with th® swinging comprised the safety "device that the in? believed made lilis year tor aeroplane superior to any other of the far end the field Steve rom swung around and started back straight for the grandstand He had nearly reached: it wlien he threw in the clutch that started the propellers andt at the same time slightly elevated tho front rudder Up like a bind taking wing rose the aircraft soaring above the grandstand and then describing ' exclaimed: a ti I ' ' v ra II per-formxutce -' mits considerable' UWiwi - V W- i pvi ifl rvl n s with her father the way she said: -lower ' ‘ into ' -'wlng-enc®’ ' - ' - ' “Yes” she agreed “your nature The deeper the more plot and intrigue tihe stealthy and unsuspected plot the is it of my subtle' more characteristic parent” "True” he said “But here a condition that puzzles have remarked understand me as confidence of tlbio bow you won the Kanes by posing as generous arid That was quite like you But today you had tihesm in your power demanded You mi gtit have anything— everything— yet you accepted a mere Now I’m really wondering ten per cent what your game is" It was evident be did nothis relish bta daughter's criticism for usually Still placid brow bore a (heavy frown he answered lightly: stirring too deep “You’re you’re roiling the pot Why don’t you look on the surface?" “Oh! how stupid of me” she said la is to ' aserie9 is 1 of I voice a diverse scoundrel” her father “is the acme of diabolic art rom complication to simplicityis but step yet requires Most rascals fail to audacity realize that an honest act by way of contrast announced “The spectators held evening to exploit their breaths anxious suspense in papers but found he was unable “kill" the articles prepared to the Kane aircraft The morning papers having devoted so much the subject the afternoon space to papers could not possibly Ignore it and finding he wag helplessin this attempt he followed another tack Entering the office of the secretary of the Aero Club he said: "I believe our contract with the owners of ield Dominguez provides that the Aero Club miay have the use of the grounds whenever tt so desires regardless of any otiher engagements by out siders” “Certainly" replied the secretary “I A The speck grew larger1 large and attractive ‘hangar had been constructed on the field and btephen on the morning of exhibition flew his aeroplane from Marston’s to pasture Kane Park alighting just before the hangar Orissa Sybil arid Mr Cumberford were there to receive him and after placing the aircraft safely in the new hangtar tihiey ail motored to town for breakfast at the Alexandria It was no longer possible for Steve to take entire personal charge of his so Mir Cumberford having made a careful search was finally able to secure two men who until that time bad been strangers to one another os -tihie successfully invention circles over the field Gradually it ascended as if the aviator was ascending an aerial staircase he had mounted so far among theuntil clouds that only a grayish speck was discern-xole unselfish relieved be ' innovation gruffly “To 1 - a One “You puzzle me would imagine you are playing fair with the Kanes” he "Mere imagination” returned a v 1 - t XVI AM Ui ' it eyes CHAPTER ‘ - -Saturday said Orissa “let us go in to “Now” nearly breakfast You must all' be famished” let ue eat so that get “Yes can Cumberford back to town” agreed Mr cheerfully “The campaign begins this very' morning and it may take axfew Steve people by surprise’"Remember you’re to stand ready to carry out any pions your manager makes” sir” “I understand I ’ Thfg was Hie 17tih of December and January flrat the great International Aviation Meet Was to be held at Lota Angeles with wuj present as the Wrlgbt brothers Glenn Curtiss Hubent Latham Arch Hoxsey their old friend Willard Purmalee Ely Brookins Radley and many others Air Cumberford triad entered Stephen Kane for this important meet and the young man was booked to take part in the enldiiirahce and speed tests' and to make an attempt to break tfhfe world's record for altitude—all in his flyer the Kane aircraft Bo swift a own transition from obscurity to at’ popularity—or least to the attention of the civilized World— was enough to turn the head of but any one as yet Steve seemed all unaware of his own importance Disregiairding