top and--watch it &tear^, as the college
boys say!"

"Sometimes--sometimes I'm inclined
to think it will never 'tear'; that another
than I will be the first to reach
the heavenly bodies." Toandoah sighed.
"For where are the funds coming from,
Pem, the little bonanza--fairy gold-mine--necessary
to gorge our Thunder Bird
for its record flight--fit it out for its
novel migration to the moon, eh?" The
inventor clasped his hands behind his
head, whistling ruefully. " Funds, child!
Already, it has pecked through the biggest
slice of mine!"

"Ah! but--ah! but--" the girl suddenly
flashed upon him a sky-blue wink--"ah!
but the third &nut^ hasn't been
cracked yet, remember, for the Bird to
peck at that. Isn't it in four weeks
from now--oh! in five--" the slight
figure swaying like the blue-eyed grass
upon its tall green stem, blown by a wild
breeze--"in five weeks from now that
[[11]]

p010 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p011w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p012

v?