88 CHAPTER 19. A NERVY SPECIALIST
Chapter 20Just in TimeWhile Dr. Hendrix was in his office, getting ready to make the thrilling tripthrough the air with <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, the young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> spent a few minutes going over hism<strong>on</strong>oplane. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> w<strong>on</strong>derful little craft had made her first big flight in excellenttime, though <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> knew she could do better the farther she was flown. Nota stay had started, not a guy wire was loose. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> mot<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> had not overheated,<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> every bearing was as cool as though it had not taken part in thous<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s ofrevoluti<strong>on</strong>s.“Oh, I can depend <strong>on</strong> you!” murmured <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as he looked to see that thepropeller was tight <strong>on</strong> the shaft. He gave the bearing a slight adjustment tomake sure of it.He was at this when the specialist reappeared. Dr. Hendrix, after his firstshow of excitement, when he had made his decisi<strong>on</strong> to accompany <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, hadresumed his usual calm demean<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Once again he was the grave surge<strong>on</strong>, withhis mind <strong>on</strong> the case bef<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>e him.“Well, is my auto ready?” he asked absentmindedly. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>n, as he saw thelittle aeroplane, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> st<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>ing waiting beside it, he added: “Oh, I f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>gotf<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> the moment that I was to make a trip through the air, instead of in my car.Well, Mr. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Swift</str<strong>on</strong>g>, are we all ready?”“All ready,” replied the young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>. “We’re going to make fast time, Dr.Hendrix. You’d better put this <strong>on</strong>,” <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> extended a face protect<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>.“What’s it f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>?” <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> physician looked curiously at it.“To keep the air from cutting your cheeks <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> lips. We are going to travela hundred miles an hour this trip.”“A hundred miles an hour!” Dr. Hendrix spoke as though he would like toback out.“Maybe m<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>e, if I can manage it,” went <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, calmly, as he proceeded t<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>emove the bag of s<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> from the place where the surge<strong>on</strong> was to sit. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>n helooked to the various equilibrium arrangements <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>trol levers. He wasso cool about it, taking it all f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> granted, as if rising <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> flying through the airat a speed rivaling that of the fastest birds, was a matter of no moment, thatDr. Hendrix was impressed by the calm demean<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> of the young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>.89