Having procured the parts of the flying machine they were after, Frank and his two friends assured the lady again that they would strain every effort to rescue her son, and then boarded a train for home.
Readestown, to where they went, was a beautiful little western city near a river that flowed to the Atlantic.
Here dwelt Frank in a magnificent mansion, near which stood the great machine shops in which his wonderful inventions were constructed.
The young inventor upon his arrival found an old friend there named Dr. Vaneyke, who had often gone with him on his trips.
The white-bearded old scientist had heard that Frank had built a new flying machine, and being desirous of accompanying him in it on his proposed journey, had come from the Smithsonian Institute, with which he was connected, to join the inventor.
Frank was delighted at the prospect of having his old friend go, and readily assented to the plan.
On the following day, as the air ship was nearly finished, the inventor brought the professor out to the shop to see it.
Here a singular and unexpected incident occurred.
CHAPTER III.
BAFFLED.
The room in which Frank’s invention stood was a vast apartment, with sliding doors in the roof which could be operated to permit the exit of his flying machines from the interior.