human
Is this Tom Swift, the inventor of several airships?
gpt
Yes, I'm Tom Swift, was the reply.
human
Did you wish to see me?
gpt
I do. I'm Mr. James Gunmore, secretary of the Eagle Park Aviation Association. I had some correspondence with you about a prize contest we are going to hold. I believe--
human
Oh, yes, I remember now, and the young inventor smiled pleasantly as he opened wider the door of his home.
gpt
Won't you come in? My father will be glad to see you. He is as much interested in airships as I am.
human
I thought we could do better, and perhaps come to some decision more quickly, if I came to see you, than if we corresponded, went on Mr. Gunmore.
gpt
I hope I haven't disturbed you at any of your inventions,
human
No. I'm through for to-day, replied Tom.
gpt
I'm glad to see you. I thought at first it was my chum, Ned Newton. He generally runs over in the evening.
human
Our society, as I wrote you, Mr. Swift, is planning to hold a very large and important aviation meet at Eagle Park, which is a suburb of Westville, New York State. We expect to have all the prominent 'bird-men' there, to compete for prizes, and your name was mentioned. I wrote to you, as you doubtless recall, asking if you did not care to enter.
gpt
And I think I wrote you that my big aeroplane-dirigible, the Red Cloud, was destroyed in Alaska, during a recent trip we made to the caves of ice there, after gold,
human
Yes, you did, admitted Mr. Gunmore,
gpt
It's very kind of you to say so, remarked Tom,
human
Haven't you an aeroplane of any kind? I made this trip especially to get you to enter. Haven't you anything in which you could compete for the prizes? There are several to be offered, some for distance flights, some for altitude, and the largest, ten thousand dollars, for the speediest craft. Ten thousand dollars is the grand prize, to be awarded for the quickest flight on record.
gpt
I surely would like to try for that, said Tom,
human
No, agreed Mr. Gunmore.
gpt
I suppose not. Still, I do wish we could induce you to enter. I don't mind telling you that we consider you a drawing-card. Can't we induce you, some way?
human
I'm afraid not. I haven't any machine which--
gpt
Look here! exclaimed the secretary eagerly.
human
Why can't you build a special aeroplane to enter in the next meet? You'll have plenty of time, as it doesn't come off for three months yet. We are only making the preliminary arrangements. It is now June, and the meet is scheduled for early in September. Couldn't you build a new and speedy aeroplane in that time?