Saturday was a busy day at the office. They did not close early, but rather later than on other days, and Orissa found plenty of work to occupy her. But always there remained in her thoughts the problem of how to obtain money for Steve, and she racked her brain to find some practical solution.

Mr. Burthon was in a mellow¹ mood to-day. Since the sale of his mining stock he had been less abstracted and moody² than before, and during the afternoon, having just handed Orissa several deeds of land to copy, he noticed her pale, drawn³ face and said:

“You look tired, Miss Kane.”

She gave him one of her sweet, bright smiles in payment for the kindly⁴ tone.

“I am tired,” she returned. “For two mornings I have been up at four o’clock.”

“Anyone ill at home?” he asked quickly.

“No, sir.”

Suddenly it occurred to her that he might assist 72in unraveling the problem. She turned to him and said:

“Can you spare me a few minutes, Mr. Burthon? I—I want to ask your advice.”

He glanced at her curiously⁵ and sat down in a chair facing her.

“Tell me all about it,” he said encouragingly. “Not long ago it was I asking for advice, and you were good enough to favor me. Now it is logically your turn.”

“My brother,” said she, “has invented an airship.”

He gave a little start of surprise and an eager look spread over his face. Then he smiled at her tolerantly.

“All the world has gone crazy over aviation,” he remarked. “I, myself, witnessed the flights at Dominguez Field and became strongly impressed with the desire to fly. I suppose your brother contracted the fever, too, and has made a model he thinks will float in the air.”

“Oh, it is not a model,” she gravely replied. “Stephen is an expert mechanic and has worked on many of the most famous aëroplanes in the country. He has recently built a complete airship of his own, and this morning I watched him make a very successful flight in it.”

“Indeed?” he exclaimed, the eager look returning. 73“There is money in a good airship, Miss Kane. This is the psychological moment to forge ahead in aviation, which will soon become the world’s popular mode of

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