Part 11 (1/2)
The automobile was backed out of the woods, and turned in the direction of Rallston. Jack Mason was in his element, and in less than twenty minutes they came in sight of the town and turned into a side street leading to the freight yards.
”There she is!” cried Sam, a minute later.
He pointed to one of the tracks in the yards and there, on a flat car, the boys beheld the wreck of the biplane. A small crowd of curious men and boys surrounded the remains of the Dartaway.
”What yer going to do with her, Jimmy?” asked a man in the crowd, of a burly individual on the flat car.
”I guess the railroad is going to sell her,” replied the section boss.
CHAPTER VII
THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE
”Did you hear what that man said?” demanded Sam in a whisper, of his brothers.
”I did,” returned d.i.c.k. ”But he isn't going to sell our property,”
added Tom, warmly.
”Hardly,” responded d.i.c.k. He pushed his way through the crowd and walked straight up to the flat car.
”Who is in charge here?” he demanded.
”What's that?” came in some surprise from the section boss.
”I asked who was in charge of this flat car with this flying machine?”
”What business is that of yours, young fellow?”
”This is our biplane--it belongs to me and my brothers here,” and d.i.c.k waved his hand at Tom and Sam.
”Oh! Are you the Rover brothers?”
”Yes. And I want to know what business you had to bring that flying machine here?” went on d.i.c.k sharply, for he saw the kind of a man with whom he had to deal.
”Say, look here, if you've got any kick coming you go to the office with it,” cried Jimmy Budley.
”Very well, I will. But I want to know who ordered you to bring that biplane here.”
”Never mind; you go to the office and find out.”
”You brought it here, didn't you?” asked Tom, who had now come up to d.i.c.k's side, along with the others.
”I ain't answering questions when I don't have to,” returned the section boss, with a sneer.
”Sure he brought it here--on this flat car!” cried a man in the crowd. ”Why don't you answer the young fellow straight, Jimmy?”
”This biplane belongs to my brothers and me,” went on d.i.c.k, as sharply as before. ”You had absolutely no right to touch it. If I wished to do so, I could have you arrested for this,” he continued.