these fellows contemplated dickering with you."

"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked.

"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to
look out for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on
the government all right, and there may be some unpleasant
publicity to it later. But they're putting up a big bluff, and
pretending they can turn out a lot of flying machines for use in
Europe. Why don't you get busy on that end of the game, Tom?"

"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds,
subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your
war tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying
machines I should think you'd offer your factory to the
government for the production of aeroplanes."

"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the
matter is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything
in large numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here,
making only one or two of a certain machine. I have told the
government officials they can have anything I've got, and you
know they wouldn't let me enlist when I was working on the war
tank."

"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted
to shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan
work. Well, Uncle Sam ought to know."

"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone