Part 6 (1/2)

”Colonel Howell,” he said, ”I'll do it. I understand everything. You have given me the greatest chance of my life.”

”Then,” came the cheery and quick rejoinder of the Kentuckian, relighting his cigar, as he appeared to be always doing under any stress, ”we'll begin right away. This is a business proposition and we're all business people. We haven't any time to lose. I want you to go home and begin to pack your kit. The machine is outside. I think your father would like to talk to you.”

”I'm ready now,” came the quick response. A moment later the Zept motor was on its way home.

CHAPTER V

NEGOTIATING AND OUTFITTING

It had been an eventful day for the millionaire ranchman and his son Paul, as well as for Norman Grant and Roy Moulton, to whom it had opened up possibilities that they could scarcely yet realize. It was now Colonel Howell's mission further to enact the role of a magician and to see if the plans he had outlined were to bear fruit for the young aviators.

”We'll be waiting to hear,” announced the young Count, as he alighted and gave the chauffeur directions for finding the Grant and Moulton homes, ”and I want to know the news to-night.”

”I'll be disappointed if it isn't good news,” responded the Kentuckian, ”but don't you worry about that. We're going anyway. You see your father right away and he'll begin to plan your outfit. We're going to leave, the airs.h.i.+p with us I hope, at three o'clock Monday afternoon.”

It was half past nine when the oil prospector reached the Grant home. The evening there had been one resembling preparations for a funeral. Colonel Howell's offer had fallen on the Grant family with no sign of joy in anyone except the son. Dazed by the dangers which, to Norman's family, overshadowed all possible advantages, small time was lost in calling Mr.

and Mrs. Moulton into the conference. After the arrival of the latter, it had been a debate between the two boys, their parents, and several sisters, with no apparent possibility of reaching a decision.

Even the appearance of Colonel Howell did not seem to help matters very much, but the formalities having worn off and the prospector having been invited to give his version of his own plans, the possibilities began to brighten for the young men. In the process of argument, even the somewhat hesitating Norman had talked himself into a wild eagerness to be allowed to go.

Roy was so impatient that he stuttered. The different effect of Colonel Howell's explanation was undoubtedly due to the fact that he emphasized the great possibilities of the business part of the trip. Roy had sought to win favor by expatiating on the ease with which the _Gitchie Manitou_ was to overcome the perils and privations of the almost Arctic region.

Norman had also grown hoa.r.s.e in demonstrating the entire safety of their aircraft. But their patron seemed to dismiss these arguments as matters needing no discussion. Rather, he drew a picture of the opportunities to be presented to the boys in seeing the new land, of what he called the comforts of their snug cabin and of the advantages that must come to all young men in becoming acquainted with the little-known frontiers of their country. He said little of the immediate pecuniary reward, but said enough to have both fathers understand just what this was to be.

Both Mr. Grant and Mr. Moulton had had their share of roughing it on the frontier and neither seemed to welcome the sending of their children against the privations that they had endured.

While the discussion dwindled into indecision, Colonel Howell, as if in afterthought, repeated in substance his talk with Mr. Zept, omitting of course some of the unfortunate details, all of which, however, were already well known to those present.

Mr. Zept was the leading citizen of Calgary, an influential and important man. He was also a character whom most men in that part of the country were proud to count as a friend. Among those of her own s.e.x, Mrs. Zept occupied about the same position. When the flurry of questions concerning Mr. Zept's determination to send his son as a member of the party had died somewhat, it was perfectly plain that both Mrs. Grant and Mrs.

Moulton had new thoughts on the proposition.

”Is he going as a workman?” asked Roy impulsively.

”Oh, he'll do all he's called upon to do,” answered Colonel Howell, taking advantage of his opening, ”but I really didn't need any more help.

He's going because his father thought it would prove an advantage to him.

In fact,” continued the colonel, ”Mr. Zept was kind enough to want to contribute to our expenses because his son was to be with us. But as I told my old friend, I was not running an excursion, and I have invited the young man to go as my guest.”

”And he's paying us nearly three thousand dollars to do what the Count was willing to pay for,” exclaimed Norman, as a clincher. ”What have you got to say to that?” he added almost defiantly, addressing his mother.

”But he won't have to go up in a flying machine,” meekly argued Mrs.

Grant.

Norman only shrugged his shoulders in disgust. ”There won't be any more danger in that,” he expostulated, ”than I've been in all week.”

Colonel Howell turned to Mr. Grant, who held up his hands in surrender.

Then he looked at Mr. Moulton. The latter shook his head, but the debate seemed to be closed.