the ctowkTh which wera eagerly seeking a glimpse of the young aviator but did not know him he quietly made his way to the hangar and was admitted! by Wilson who guarded the doorway from an insistent group peep at the aeroplane Steve took off his coot made a inspection of all the Working on ' ' (hier she fOrfh 'A -with I ’ Kane noted - it in nervous v ' a bargain Mr Karie?” Steve grasped Iris hand gratefully “Of he replied oourse sir’ "I’m not sure we can defeat Mr Burthon’s conspiracy but know you will all tihat is do possible And tliank sir” he added again pressing the you hand elder man’s Cumberfordfs hand Orissa took Mr next She did not express her gratitude in words but the man understood her arid to hide his enubarra&sment began hds to cigarette As seardh for case with for Sybil she regarded tine scene an amused smile arid! there was a queer look all at wthcin- much-heralded T n Accident had not been at over the event Park until the hour entered the field and The-band i imitation Curious A RISSA witness ' fihtfa XVII tremendous throng assembled to her brother’s flight was playing vigorously and many gay banners wavett over the grandstand and the big hangar wherein the aircraftwas (hidden Then indeed she began to realize the irnpor5?410? ie occason and hey heart tnrobbAd wily vmijus uiart sieve was tihe hero all awaited arid! tflilat his name would be famous from this time - ‘ request djte ' and smiled—a grim smile Mr Cumber-ford of that hds peculiarities was one I’ll “It’ll do Steve make it pay me well see if I don’t But you may add to if like the demand by pro-misyou ing to present my Slaughter the fourtih factory complete Kane aircraft your turns out" “The first!” cried Steve “No the fourth We want tihe first three to go where they’ll advertise us Is -and I machine thought a assistants These men were skilled ms-as ebonies and recommended honest and reliable — which perhaps they were tinder ordinary clncurnwtanerw Their names Wilson and Reed wore As they had already bden two days In Stephen’s workshop thoroughly were now conversant with tiwrir duties these two men were left at the hangar in charge of tlie aeroplane with instructionsto watch carefully and allow no one to to it sentor or examine Steve needed rest for he had worked nigibt and day preparing for ythts public testA The exhibitionwas to be held at two o’clock so he acceded to Mr Cumberford’ that hie Ho down in a quiet room at the hotel and sleep until was called to lunch committee a make utie first trial a week from tomorrow He has kept a force of expert men at work and they haven’t attempted to make the Kano engines but are using a type that has worked successfully in many biplanes So his madhine has grown’ into existence quickly” very “A week from tomorrow” repeated Orissa softly ‘‘And is Steve ready today” Steve looked up quickly Sybil laughed at him “You silly boy” said she “Can’t you understand what Daddy a means by checkmate?” Steve turned to Mr Cumberford who was lighting a fresh cigarette will “If place you the matter in my “I hands” said that gentleman will proceed to put a spoke in Burthon’s to wheel so speak Heretofore Steve have been mere onlooker a— an friend this may say At juncture you’d better make me your manager” “Would you accept the position?” asked the boy “Yes there isn't much else to interest me just row and— hate Burthon” "Boor uncle!” sighed Sybil “On What terms will you undertake this sir?" Steve inquired with anxiety “Why may have to spend a lot of money probably will and time’s my valuable when I’m not Here I’m moping at the Alexandria Hotel so propose you give me ten per cent of I remember yourself insisted you upon that condition as chairman of the on arrangements” "Please notify the manager that we ield require Dominguez for club pur poses every d'ay for the next two weeks” Burthon! Think of the exMr "But— girl the little nestled a to closer her pense” father’s slide and murmured: ”1 shall personally pay all cd uarges” "I’m mighty glad Daddy like the "Vcrv wpll” Kanes” The secretary telephoned anid Was in“So do I” he responded formed that the field had 'been engaged "And isn’t Stepluen’s aeroplane marfor the coming Saturday that morning velons?” by a Air Cumberfora Aero Club an "I consider it” said he “the clevermember But Mr Burtlhion insisted on est