“Well, boys, I gave you a special treat. I did some pretty dangerous stunts up there. Once I nearly lost control. But I wanted you to see what flying is like. I knew you would want to know, Fatty, if you think seriously of going in for flying.”
“I did, but I don’t now,” said Fatty.
“I hope I didn’t scare you,” Ernest returned anxiously.
“Not a bit!” said Fatty, shuddering as he looked at the plane. “I don’t think I could ever afford to buy a plane. Besides, I think I would rather be a clerk in a grocery store.”
“I suppose you would get more thrills out of it,” said Ernest.
CHAPTER XV
That night the Wolfes’ Matilda was in her element. Mrs. Wolfe had returned, and as soon as she heard what had been going on, she insisted on inviting the three Secret Service men who had been around with the boys, to come to her house and celebrate, and (perhaps to be sure of hearing everything about the affair that was closing so successfully) she asked Eddie to supper with the rest of the “plotters” as she called them. And because she knew that the participants would want an audience, she asked Frank’s chum Walter Fletcher, who lived next door, to come and help Mr. Wolfe and her with the listening. So Matilda cooked and cooked, and when the hungry guests sat down everybody cheered up after one look at the loaded table. When half-way through, they had reached a state of dangerous appreciation, and with dessert Walter declared that Matilda deserved the distinguished service medal, and Mrs. Wolfe a place in the Hall of Fame.
After dinner they all went out on the screened-in porch and talked and talked, and told the tale over and over.
“Zipousky, or whatever his name is, is a queer pill,” said the Major. “Actually, he would not harm Dee, yet he spent his life making bombs and spreading propaganda. There is enough evidence against him to keep him in prison for the next ninety years.”