“When will you take off from New York?” Helen asked.
“In about two weeks,” replied Rand without looking up from the map.
Helen gasped. This, indeed, was news. Every paper in the land would carry it on the front page.
“What kind of a plane do you intend to use?” Tom wanted to know.
“I’m having one built to order,” said the flyer. “It’s a special monoplane the Skycraft Company is testing now at their factory in Pennsylvania. I had a telegram yesterday saying the plane would be ready the first of next week so when I leave Sandy Point I’ll go directly to Pennsylvania to get the plane and make the final tests myself. The air circus will finish its summer tour alone.”
Before they reached the landing at Sandy Point, Rand explained how he intended to refuel while in flight, gave Helen the name of his mechanic and described details of the plane.
When they touched the landing at Sandy Point a heavyset man dressed in brown coveralls jumped into the boat.
“What in heaven’s name happened?” he asked Rand excitedly.
“I flew too close to this motor boat,” said the flyer, “and damaged my landing gear on the wave it was pulling. Instead of coming back here to crack up I went across the lake and landed in a meadow. These young people followed and brought me back. I banged the ship up considerable and in return for keeping them quiet, I gave them the story about my world flight. They’re newspaper folks.”
The heavy man stared at Helen, Tom and Margaret.