“Oh, yes! What can I do for you, Major Carroll?”
“I want to relieve your mind of any anxiety regarding Willie Sloan.”
“I’m very glad indeed to hear that.”
“He has been with me at the hangar all morning. I can tell you he’s a bright lad—something quite remarkable. I only hope, however, that it may not be a week or more before I can find some of my tools—he’s quite interested, you know.”
“Eh?” exclaimed Dave, in surprise. Then, feeling quite sure that the Major was delivering himself of a gentle sarcasm, he began to smile broadly.
“Mr. Follett knows that he is here, so you boys needn’t bother about him for a while. Now, is Doctor Clifton there? You’re in his charge, I suppose?”
Dave nearly fell backward from the telephone.
“The little scamp!” he muttered.
“Hello, hello!” came from the receiver; “I don’t seem able to catch your answers very clearly. Please tell the Doctor not to worry about the lad’s absence.”
“All right, sir,” answered Dave, whose smile was rapidly becoming broader.