“I’m in a hurry all right,” said Collins, “but not 'two hundred miles an hour’ in a hurry. I’ve never been up before.”
“You’ll like it,” said Ralph. “Greatest thrill you’ll ever have.”
“Will it bump and jump around badly?” asked the fingerprint expert.
“Rides smoother than a Pullman on a day like this,” promised Tim.
“Well, since Colonel Searle ordered me to come down with you, I’ll have to go,” concluded Collins, “But I’d much rather make the trip by auto or by train.”
“You’ll like it once you’re up,” said Tim as he helped the suspicious one into the forward cockpit. Ralph buckled the safety belt on their passenger and then fastened his own.
Tim flipped the wings, waggled the stick, and they roared off the field.
When the wheels left the ground, the fingerprint expert let out a shriek that even Tim could hear above the motor but as soon as they were in the air, Collins’ nerves settled and he started to enjoy his ride.
Tim shoved the throttle well ahead and their air speed climbed to one hundred eighty miles an hour. There were plenty of clouds in the sky but there was a ceiling of three thousand feet and Tim sent the Good News dancing along.
Almost before they knew it they were circling down to land in the field they had used earlier in the day.