,*APT] ,TW5TY-,?REE

,! ,GRT ,RACE

  8,WELL10 REM>K$ ,MR4 ,%>P1 :5 ,TOM &
,MR4 ,DAMON _H CALL$ ON HM1 6/ATE T ,&Y
,FOG]'S MA*9E 0 N[ ON ! GR.DS1 & DEM&+
6BE ALL[$ 6VIEW X1 6SEE IF X 0 AN
9FR+E;T ON ! "O 5T]$ 0! "Y 9V5TOR1
8,I'LL D ! BE/ ,I C = Y4 ,I'LL LAY !
CASE 2F ! -MITTEE4 ,X W MEET AT ONCE1 &
,I'LL LET Y "K :AT !Y SAY40
  8,"U/&10 SD ,TOM1 8,I DON'T WANT
69T]F]E UN.S ,I AM 3V9C$ T ,&Y IS TRY+
AN "UH& TRICK4 ,MY PLANS >E MISS+1 & ,I
?9K HE TOOK !M4 ,IF 8 MA*9E IS MADE AF
^? PLANS1 X IS1 OBVI\SLY1 A /1L1 & ,I
WANT HM RUL$ \ (! MEET40

8,& S HE % BE60 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,GET !
EVID;E AG/ HM1 & WE'LL ACT QKLY 5\<40

  ,! -MITTEE MET 9 AB AN H\R1 & 3SID]$ !
CASE4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,TOM & ,MR4 ,DAMON
/ROLL$ PA/ ! T5T ) XS FL>+ SIGN4 ,"! 0 A
MAN ON GU>D1 B ,&Y 0 N 9 SI<T4

