When he got up from his knees there was a look of purpose on his face that had not been there before. He reached for his telephone and called a number.
A hearty voice answered it promptly.
Whitney's face lighted with relief.
"Hello, Bert, is that you?"
"Sure is! Hello, Nell. Glad to hear your voice! How's crops?"
"Oh, growing, growing fast. Say, Bert, flying anywhere to-day?"
"Sure thing. Want to go?"
"If you're going in the right direction. What's your chart?"
"Wherever you say. You never thought you could spare the time to go with me before."
"Happen to be going anywhere within a hundred miles of New York?"