"I want to find an old tramp named Wandering d.i.c.k, before I go any farther."

"Does he know?"

"I'll not say another word except this: they'll never prove you a firebug, and old Talbot will be sorry for the day he stirred things up and started out to persecute an honest boy. Drat the varmint! I'll be afraid of him no longer, Andy, you are a good friend."

"I try to be, Mr. Chase."

"I'll prove that I am to you."

Chase refused to say another word. Andy curiously watched him stump around attending to his duties. The old fellow would scowl and mutter, and Andy believed he was mentally discussing Talbot. Then he would chuckle, and Andy decided he was thinking something pleasant about himself.

Chase appeared to have entire charge of the cell room. At five o'clock in the afternoon he let the other prisoners out in the corridor for exercise, and at six o'clock he gave them their supper in their cells.

Then he and Andy adjourned to the little room beyond the cells and had a hearty, appetizing meal.

Chase supplied Andy with some newspapers, and later they played a game of checkers. About nine o'clock a prisoner was brought in and locked up.

At ten o'clock, just as Andy was going to bed, the turnkey's ponderous key rattled at the barred door, and again his voice rang out:

"Andrew Nelson!"

"Wonder who wants me now?" said Andy.

"Somebody to see you in the sheriff's room," said the turnkey, "follow me."

Andy did so. As they entered the apartment indicated, a man with one arm in a sling advanced and grasped Andy's hand warmly.

"This is a blazing shame!" he burst out, "but I'll have you out of here if it takes all I've got and can beg or borrow."

It was Andy's employer, John Parks, the Airship King.

CHAPTER XVIII-OUT ON BAIL

Andy's heart warmed up and he felt that the tide was turning. Parks was an energetic, impulsive man, and generally put through what he started at. His hearty greeting showed what he thought of Andy and the charge against him.

"Is that the sheriff coming?" he demanded impatiently of the officer or guard at the door of the room.

"He'll be here soon," was the reply, "we have sent for him."

"Come over here, Andy," directed the aeronaut, leading the way to a corner of the apartment so the others could not overhear their conversation. "I want to talk with you. Now then," he continued, as they were seated by themselves, "tell me the whole story."

"I wish I had done it before," began Andy, and then he recited his experience with Talbot and the details of the barn burning.

"Guesswork and spitework, eh? The whole business," flared out Parks.

"They haven't a foot to stand on in court. I'll see that you have the right kind of a lawyer when the case comes to trial. All I am anxious about is to get you back to camp double quick. You know the race takes place day after to-morrow."

"Yes, I know it only too well," replied Andy; "I've worried enough about it."

"Here comes my man, I guess," interrupted Parks, as a portly consequential-looking person entered the room.

"I wanted to see you about this young man," explained Parks. "They've shut him up here on a false charge, and I want to get him out. He's a trusted employee of mine, and I need him badly in my business."

"You want to give bail, do you?" inquired the sheriff.

"Every dollar I've got, judge," responded the aeronaut with emphasis, "so long as he gets free."

"The bail is two thousand dollars, and I suppose you know the bondsman must qualify as a real estate owner in the county."

"I'm not that, judge," said Parks, "but I've got some money." He pulled out a roll of bills. "I've got nigh onto one thousand dollars personal property, and I'm going to earn the aviation prize down at Montrose day after to-morrow."

"Considerably up in the air, part of your schedule, eh?" remarked the sheriff, smiling, "I'm afraid we can't accept you as a bondsman.

Residence here as a real estate owner is absolutely necessary."

"Why, do you think I would leave you in the lurch or a boy like Andy sneak away. No sir-ree! You can trust me, Mr. Sheriff."

"I don't doubt that, but the law is very strict."

Parks paced the floor excitedly. He looked disappointed and bothered.

"I've got to do something-Andy has just got to be at the aviation meet day after to-morrow. I've got it! Say, suppose I could line up two thousand dollars through friends, in cash, mind you, couldn't I hire some man in Princeville to go on the bond?"

"It is very often done," acknowledged the sheriff.

"Then I'll do it. Andy, I'll be back here to-morrow. Mr. Sheriff, you can fix the papers for quick action. I'll raise that two thousand dollars if I have to mortgage everything I've got. I've got some friends and I own a farm out West."

"Just a word, Mr. Parks," said Andy.

"What is it, lad?" inquired the aeronaut.

"I wish you would get word to a lawyer at Greenville, a Mr. West, about something. He expected to see me yesterday, and I was arrested before I could get to him."

Andy explained about the advertis.e.m.e.nt and the lost pocketbook. Mr.

Parks was very much impressed and interested over his story.

"Why, Andy," he commented vigorously. "There's something strange about all this."

"There is probably something very important for the man who lost the pocketbook," said Andy. "I don't want the lawyer to think I fooled him."

"Can you find the pocketbook, Andy?"

"Unless it has been removed from the place where it was three weeks ago, I am sure that I can."

"H-m, this sets me thinking," observed Parks. "I'll see that the lawyer gets the message, Andy. I'll be back here to-morrow."

"Mr. Parks," said Andy seriously, "I don't think you had better try to raise the money. It will be harder than you think, and all this will take up your time and attention away from the airship race."