,!N ,TOM 0 S5T =1 & ,MR4 ,%>P TOLD HM
  :AT
3CLU.N _H BE5 >RIV$ AT4 ,X 0 ?3

  8,"U ! RULES (! MEET10 SD ! BALLOONI/1
8WE _H 6GU>ANTEE PRIVACY 6ALL ! 3TE/ANTS
UNTIL S* "T Z !Y *OOSE 6EXHIBIT _!
MA*9ES4 ,T IS1 !Y NE$ N BR+ !M \ UNTIL J
2F ! RACES10 HE A4$4 8,? IS N A H&ICAP
A6AIR1 &! SPE$IE/ MA*9E1 OR ! "O T GOES
6! GRTE/ HEI<T1 AC 6: CLASS X 5T]S1 W
W94 ,9 3SEQU;E WE _C =CE ANY 3TE/ANT
6DCL :AT K9D (A MA*9E HE W USE UNTIL HE
GETS R1DY4
  8,"S >E GO+ 6USE ! FAMILI> TYPE (
BIPLANES &1 Z Y C SEE1 "! IS NO SECRET
AB !M4 ,!Y >E TRY+ !M \ N[40 ,? 0 S1 =
S"EAL MA*9ES ( ? TYPE 7 EI 9 ! AIR1
CIRCL+ AB1 OR 7 2+ RUN OV] ! GR.D4
  8,B O!RS10 3T9U$ ,MR4 ,%>P1 8W N EV5
TAKE ! -MITTEE 96_! 3FID;E UNTIL J 2F !
RACE4 ,!Y WANT 6KEEP _! CRAFT A SECRET4
,WE C'T -PEL !M 6D O!RWISE4 ,I'M SORRY1
,TOM1 B ! ONLY ?+ ,I SEE = Y 6D IS 6WAIT
UNTIL ! LA/ M9UTE4 ,!N1 IF Y F9D ,&Y HAS
9FR+$ ON YR MA*9E1 LODGE A PROTE/--T IS
UN.S Y C GET EVID;E AG/ HM 2F T "T40
  ,TOM WELL KNEW ! USE.S;S (! LATT]
PLAN4 ,HE & ,MR4 ,DAMON _H TRI$ S"EAL
"TS 6GET A GLIMPSE (! CRAFT ,&Y _H MADE1
B )\T SU3ESS4 ,Z 6! O!R ALT]NATIVE--T (
WAIT+ UNTIL ! LA/ MO;T--,TOM FE>$ T1
TOO1 WD 2 FUTILE4
  8,=10 HE R1SON$1 8J 2F ! RACE "! W 2 A
LOT ( 3FU.N1 (FICIALS W 2 "H & "!1
SCATT]$ OV] ! GR.D1 !Y W 2 H>D 6F9D1 & X
W 2 ALM USE.S 6PROTE/ !N4 ,&Y W 5T] !
RACE1 & "! IS A POSSIBIL;Y T HE MAY W94
,ALM ANY "O CD )A MA*9E L ! ,HUMM+-
,BIRD4 ,X'S ! MA*9E ALM Z M* Z !
OP]ATOR1 9 A CASE L ?40
  8,B Y C PROTE/ AF ! RACE10 SU7E/$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,T WD 2 LL GD1 9 CASE ,&Y B1T ME4 ,!
PUBLIC WD SAY ,I 0 A SOREH1D1 & J1L\S4
,NO1 ,I'VE EI GOT 6/OP ,&Y 2F ! RACE1 OR
N AT ALL4 ,I W TRY 6?9K (A PLAN40
  ,TOM DID ?9K ( S"EAL1 B AB&ON$ !M "O
AF ! O!R4 ,HE TRI$ 6GET A GLIMPSE 9SIDE
! T5T ": ! ,FOG] AEROPLANE ,0 H\S$1 B X
0 TOO CLOSELY GU>D$4 ,&Y HMF 0 N M* 9
EVID;E1 & ,TOM ONLY _H FLEET+ GLIMPSES
(! BULLY4
  ,M1N:ILE HE & ,MT ,DAMON1 TGR ) _!
MA*9I/1 7 KEPT BUSY4 ,Z ,TOM'S CRAFT 0
FULLY PROTECT$ 0PAT5TS N[1 HE _H NO
HESIT,N 9 TAK+ X \1 & X 0 GIV5 S"EAL
SEV]E TE/S >.D ! AERIAL C\RSE4 ,X DID
EV5 BETT] ?AN ,TOM EXPECT$ ( X1 & HE _H
GRT HOPES4
  ,ALW1 ?\<1 "! 7 TWO ?+S T WORRI$ HM4
,"O 0 8 "F'S ILL;S1 &! O!R ! UNEASI;S HE
FELT Z 6:AT ,&Y ,FOG] MI<T D4 ,Z 6! =M]1
! WIRE.S REPORTS 9DICAT$ T ,MR4 ,SWIFT 0
DO+ Z WELL Z CD 2 EXPECT$1 B 8 IMPROVE;T
0 N RAPID4 ,REG>D+ ! LATT] WORRY1 ,TOM
SAW NO WAY ( GETT+ RID ( X4
  8,I'VE J GOT 6WAIT1 T'S ALL10 HE ?"\4
  ,! "D 2F ! OP5+ (! MEET1 ,TOM & ,MR4
,DAMON _H GIV5 ! ,HUMM+-,BIRD A GRUEL+
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PRY+ EYES CD "T !M1 & "! ,TOM _H OP5$ !
MOTOR = ALL ! P[] 9 X4 ,!Y _H FLA%$ "?
SPACE AT ! RATE ( "O HUNDR$ & TW5TY
MILES AN H\R4
  8,IF WE C ONLY D T 9 ! RACE1 ! T5 ?\S&
DOLL>S IS M9E60 EXULT$ ,TOM1 Z HE SLANT$
! NOSE (! AEROPLANE T[>D ! E>?4
  ,! "D (! RACE DAWN$ CLE> & B1UTI;L4
,TOM 0 UP E>LY1 = "! REMA9$ _M LL ?+S 6D
6GET 8 CRAFT 9 F9AL TRIM =! 3TE/4 ,!N1
TOO1 HE WANT$ 6BE R1DY 6ACT PROMPTLY Z
SOON Z ,&Y'S MA*9E 0 :EEL$ \1 & HE AL
WANT$ 6GET A MESSAGE F HOME4

