head line had caught his eye: "A Burglar In The Clouds."

Anything suggestive of the air was of interest to the young aviator.
He wondered what the item might refer to. Dave leaned over to try
to scan the body matter of the article, when the locomotive whistled
and the train slowed up for a station. The man in front of him
shoved the newspaper into his pocket to leave the train. Then the
incident drifted from the youth's mind.

Dave reached Bolton on schedule time. An inquiry directed him to
the extensive works of the Interstate Aeroplane Company. He found
it to be a very large plant. The company, besides manufacturing
aircraft, also turned out automobiles.

Past the entrance gates of the big establishment, Dave became at
once interested in a large building bearing the sign "Aerodrome."
He could not resist the impulse to enter it. Then he found himself
going from section to section, viewing the splendid assortment of
aircraft on exhibition and for sale.

To a devotee of aeronautics the display was most fascinating. There
were monoplanes, biplanes, and hydroplanes. In one section were
samples of the various accessories of the craft. Dave was looking
over a splendid passenger monoplane when some one hailed him.

"Dashaway--say, we've been expecting you."

Dave turned to face the man who had been sent on by the Interstate
people to drill him in the use of the hydroplane at Columbus.