“If you’ve got time,” he said to Johnny, when he approached the group at the plane, “I’d like to have a little talk with you.  No hurry, though.  Glad to see you got back all right.  You had the whole country guessing for a while.”

Johnny scowled, for the subject was becoming extremely unpleasant.  “I’m sorry—­but I don’t see what I can do about it, unless I go off and smash things up to carry out the program as expected,” he retorted, and it did not occur to him that the words sounded particularly ungracious.  The thing was on his nerves so much that it seemed to him even Sudden was taunting him with the trouble he had caused.

“No, the show’s over now, and the audience has gone home.  No use playing to an empty house,” Sudden drawled.

Johnny looked at him quickly, suspiciously.  He had an overwhelming wish to know just exactly what Sudden meant.  He climbed down and took the ladder back to the shed near by.

“I’m ready for the talk, Mr. Selmer,” he said when he came back.  Whatever Sudden had in his mind, Johnny wanted it in plain speech.  A white line was showing around his mouth—­a line brought there by the feeling that his affairs had reached a crisis.  One way or the other his future would be decided in the next few minutes.

He followed Sudden to the house and into the office room fronting the corrals and yards.  Sudden sat down before his desk and Johnny took the chair opposite him, his spirits still weighted by the impending crisis.  He tried to read in Sudden’s face what attitude he might expect, but Sudden was wearing what his friends called his poker expression, which was no expression at all.  His very impassiveness warned and steadied Johnny.

CHAPTER NINE

GIVING THE COLT HIS HEAD

“You and Mary V are engaged to be married,” Sudden began abruptly.  “Have you any particular time set for it, or any plans made?”

Johnny faced him steadily and explained just what his plans were.  That Mary V had undoubtedly forestalled him in the telling made no difference to Johnny.  Since Sudden had asked him, he should have it straight from headquarters.  We all know what Johnny told him; we have heard him state his views on the subject.

“H-mm.  And how long do you expect it will take to pay me for the horses?”

Johnny hesitated before he plunged—­but when he did he went deep enough in all conscience.  “With any kind of luck I expect to be square with you in a year at the latest.”

“A year.  H-mm!  Will you sign a note for that three thousand, with interest at seven per cent., and give your flying machine as security?”

“I will, provided I can pay it any time within the year,” Johnny answered, trying to read the poker face and failing as many a man had failed.

Sudden nodded, pulled a book of note blanks from a drawer and calmly drew up a note for three thousand dollars, payable “on or before” one year from date, with interest at seven per cent. per annum, with a bill of sale of Johnny’s airplane attached and taking effect automatically upon default of payment of the note.