day. Something in the grave, thoughtful manner of Mr. King,
however, caused him to defer his own anxiety and impatience.

When they were inside the comfortable room where the aviator made
his office, Mr. King turned to Dave with a very sober face.

"I said I had bad news, Dashaway," he spoke, "and that's no
mistake."

"Then you failed to find Mr. Dale at Warrenton?" inquired Dave.

"He has not been there for over a week."

"Why, I thought he lived there?"

"He did. He went away, or was kidnapped, nearly ten days ago."

"Kidnapped?" exclaimed Dave in surprise.

"That's what I think. Mr. Dale lived alone, except for a very old
man servant. As near as I can figure it out, that young thief,
Gregg, appeared at Warrenton two days after I had him arrested. I
did a very foolish thing in dealing with the young scamp."

"You mean letting him go free?" inquired Dave.

"Yes, I feared at the time that I was unwise in not punishing him,
to serve as a lesson against more mischief. He acted so scared,
though, he helped me get back the property he had stolen from you,
he signed a confession telling that he was not the real Dave