“Lafe?” exclaimed Judge Pennington. “Lafe going up in the airship?”
“I agreed to,” exclaimed young Pennington. “If the operator don’t come, they’ve got to have some one. And I know more about it than any one else around here.”
“And you’ve promised to commit suicide in that death trap?” added Judge Pennington hastily.
“I—I didn’t see what else I could do,” faltered Lafe.
“Well, I can,” broke in his father, “and mighty quick. You can stay out of it.”
“Judge,” interrupted Attorney Stockwell, “I don’t see any cause to worry. Bud tells me he is anxious to take Lafe’s place.”
“Bud Wilson?” sneered the Judge. “What call has he to try such a thing?”
“Oh, none, except he’s been up in one once. I never heard that Lafe had,” retorted the piqued lawyer. Attorney Stockwell had no particular concern for Bud and certainly no affection for him. Later, Judge Pennington said he reckoned the lawyer rather wanted Bud to turn aviator and break his neck in the bargain. But, this morning, the lawyer resented Lafe’s superiority.
“I guess if Lafe had tried to fly, he wouldn’t have tumbled out on his head,” snorted the Judge. “I don’t approve of sending boys up just because we made this fool arrangement. But, when it comes down to who’s entitled to do the thing and who’s got the real grit, I guess it’ll be my own boy.”