“Not a bit of good to look, sweetness!” said Mrs. Bascom, patting him on the back. “Not a bit! I helped Henry pack, and he put it in his suitcase. I remember he said he didn’t want to scratch it, because he was going to make something or other of it, and his cousin has a regular workroom, with a vise and carpenter’s bench and all.”
Mr. Rowland shook his head. Eddie instantly lost his appetite. Mr. Rowland somehow got them away without more beefsteak and things, and when they were in the car, said: “No use making them worry. We will telephone Fat at his cousin’s.”
“We can’t,” wailed Eddie. “They have just moved into a new house, and there is no telephone connection yet. Fatty told me the other day. I know! Take me up to the camp, and I will get Ernest to fly over to Cincinnati. We are not needed here. Oh, gosh, I suppose there isn’t any Fatty by now! Somebody is going to swat or drop that cylinder, and that’s going to be the end of them! Here’s Ernest now,” he added as they swung round by the Aviation Field.
Rapidly he explained to Ernest, and before he had finished, the car was in place, and Ernest was at the wheel. Waving a good-bye, and calling “Explain to mother,” Eddie settled down and drew on his goggles.
CHAPTER XIV
Ernest’s plane had never made a prettier flight. Everything looked clear as crystal in the light of morning, and the occasional clouds through which they sailed were fleecy and thin.
Eddie enjoyed the trip in a subdued way. He had been through so many shocks since awaking and had had so many hairbreadth escapes that he put Fatty and his fate out of his mind. It would do no good to worry. His one deep hope was that Fatty, who had taken a late train, was not yet up.
On the other hand, Eddie knew that if Fatty was up, he was certainly tinkering with his cousin’s tools, and if he was, why, by this time there was no Fatty. And worrying could not help it. It could not drive the splendid little plane a breath faster. When at the end of the second hour of smooth flight Eddie saw the city of Cincinnati lying far ahead, his thoughts returned to Fatty. If Fatty had sold that to anyone else, Eddie knew that by the time they found it out, the last owner would be well on his way to Europe or South America. And Eddie, who was tired out, vowed that after that it was up to Fatty to reclaim the dangerous tube. But all seemed to hinge on Fatty being still in bed.
Reaching the city, they descended at the Landing Field, and grabbed the first taxi. After a long ride they reached the house they were seeking. And it was all there!