,! WIRE.S >RIV$ SOON AF BR1KFA/1 & DID N
3TA9 V *E]+ NEWS4

  8,YR "F N S WELL10 ,MR4 ,JACKSON S5T4
8,POOR NI<T1 B DOCTOR ?9KS "D W %[
IMPROVE;T4 ,DON'T WORRY40
  8,DON'T WORRY6 ,I WOND] :O CD HELP X10
MUS$ POOR ,TOM4 8,WELL1 ,I'LL HOPE =!
BE/10 & HE WIR$ BACK 6TELL ! 5G9E] 9
,%OPTON 6KEEP 9 T\* ) HM1 & 6FLA% !
MESSAGES 6! ,HUMM+-,BIRD 9 ! AIR1 AF !
BIG RACE />T$4
  8,N[ ,I'LL G \ & SEE IF ,I C CAT* A
GLIMPSE ( :AT T SN1K ,&Y HAS 6PIT AG/
ME10 SD ,TOM4
  ,! ,FOG] T5T 0 TI<TLY CLOS$1 & ,TOM
TURN$ BACK 6HIS [N PLACE1 HAV+ >RANG$ )A
MESS5G] 6-E & LET HM "K Z SOON Z ,&Y'S
CRAFT 0 :EEL$ \4
  ,ALL AB 0 A SC5E ( GRT ACTIV;Y4 ,! GR&
/&S 7 FILL$1 &A BIG CR[D /OOD AB ! FIELD
ANXI\SLY WAIT+ =! F/ SI<T (! 8BIRD-M50 9
_! WOND];L MA*9ES4 ,N[ & !N ! B& BL>$ \1
& *E]S >OSE Z "O AF ANO!R ! FRAIL CRAFT
7 :EEL$ 6! />T+ PLACE4
  ,M5 9 QUE] L1!R CO/UMES D>T$ "H & "!-
!Y 7 ! AVIATORS :O 7 SOON 6RISK LIFE &
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GUTTURAL ,G]MAN OR NASAL ,FR5*1 :ILE N[
& !N ! /A3ATO ,RUSSIAN 0 HE>D1 & O3A.N,Y
! LIQUID T"OS (A ,JAPANESE4 ,= M5 ( _M
N,NS 7 -PET+ =! PRIZES4
  ,! MAJOR;Y (! MA*9ES 7 MONOPLANES &
BIPLANES ?\< "O TRIPLANE 0 5T]$1 & "! 7
S"EAL 8FR1KS0 Z ! BIPLANE & MONOPLANE M5
CALL$ !M--CRAFT (! HELICOPT]1 OR ! :EEL
TYPE4 ,"! 0 AL "O ,WITZIG ,LIORE
,DUTILLEUL BIPLANE1 ) ?REE PLANES 2H4
  ,TOM 0 FAMILI> ) MO/ ( ^! TYPES1 B
O3A.N,Y HE SAW A NEW "O T EXCIT$ 8
CURIOS;Y4 ,H["E1 HE 0 M 9T]E/$ 9 :AT ,&Y
,FOG] WD TURN \4 ,&Y'S MA*9E _H N BE5
TRI$1 & ,TOM WOND]$ H[ HE D>$ RISK FLY+
9 X1 )\T AT L1/ A PRELIM9>Y TRY\T4 ,B
,&Y1 & ^? ) HM1 7 EVID5TLY FULL (
3FID;E4
  ,NEWS (! SUSPICIONS ( ,TOM1 & :AT HE
9T5D$ 6D 9 CASE ^! SUSPICIONS PROV$
TRUE1 _H GOTT5 >.D1 & "! 0 Q A CR[D AB 8
[N T5T1 & ANO!R ?R;G >.D T ( ,&Y4
  ,TOM & ,MR4 ,DAMON _H :EEL$ ! ,HUMM+-
,BIRD \ ( H] CANVAS 8NE/404 ,"! 0 A *E]
Z ! CR[D CAU<T SI<T (! TRIM LL CRAFT4 ,!
"Y 9V5TOR1 ! E35TRIC MAN1 &! MA*9I/ 7
BUSY GO+ OV] E "P4
  ,M1N:ILE ! MEET _H BE5 (FICI,Y OP5$1 &
X 0 ANN\NC$ T ! PRELIM9>Y EV5T WD 2 "S
AIR EVOLU;NS AT NO GRT HEI<T1 &= NO
"PICUL> PRIZE4 ,S"EAL BIPLANES &
MONOPLANES TOOK "P 9 ?4 ,X 0 V 9T]E/+1 B
! BIG T5-?\S&-DOLL> RACE1 OV] A 4T.E (A
HUNDR$ MILES 0 ! PR9CIPAL F1TURE (!
MEET1 & ALL WAIT$ ANXI\SLY = ?4
  ,! OP5+ /UNTS PASS$ (F SU3ESS;LLY1
SAVE T A ,G]MAN OP]ATOR 9 A ,BL]IOT CAME
6GRIEF1 CRA%+ D[N 6! GR.D1 WRECK+ 8
MA*9E1 & BR1K+ AN >M4 ,B HE ONLY LAU<$
AT T1 & COOLLY DEM&$ ANO!R CIG>ETTE1 Z
HE CRAWL$ \ (! TANGLE ( WIRES1 PLANES &!
MOTOR4
  ,AF ? "! 0 AN EXHIBI;N FLI<T 0A ,FR5*
AVIATOR 9 A ,CURTIS BIPLANE1 :O RAC$ AG/
"O 9 A ,BABY ,W"R4 ,X 0 A D1D H1T1 AC 6!
JUDGES4 ,!N CAME A FLI<T = HEI<T2 & :ILE
NO RECORDS 7 BROK51 ! CR[D 0 WELL
SATISFI$4
  8,GET R1DY =! HUNDR$-MILE T5-?\S&-
DOLL>-PRIZE RACE60 %\T$ ! ANN\NC]1 "? 8
MEGAPH"O4
,TOM'S HE>T GAVE A B.D4 ,"! 7 SEV5
5TRANTS 9 ? 3TE/ 2SS ,TOM & ,&Y ,FOG]1 &
Z ANN\NC$ 0! />T] !Y 7 Z FOLL[S3




