colonel asked, when the millionaire announced that he would start
for New York the following morning.

"Well, I've been thinking pretty hard about the matter," was the
answer. "I hardly know what to do. I'm afraid it's only another
one of Dick's hare-brained ideas, and if he goes in for it, he'll
come a cropper.

"And, maybe, on the whole, it wouldn't be a bad idea to let him go
in for it, and make a fizzle of it. It would be a good lesson to
him, though I would certainly regret, exceedingly, if he were even
slightly injured.

"On the other hand Dick is pretty lucky. He may come out all right.
I suppose he'll go in and try to win some prizes at these aviation
meets they hold every once in a while."

"Yes, there are to be several," spoke the colonel. "I heard
something about the government offering a big prize for a successful
trans-continental flight--from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but I
know nothing of the details."

"Well, I suppose Dick would be rash enough to try for that, if he
hears about it," murmured Mr. Hamilton. "I guess, taking it on all
sides, that I'll let him have an airship, if only to prove that he
can't work it. He needs a little toning down, most young chaps do,
I fancy. I know I did when I was a lad. Yes, if he makes a fizzle
of it, the lesson may be worth something to him--throwing his money
away on an airship. But I'll give my consent."