“He was here, up to last night. But he went away suddenly, and he won’t be back.”
“Where has he gone?” asked the professor.
“Out to the big airship and balloon meet at Danforth.”
“To a balloon meet?” repeated Ned in surprise.
“Yes. Didn’t you know that Mr. Jackson was an enthusiastic balloonist and aviator?”
“I knew he had many fads,” spoke the professor, “but I didn’t know he included ballooning among them.”
“Oh, yes,” went on the manager. “He is much interested in all sorts of air craft. In fact he talked of nothing else while he was here. He has invented some sort of dirigible balloon, or aeroplane—some kind of air machine. I’m not very well up on them, so I can’t describe it to you. I believe he is going to enter it at the Danforth meet. I’m sorry, but you’re just too late to catch him.”
“So are we,” agreed Ned sorrowfully. He knew his father would be much disappointed, but there was no help for it. Despondently the merchant’s son turned and followed the professor out of the hotel. Jerry and Bob sat in the auto waiting for them.
“Well, what luck?” asked the tall lad, as his chum approached.