“And that isn’t Mr. Glassford’s writing, either,” added Ned. “I have a letter from him in my pocket, explaining where he would leave the Comet for us,” and he pulled out the epistle, comparing it with the one Boise had handed over. Though there was some similarity between the two signatures, the boys could easily see that the order for the airship had been forged. There was no question as to the letter purporting to be signed by Jerry. That signature was not a bit like his.
“And yet these don’t look as if Noddy wrote them,” spoke Jerry, as he scanned the forged documents. “He couldn’t write as firm a hand as this.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised but what that former college teacher did it,” suggested Professor Snodgrass. “He has probably added forgery to his other accomplishments. Let me take a look. I don’t know his writing, but I can tell an educated hand.”
The professor looked carefully at the two documents, and said it was very evident that Dr. Belgrade had written them.
“It is too finished a hand to have been penned by a lad like Noddy Nixon,” declared Uriah Snodgrass. “Probably Noddy did not feel equal to that part of the work, and got his crony to attempt it.”
“I believe you’re right,” agreed Jerry. “But what did they do with the airship, Mr. Boise?”
“Took her away, and right from in front of my face. Oh, I was a ninny to stand there and see ’em do it!”
“It wasn’t your fault,” declared Jerry. “Almost anyone would have given up the craft, after receiving two such orders as these. But where did they go?”
“That I can’t say. They seemed in very much of a hurry, and, after I had unlocked the big doors, and opened ’em, they wheeled the Comet out, and started her up. She ran beautifully, too, for Mr. Glassford had told me to keep her ready for a quick flight, and I did. There was plenty of gasolene in the tanks, and she was fit for a big journey.”
“Were there three of them?” asked Bob.