"What do you mean?" inquired Fanning, beginning to listen with more attention than he had hitherto shown.
"Just this, that I'm Jukes Dade, who used to work for Mr. Prescott years ago, but he discharged me for--for--well for a little fault of drinking I had. Come now, don't you recognize me?"
"By George, I do," exclaimed Fanning; "but it was so many years ago you were with Mr. Prescott that I hardly knew you. You have changed greatly."
"I may have," was the reply in bitter tones. "I've been through enough. But there's one thing I ain't never forgotten in all these years, and that is my resolve to get even on old man Prescott."
"But he is dead," put in Fanning, wondering at the baleful expression of hatred that had come into the man's face.
"All true enough. I heard that some time ago. But if I can injure the son in any way, I'd like to do it. I've got a wrong to avenge, and if you want to pay well to have Roy Prescott put out of the race to-morrow I'm your man."
"Hush, don't talk so loud. Some folks over there are looking at us."
"No, no, that isn't it. I must prevent Roy winning that race to-morrow at all hazards. Come into my hangar and we can talk quietly."
"Ah, that's the talk," was the rejoinder, and Jukes Dade chuckled with grim delight. "You want a little job of work done to settle our friend's hash. Well, you've come to the right shop when you meet up with old Jukes Dade who has an axe of his own to grind."
In the meantime, Peggy and Roy, the former at the steering wheel and controls, were skimming through the air above the charming country surrounding Acatonick. The exhilaration of flying, the thrill and zest of it, were strong upon them as they glided along, and they made an extended flight.
"She is working like a three-hundred-dollar watch," cried Roy joyously as the speedy monoplane flew onward.
"She's a darling," was Peggy's enthusiastic response. "I'm sure that if nothing happens you'll win that race to-morrow, Roy."
"I hope so, little sister," was the response, "for there's a whole lot depending on it."
"But just think. If you only do we shall be at the end of our troubles."
"Not quite, sis," Roy reminded her, "that affair of the missing jewels is still a mystery, and as long as it stays so some folks will always be suspicious of me."