Dave stood somewhat awed at being in the presence of the famous aeronaut for the first time. He was embarrassed at his own boldness. Yet he managed to blurt out:
“I have been trying to get to you for two days.”
Mr. King stared at Dave in a wondering way. He looked him over from head to foot. Dave was not disappointed in the impression made upon him by the aviator. Mr. King was a man with a keen, clean-cut face and well-knit frame. There was a look of decision and business in his clear eye. As he smiled, there was also a genial, indulgent expression to his lips that won Dave.
“Oh, I think I understand,” spoke Mr. King slowly. “I suppose you are another applicant for a job. Heard I’d fired my assistant and all that. I didn’t think that news had traveled so fast and far.”
“Why, no, sir,” said Dave quickly. “I knew nothing about what you speak of until a few minutes ago.”
“Then——”
“I have been seeking you to find out if you lost some property out of an airship near Brookville, about sixty miles from here, three nights ago.”
“Eh, what’s that?” cried the airman, starting up into an attitude of attention and surprise.
“There was a sweater,” continued Dave, “and a pocket book with fifty dollars in it, and a watch and a medal.”
“What about it—what about it?” demanded Mr. King quite excitedly. “The medal, I mean. The rest of the stuff doesn’t matter.”