Part 9 (2/2)

”Coffee ready, Mrs. Baggert?” asked our hero as he went downstairs. ”I haven't got time to eat much though.”

In spite of his haste Tom ate a good breakfast and then, having telephoned to his two friends, and receiving their promises to come right over, our hero went out to make a few adjustments to his air glider, to get it in shape for the trial.

He was a little worried lest the wind die out, but when he got outside he noted with satisfaction that the gale was stronger than at first. In fact it did considerable damage in Shopton, as Tom learned later.

It certainly was a strong wind. An ordinary aeroplane never could have sailed in it, and Tom was doubtful of the ability of even his big airs.h.i.+p to navigate in it. But he was not going to try that.

”And maybe my air glider won't work,” he remarked to himself as he was on his way to the shed where it had been constructed. ”The models went up all right, but maybe the big one isn't proportioned right. However, I'll soon see.”

He was busy adjusting the balancing weights when Ned Newton came in.

”Great Scott!” exclaimed the lad, as he labored to close the shed door, ”this is a blow all right, Tom! Do you think it's safe to go up?”

”I can't go up without a gale, Ned.”

”Well, I'd think twice about it myself.”

”Why, I counted on you going up with me.”

”Burr-r-r-r!” and Ned pretended to s.h.i.+ver. ”I haven't an accident insurance policy you know.”

”You won't need it, Ned. If we get up at all we'll be all right. Catch hold there, and s.h.i.+ft that rear weight a little forward on the rod. I expect Mr. Damon soon.”

The eccentric man came in a little later, just as Tom and Ned had finished adjusting the mechanism.

”Bless my socks!” cried Mr. Damon. ”Do you really mean to go up to-day, Tom?”

”I sure do! Why, aren't you going with me?” and Tom winked at Ned.

”Bless my--” began Mr. Damon, and then, evidently realizing that he was being tested he exclaimed: ”Well, I will go, Tom! If the air glider is any good it ought to hold me. I will go up.”

”Now, Ned, how about you?” asked the young inventor.

”Well, I guess it's up to me to come along, but I sure do wish it was over with,” and Ned glanced out of the window to see if the gale was dying out. But the wind was as high as ever.

It was hard work getting the air glider out of the shed, and in position on top of a hill, about a quarter of a mile away, for Tom intended ”taking off” from the mound, as he could not get a running start without a motor. The wind, however, he hoped, would raise him and the strange craft.

In order to get it over the ground without having it capsize, or elevate before they were ready for it, drag ropes, attached to bags of sand were used, and once these were attached the four found that they could not wheel the air glider along on its bicycle wheels.

”We'll have to get Eradicate and his mule, I guess,” said Tom, after a vain endeavor to make progress against the wind. ”When it's up in the air it will be all right, but until then I'll need help to move it.

Ned, call Rad, will you?”

The colored man, with Boomerang, his faithful mule, was soon on hand.

The animal was. .h.i.tched to the glider, and pulled it toward the hill.

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