“Afternoon, Barnes,” was his greeting.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Stowe,” returned the young reporter, “you sent for me——”
“Sit down,” said the other brusquely, indicating a chair.
Billy sat down and waited for the next words of his managing editor.
“The Planet, as you know, has made a specialty of featuring aviation,” continued Mr. Stowe, gazing fixedly at his cigar.
Billy nodded, the remark did not seem to call for a more definite reply.
“We have offered prizes for flights from time to time, and in this way have obtained a reputation as an authority on aviation and a patron of what is bound to be the vehicle of the coming ages.”
Again Billy nodded at the managing editor’s rather florid way of putting it.
“For instance, the $10,000 Albany-New York flight and the $30,000 New York-St. Louis flight. The $100,000 offer for a transatlantic flight as yet remains unchallenged for, but I have no doubt that in time some daring aviator will make the attempt.”
“It should be possible,” once more agreed Billy, wondering what was coming next.