and most important invention of the of tfhe as the rights club an organiza age” tion and thio manager agreed to cancel By eight o’clock a skillful photographer Oumbcrford's engarremont was on his way to Stephen Kane’s Burthon went to the rom there Mr hangar to get pictures of tihe aircraft the baseball munagei'S of the Motordrome while Air Cumberford sat In the office engaging every parks and Duna to of noted advertising expert and for two weeks Then open date come bargained for an amount of publicity having practically tied lip every availthat fairly made the man’s head able place wtlrore tihie 'Kano aircraft swim of all lie The city editors sighed the morning might be publicly exhibited papers wfere next interviewed and contentedly and went tb Ids South in the Cumberford campaign so Pasadena workshop to hasten the wlhio of his that half a dozen reporters were own aeroplane noted for their brilliant Cumberford descriptive Mr was annoyed wihien he writing attended a lunchbon given by received notice that he could not Mr Cumberford at the Aero Club and Doaninguez ield for any day prehave listened' to Iris glowing accounts of the aviation rpeet He viaus to the was Kane aircraft and the wondlerful flight annoyed by the discovery' that further made by its inventor that very morn Burtihon had engaged every publio ing wn Wlr in V Yffter or fear Mr Burthen migfht drop into Angeles But (he was not the' man to the con trie ciuu during this "session the caudespair in such an emergency of tious “manager” the aircraft had test between him and his hated brother-in-law taken the precau tion to have Brewster merely sharpened his wits and to’ telephone him come to the South rendered him more alert Pasadena workshop" and to keep (him He found a'broad vadaait field on the there by some pretext till late in th® Santa Monica (ar line arranged day This was done Mr Burthon rfirAAf tn 'feyHwblv rnmiww pmtTv spent the entire afternoon with his ftYf ttoArJa ftira qtwI aircraft returning to Los tied his dleals with ooretrajets so that up his for a late dinner at be club unable to interfere Then being tired he went early to bed Then he ordered large grandstand to At breakfast next morning he picked be built and instead of fencing ini the up newspaper- started as his eye fell grounds determined to ’make the upon tihie lurid! headlines and nearly absolutely free to all wttito cared fainted with chagrin and anger to attend Upon the first page a was large These arrangements completed Mir of picture the Kane aircraft a with Cumberford announced in glaring vignette of its inventor in tihe an upper Blate of the exhibition corner and Columns of description and and decided he had won tlie game enthusiastic comment regarding his Mr Bur than tried to enjoin the creation Whicfli as a claiming (that Stephen Kane's was heralded in distinct forward stride practical aircraft infringement on Ibis was an aviation Stephen's remarkable flight device but own Stephen personally and promise made of was referred to before the judge and convinced exhibition soon to be held’ at an him there was nothing In the assertion ield where the public would Of course Mr Cumberford saw thtat the be given an opportunity to see the Itad) full newspapers accounts of tlhese in action proceedings arid bo public interest was Mr Burthon as he soon as could keyed up to the Irighest pitch when recover himself read every word care-' arrived The care on tinat fully Huis Then he 'smoked cigar and day were taxed to their fullest capacity to thought over Half hour later an carry the crowds to Kano Park he the rounds of the' as was making the new aviation field was called ' The spectators held their breaths in anxious SUDnCA TTho cnrwklr larger Swoopung down at a 'sharp Migie inc aircrait came suddenly into view and within a hundred feet of tho its ground resumed normal position and to began circle around the field again Now mighty cheer went up and Orissa who had been pressing Sybil’s hand with grip that made her wince found herself sobbing with joy Her brother’s former flights had been as successfuil as this but only now of a with the plaudits multitude ringing a a almost In But her ears thing he on a A did she realize the had accomplished sudden the shout startled (CONTINUED ON" wonderful wa-stilled frightepod moan SEVEN) PAGE |
