Part 10 (1/2)
”You up, oldtheto the coe of our radio plant, which isn't far froar, says the latter is afire
Frank and Bob already are on the way down, and stopped to warnfro for his trousers ”That's bad Just e need the airplane, too, to spy on these rascals Half a minute, old et into trousers with one arm”
”Can I help you?” proffered Jack ”I'm all fixed Here, let me lace your shoes”
”Well, if you insist,” said Captain Folsom
As Jack deftly laced up the other's shoes, he said in an anxious tone:
”Do you think, sir, those people set the fire? It would be a catastrophe if the plane burned just at this particular tiood of you,” said Captain Folsom ”Lead on, then, and I'll follow As to the fire, I'll reserve opinion until I get the facts
But these liquor slers are unscrupulous, and if they feared the airplane was being used against the it”
From the side of the house on which their roouest were unable to see anything of the fire, as the hangar lay in an opposite direction But the ainst the sky above an intervening grove of trees
Without wasting breath in further speculation, Jack and Captain Folsoar stood a considerable distance away, and so fast had they covered the ground that they arrived pretty well blown
They found the airplane standing like a singed bird on the sands in front of the hangar, and gathered about were Frank and Bob, Toardener
”The wings are gone, Jack,” said Bob, turning as his chum approached
”But, thanks to Touisher, the fire did not reach the tank, and the old bus will be able to fly again after she sprouts neings”
Jack turned his gaze to the hangar The sides and roof were of corrugated iron Practically the only wood in the construction was that elance to tell hiar where it was still s
”What happened?” he asked
There were excited answers from all, but presently the story was made clear Soar, torn up the wooden planks and flooring of the skidway, piled theuilty eive himself time to escape before the fire should attract attention He had overlooked, however, the presence of a large tank of chear, and To the Tear that, by eed to save the airplane froht sleeper, had hurried over fro apart the burning brands in order to wheel out the plane, when Bob and Frank arrived to help the his head dolefully; ”hty cur'ous, the trouble you boys hev with thet airyplane D'ye think noas them Mexicans comin' back?”
”No, Davey,” said Jack ”Not this time Some other set of rascals was responsible”
”What does he mean, may I ask?” inquired Captain Folsom, his curiosity aroused
Briefly, Jack related to him how the previous sued in roup of independent oil operators headed by his father in New Mexico, had appeared at the quiet Long Island home, stolen the airplane, and floith it to Old Mexico where they had e Mr Hampton The boys, said Jack, not only had effected Mr Hampton's release but also had recovered the plane, as related in ”The Radio Boys On The Mexican Border”
”It's too long a story to be told noever,” he concluded, after giving the above bare outline ”Soive you the details if you are interested”
”I certainly a Jack with increased respect ”To think of you boys having done all that!”