“There’s another thing I neglected to mention,” Sudden drawled, blowing smoke with maddening placidity under the tirade.  “It’s none of my business how you hook up with that tramp flyer out there—­but you understand, of course, that flying machine is tied up in a hard knot by this note.  I couldn’t accept any division of interest in it, you know.  You have given it as security, affirming it to be your own property.  So whatever kind of deal you make with him or any one else, the flying machine must be kept clear.  Selling it or borrowing money on it—­anything of that kind would be a penal offence.  You probably understand this—­but if so, telling you can do no harm; and if you didn’t know it, it may prevent you from making a mistake.”

“I guess you needn’t lay awake nights over my going to the pen,” Johnny replied loftily.  “I believe our business is finished for the present—­so good day to you, Mr. Selmer.”

“Good day, Mr. Jewel.  I wish you good luck,” Sudden made formal reply, and watched Johnny’s stiff neck and arrogant shoulders with much secret amusement.  “Oh—­Mary V’s out on the front porch, I believe!”

Johnny turned and glared at him, and stalked off.  He had meant to find Mary V and tell her what had happened, and say good-by.  But old Sudden had spoiled all that.  A donkey engine would have stalled trying to pull Johnny around to the front porch, after that bald hint.

As it happened, Mary V was not taking any chances.  She was not on the front porch, but down at the airplane, snubbing Bland most unmercifully and waiting for Johnny.  When he appeared she was up in the front seat working the controls and pretending that she was speeding through the air while thousands gaped at her from below.

“I’m doing a make-believe nose dive, Skyrider,” she chirped down at him, looking over the edge through Johnny’s goggles, and hoping that he would accept her play as a tacit reconciliation, so that they could start all over again without any fussing.  No doubt dad had fixed things up with Johnny and everything would be perfectly all right.  “Look out below.”

“You better do a nose dive outa there,” Johnny told her with terrific bluntness.  “I’m in a hurry.  I want to make Tucson yet this afternoon.”

Mary V’s mouth fell open in sheer amazement.

“Johnny Jewel!  Do you mean to tell me you’re going to leave?  And I was just waiting a chance to ask you if you won’t give me a ride!  I’m just dying to fly, Johnny.”

Johnny looked at her.  He turned and looked back at the house.  He looked at the boys and at Bland.  He took a deep breath, like a man making ready to dive from some sheer height into very deep water.  “All right, stay where you are—­but leave those controls alone.  Want to show the boys a new stunt, Bland?  We’ll take Miss Selmer up, and you ride here on the wing.  You can lay down close to the fuselage and hang on to a brace.  They’ve been doubting your nerve, I hear.”  He climbed in, pulling off his cap for Mary V to wear.  “Reach down there on the right-hand side, Mary V, and get me those extra goggles.  All right—­come on, Bland, let’s show ’em something.”