   ,,3TE/ANT  ,,MA*9E
  ,VON ,B]G5  ''''''''',W"R ,BIPLANE
  ,ALAM$A'''  ''',ANTO9ETTE ,MONOPLANE
  ,P]IQUE'''  '''''',BL]IOT ,MONOPLANE
 ,LOI ,T;G44  ,SANTOS-,DUMONT ,MONOPLANE
  ,W5DELL'''  ''''''''',CURTIS ,BIPLANE
,DE ,TROMP44  ''''''''',F>MAN ,BIPLANE
 ,LASCALLE44  ''',DEMOISELLE ,MONOPLANE
   ,&Y ,FOG]  '''''''''--------------
,TOM ,SWIFT4  4,HUMM+-,BIRD ,MONOPLANE

  8,:AT IS ! /YLE (! ,FOG] MA*9E80 YELL$
"S "O 9 ! CR[D1 Z ! ANN\NC] L[]$ 8
MEGAPH"O4

8,X HAS N BE5 ANN\NC$10 0 ! REPLY4 8,X W
  AT
ONCE 2 :EEL$ \ ?\<1 9 A3ORD.E )!
3DI;NS (! RACE40

,"! 0 A CRAN+ ( NECKS1 & AN UNEASY
  MOVE;T 9
! CR[D1 = ,TOM'S /ORY 0 N[ G5],Y "KN4

  8,GET R1DY 6MAKE YR PROTE/10 ADVIS$
,MR4 ,DAMON 6! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I'LL /AY 0!
MA*9E "H UNTIL Y -E BACK4 ,B.S MY
RADIATOR6 ,I HOPE Y B1T HM60

