human
What will you do, if, after you have your little monoplane all constructed, and get ready to race, you find that some one else has one exactly like it at the meet? asked Ned Newton one day, when he and Tom were out in the big workshop, talking things over.
gpt
What will you do, Tom?
human
I don't see that there is anything I can do. I'll go on to the meet, of course, and trust to some improvements I have since brought out, and to what I know about aeroplanes, to help me win the race. I'll know, too, who stole my plans.
gpt
But it will be too late, then.
human
Yes, too late, perhaps, to stop them from using the drawings, but not too late to punish them for the theft. It's a great mystery, and I'll be on the anxious seat all the while. But it can't be helped.
gpt
When are you going to start work on the sky racer?
human
Pretty soon, now. I've got another set of plans made, and I've fixed them so that if they are stolen it won't do any one any good.
gpt
How's that?
human
I've put in a whole lot of wrong figures and measurements, and scores of lines and curves that mean nothing. I have marked the right figures and lines by a secret mark, and when I work on them I'll use only the proper ones. But any one else wouldn't know this. Oh, I'll fool 'em this time!
gpt
I hope you do. Well, when you get the machine done I'd like to ride in it. Will it carry two, as your Butterfly does?
human
Yes, only it will be much different; and, of course, it will go much faster. I'll give you a ride, all right, Ned. Well, now I must get busy and see what material I need for what I hope will prove to be the speediest aeroplane in the world.
gpt
That's going some! I must be leaving now. Don't forget your promise. I saw Mary Nestor on my way over here. She was asking for you. She said you must be very busy, for she hadn't seen you in some time.
human
Um!