"Oh, you are the Chester boys?" he exclaimed with a strong accent on
the "the" and in markedly more respectful tones.

"We are," said Frank with a smile which was reflected on his
brother's face.

"I beg your pardon for keeping you waiting, I'm sure," said the
clerk with an apologetic leer, meant to be an engaging smile.

"That's all right," said Frank shortly, turning away from the desk.

"Well, having your name in the paper does do you some good after
all," remarked Harry with a laugh. "That fellow certainly turned a
flip-flop, when he found out who we were."

Five minutes later the boys were ushered into the Beasley rooms and
were busily engaged shaking hands and exchanging all sorts of boyish
exclamations of welcome with Lathrop Beasley, a tall, rather slender
youth who had been their companion in Florida. Like the boys,
Lathrop was an accomplished aviator and wireless operator, although
he had not the initiative or the sturdy pluck to perform the feats
that they had. He was, however, a boy of considerable brain and
skill and among the boy-aviators of the country held an enviable
position.

"About your letter," began Frank when the first greetings were over.

"In a minute," replied Lathrop, "here's father now."