8,I W1 IF X'S POSSI#60 MURMUR$ ,TOM1 )A
  GRIM
TI<T5+ ( 8 LIPS4

  ,"! 0 A MOVE;T AB ,&Y'S T5T1 :;E1 =!
LA/ HALF H\R _H -E SPASMODIC NOISES T
9DICAT$ ! TRY+-\ (! MOTOR4 ,! FLAPS 7
PULL$ BACK &A CURI\S MA*9E 0 :EEL$
96VIEW4 ,TOM RU%$ OV] T[>D X1 9T5T ON
GETT+ ! F/ VIEW4 ,WD X PROVE 6BE A COPY
( 8 SPE$Y ,HUMM+-,BIRD8
  ,EAG]LY HE LOOK$1 B A CURI\S SI<T MET
8 EYES4 ,! MA*9E 0 TOT,Y UNLIKE ANY HE
_H EXPECT$ 6SEE4 ,X 0 L>GE1 & 6HIS M9D R
CLUMSY1 B X LOOK$ P[];L4 ,!N1 Z HE TOOK
9 ! DETAILS1 HE KNEW T X 0 ! SAME "O T
_H FL[N OV] 8 H\SE T NI<T --X 0 ! "O F :
! FIRE BOMB _H BE5 DROPP$4
  ,HE PU%$ 8 WAY "? ! CR[D4 ,HE SAW ,&Y
/&+ NE> ! CURI\S BIPLANE1 : TYPE ( AIR
CRAFT X NE>E/ RESEM#D1 ?\< X _H "S
MONOPLANE F1TURES4 ,ON ! SIDE 0 PA9T$ !
"N3

,,SLU7]

  ,&Y CAU<T SI<T ( ,TOM ,SWIFT4
  8,I'M GO+ 6B1T Y60 ! BULLY BOA/$1 & ,I
HAV5'T A MA*9E L YRS1 AF ALL4 ,Y 7
WR;G40
  8,S ,I SEE10 /AMM]$ ,TOM1 H>DLY "K+
:AT 6?9K4 8,:AT DID Y D ) MY PLANS !N80
  8,I N"E _H !M60
  ,&Y TURN$ AWAY1 & 2GAN 6ASSI/ ! M5 HE
_H HIR$ 6HELP HM4 ,L ALL ! O!RS1 8 MA*9E
_H TWO S1TS1 = 9 ? RACE EA* OP]ATOR M/
C>RY A PASS5G]4
  ,TOM TURN$ AWAY1 BO? GLAD & SORRY1--
GLAD T 8 RIVAL 0 N 6RACE HM 9 A
DUPLICATE (! ,HUMM+-,BIRD1 B SORRY T HE
_H Z YET NO TRACK (! /RANGELY MISS+
PLANS4
  8,I WOND] ": !Y C BE80 MUS$ ! "Y
9V5TOR4


,!N CAME ! FIR+ (! PRELIM9>Y GUN4 ,TOM
  RU%$
BACK 6": ,MR4 ,DAMON /OOD WAIT+ = HM4

  ,"! 0 A LA/ LOCK AT ! ,HUMM+-,BIRD4
,%E 0 FIT 6RACE ANY MA*9E ON ! GR.D4
,MR4 ,DAMON TOOK 8 PLACE4 ,TOM />T$ !
PROPELL]4 ,! O!R 3TE/ANTS 7 9 _! S1TS )
_! PASS5G]S4 ,_! ASSI/ANTS /OOD R1DY
6%OVE !M (F4 ,! EXPLO.NS ( S _M MOTORS 9
AC;N 7 D1F5+4
  8,H[ M* ?RU/80 CRI$ ,TOM 6HIS MA*9I/4
  8,TW5TY-TWO HUNDR$ P.DS60
  8,GD60
  ,! REPORT (! />T+-GUN CD N 2 HE>D4 ,B
! SMOKE ( X L1P$ 96! AIR4 ,X 0 ! SIGNAL
6G4
  ,TOM'S VOICE WD N H C>RI$ FIVE FEET4
,HE WAV$ 8 H&S Z A SIGNAL4 ,8 HELP] ?RU/
! ,HUMM+-,BIRD =W>D4 ,OV] ! SMOO? GR.D X
RU%$4 ,TOM LOOK$ EAG]LY AH1D4 ,ON A L9E
) HM 7 ! O!R MA*9ES1 9CLUD+ ,&Y ,FOG]'S
,SLU7]4


,TOM PULL$ A L"E4 ,HE FELT 8 CRAFT SO>
  UPW>D4 ,!
O!R MA*9ES AL PO9T$ _! NOSES 96! AIR4

  ,! BIG RACE =! T5-?\S&-DOLL> PRIZE 0
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