Opening it he read:
"Dear Ned: Good luck and good voyage. The roses are from my own
garden. Bring me a turquoise ring.
MARY HOPE."
It was from Alan's sister.
"Shall we do it, Alan?" he cried.
"Shall we?" answered Alan wringing his chum's hand. "We'll do it
or--"
"Is you all ready for dis?" asked the young chef suddenly appearing
with a smoking broiled steak. "It can't wait no longer."
And it did not have to.
An hour later the two happy boys sat on either side of the table in
the drawing room of their car.
"Are you getting nervous?" began Alan.
"About what?" asked Ned.
"Oh, about everything. The responsibility for this car and the
setting up of your balloon, and the trip itself."
"Are you?" exclaimed Ned.
"My, no, I'm not. But then I'm not the captain. But I thought you
might be."
"Aren't we getting along all right?"
"Perhaps too well," Alan answered.
"Never talk that way," interrupted Ned decisively. "Everything is
happening as it does because we planned it just that way. Things
can't go too well.
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