“No,” soberly answered the elder man, “to tell you the truth, I’ve never heard much good about you.”
The boy laughed again, but in an embarrassed way, showed his confusion, and then said:
“Lafe and I never got along. But, he may be right. I’ve got a bad name.”
“What are you doing here? You are old enough to be at work.”
“That’s it,” went on Bud, “I ought to be. I have a job promised me when I want it, out in the country. But I’ve been waitin’ to see this.”
He pointed toward the dismantled airship.
“What do you want to see? You haven’t any business loafing in here. Have you been monkeyin’ with the machinery?”
“Oh! I know ’em around here. And I ain’t hurt nothing. No fear o’ that.”
“Well, what’s your interest?”
“I want to see it. I’ve been waiting every day since it came. I want to be here when you move it. I want to help unpack it.”