"Come in," spoke Mr. Randolph. "Hello, you, Dashaway?"

"Yes, Sir," bowed Dave, removing his cap.

"You are back soon."

"Sooner than I planned," replied Dave, "But I--"

"You've thought the affair over, I hope?"

"Something more than that, Sir," responded Dave. "I have come to
tell you that I think I can be of some service to you about that
stolen aero-hydroplane."

"Good for you!"

"I've thought out a plan, Sir," went on Dave. "I feel certain that
the people who raided the aerodrome and made off with the Drifter
are bound for a distant and unsettled section."

"But why? What benefit can they hope to secure way off from
civilization?"

"That we have to guess at and work out," replied Dave. "I will say,
Mr. Randolph, that I think I have a faint clew to the disappearance
of the airship."

"You don't say so!"