well as Liberty Bond campaigns.

Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled,
Mary Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in
some of which she had shared.

"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what
will happen to us?"

"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom,
through the speaking tube.

"What's that? I can't hear you very well !" she called back.

"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered.
"Why can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as
well as in a balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what
was the matter now you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't
anything. But, as it is--"

"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still
much frightened.

"I say it's all right--don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom
shouted until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense--having a motor
making so much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly.

A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no
time to think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up
this idea and work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the