Mr. Evans started up from his chair in consternation. “You don’t mean they tried to shoot the boy!”
“I certainly do mean just that.”
The father put an arm about his son’s shoulders and held him close. “The devils!” he muttered. “I’d no idea they would dare resort to such methods! If I had, he never would have been sent. And I don’t blame you, Bill, for thinking me a heartless parent. If anything had happened to this boy——But there’s no sense in making excuses now. Tell me just what happened.”
He carted Charlie, sandwiches and ginger ale over to his chair and deposited them there, seating himself on the broad arm at his son’s side.
“Well, the first I knew of it,” began Bill, and continued with a recitation of their adventures since the thunderstorm had awakened him the night before. When he had finished, he got up to replenish his glass.
“Splendid! I’m extremely proud of you both. Now tell me of the arrangements you’ve made with Parker.”
“Starting tomorrow night, he is to fly the Loening over this property. If he sees a light in the garage he will know that we want him. He will then continue on his way out to sea for a few miles, come back over Twin Heads and land in the harbor near the channel that leads out to the Atlantic. We will get in touch with him there. In any case, unless he is molested, he is to wait on the water until daylight.”
“And if we do not need him, what then?”
“Why, the garage will be dark, and he’ll go out to sea, swing round and go back to Clayton.”
“Did you arrange any set time for his flights?”