“It’s a book about aeroplanes. He’s lending it to me.”
“Aeroplanes?” exclaimed Mrs. Leighton instantly, turning to her son. Then, looking at the captain, she added: “I hope you’ll keep it, Captain Anderson. Andy wasted one whole summer on an engine that won’t work. We don’t need any aeroplanes of the same kind.” Turning to Andy again, she said: “Be sure and be at Captain Anderson’s by five o’clock—and take in all that bedding before you leave.”
[CHAPTER VI]
AN UNFINISHED LETTER SOLVES A MYSTERY
Before the boats disappeared, Andy was hurrying up the hill.
“Talk about your hidden treasure!” said the boy to himself. “Lookin’ for concealed ideas beats it all hollow. Now for the steel cylinders—whatever they are.”
Passing the pump in the rear of the house, he realized that he was thirsty, and that reminded him that he was hungry. He thought first of the canned peaches and beans. Then he recalled the ripe oranges and pineapples. Ten minutes later, his face and fingers redolent of the combined juice of the two fruits, he was ready for his inviting investigation.
Throwing off his hat and coat, he sought, first, the bench behind the shop. He secured wrenches and screw-drivers and loosened some of the parts of the six cylinder machine. But, after all, he had to shake his head.
“Looks as if it is almost something,” he mused. “And it looks too as if it had nearly worked. But I reckon it didn’t. And, if my uncle couldn’t make it go, what’s the use o’ my tryin’?”