trophies. His final exploit was taking the place of an aviator who
had fainted away in his monoplane, and winning the race for Mr.
King's machine. Dave was now the proud possessor of a pilot's
license, and had fairly entered the professional field.

The thief who had stolen Mr. King's property from Dave, a graceless
youth named Gregg, was found, and the property recovered. He had
also got hold of some papers that belonged to Dave's father. Gregg
through these had obtained a trace of a Mr. Dale, a great friend of
the dead balloonist. He had made Mr. Dale believe he was the real
Dave Dashaway, until he was unmasked.

Another bad boy Dave had run across was named Jerry Dawson. From
the start in his career as an airman this youth had been an enemy.
Dave had succeeded him in the employ of Mr. King, Jerry having been
discharged in disgrace. Jerry tried to "get even," as he called it,
by trying to wreck Mr. King's monoplane, the Aegis. He also
betrayed Dave's whereabouts to his guardian. Because Dave was right
and Jerry wrong, there plots rebounded on the schemer and did Dave
no harm.

Jerry and his father were exposed. They still followed the various
meets, however, just as Mr. King and Dave and Hiram did, but they
were shunned by all reputable airmen.

After leaving the aero meet at Dayton the proud possessor of a
trophy as winner of a one hundred mile dash, Dave now found himself
and his friends on the aero, grounds at Columbus. This was a summer
resort located on Lake Michigan. A two weeks' programme had been
arranged, in which Dave was to give exhibitions for his employers of