"I was brought here by Pete and Whipple," was the astonishing reply.
"Brought here by Pete and Whipple?" echoed Matt. "Why, we left them out by the canal and the old quarry."
"Left them there, eh? What happened to you, Matt? I was scared stiff, on your account, back there in South Chicago. After you left, I called up police headquarters in the city and asked after Dave Glennie—just thought I'd make sure I hadn't sent you into trouble. Glennie himself answered the phone. He hadn't written you any letter and didn't know a thing about that proposed meeting. I got Graydon, another officer, and we hustled off in an automobile. Couldn't find you at the quarry, and while Graydon was looking for you in one direction, and I was nosing around in another, I was keeled over by Whipple. The two scoundrels stole the automobile and brought me here. I don't know what the nation Graydon will think, or—— Ouch, my head! There's a lump on it as big as my fist, and it feels as though it had been hit with a sledge hammer. But it's good for sore eyes to see you, Matt, and to find out that you didn't get into trouble. If you——"
A wild shout came muffled from the distance. It was Carl's voice, and evidently something was going wrong at the air ship.
"That's Carl!" exclaimed Matt. "Come on, Harris. I've got to get out of here and see what's up. I left Carl and Dick with the Hawk in a vacant lot on the other side of the alley."
Without waiting to explain further, Matt whirled and dashed from the room.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
THE TROUBLE AT THE AIR SHIP.