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Beginning Sensor Networks with XBee, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino, Second Edition: Sensing the World with Python and MicroPython Charles Bell download

The document is a guide to building sensor networks using XBee, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino, focusing on programming with Python and MicroPython. It covers the anatomy of sensor networks, types of sensor nodes, and practical projects for creating sensor nodes. The book is dedicated to healthcare professionals and aims to help readers learn about science and technology during challenging times.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
2 views

Beginning Sensor Networks with XBee, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino, Second Edition: Sensing the World with Python and MicroPython Charles Bell download

The document is a guide to building sensor networks using XBee, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino, focusing on programming with Python and MicroPython. It covers the anatomy of sensor networks, types of sensor nodes, and practical projects for creating sensor nodes. The book is dedicated to healthcare professionals and aims to help readers learn about science and technology during challenging times.

Uploaded by

slmanixuewu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TECHNOLOGY IN AC TION™

Beginning Sensor
Networks with
XBee, Raspberry Pi,
and Arduino
Sensing the World with Python
and MicroPython

Second Edition

Charles Bell

www.allitebooks.com
Beginning Sensor
Networks with XBee,
Raspberry Pi, and
Arduino
Sensing the World with Python
and MicroPython
Second Edition

Charles Bell

www.allitebooks.com
Beginning Sensor Networks with XBee, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino:
Sensing the World with Python and MicroPython

Charles Bell
Warsaw, VA, USA

ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4842-5795-1 ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4842-5796-8


https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5796-8

Copyright © 2020 by Charles Bell


This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole
or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical
way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation,
computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter
developed.
Trademarked names, logos, and images may appear in this book. Rather than use a
trademark symbol with every occurrence of a trademarked name, logo, or image we use the
names, logos, and images only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark
owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark.
The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms,
even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to
whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the
date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any
legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no
warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.
Managing Director, Apress Media LLC: Welmoed Spahr
Acquisitions Editor: Natalie Pao
Development Editor: James Markham
Coordinating Editor: Jessica Vakili
Distributed to the book trade worldwide by Springer Science+Business Media New York,
233 Spring Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Phone 1-800-SPRINGER, fax (201)
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978-1-4842-5795-1. For more detailed information, please visit http://www.apress.com/
source-code.
Printed on acid-free paper

www.allitebooks.com
I dedicate this book to the countless healthcare
professionals, first responders, and many unsung heroes of
this difficult time we face in the world during the COVID-19
crisis. It is my hope this book and others like it help the
millions of people pass the time during the crisis learning
more about science and technology.

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Table of Contents
About the Author��������������������������������������������������������������������������������xv

About the Technical Reviewer����������������������������������������������������������xvii


Acknowledgments�����������������������������������������������������������������������������xix
Introduction���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xxi

Chapter 1: Introduction to Sensor Networks����������������������������������������1


Anatomy of a Sensor Network������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
Examples of Sensor Networks�������������������������������������������������������������������������3
The Topology of a Sensor Network����������������������������������������������������������������12
Communication Media����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14
Wired Networks���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14
Wireless Networks�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15
Hybrid Networks��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15
Types of Sensor Nodes����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16
Basic Sensor Nodes���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16
Data Nodes����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16
Aggregator Nodes������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17
Sensors���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18
How Sensors Measure�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������20
Storing Sensor Data��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26
Examples of Sensors�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������27
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34

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Table of Contents

Chapter 2: Tiny Talking Modules: An Introduction to


XBee Wireless Modules����������������������������������������������������������������������35
What Is an XBee?������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������36
XBee Primer��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������37
Choosing XBee Modules��������������������������������������������������������������������������������38
Interacting with an XBee-ZB Module�������������������������������������������������������������42
Pin Layout������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46
Configuring Modules�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������48
Introducing MicroPython�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������67
An XBee Wireless Chat Room������������������������������������������������������������������������������72
Loading the Firmware for the Modules���������������������������������������������������������72
Capturing Serial Numbers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������77
Configuring the Coordinator��������������������������������������������������������������������������79
Configuring the Router����������������������������������������������������������������������������������80
Let the Chat Begin�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������80
For More Fun�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
Building an XBee-ZB Mesh Network�������������������������������������������������������������������84
Loading the Firmware for the Modules���������������������������������������������������������85
Configuring the XBee Modules����������������������������������������������������������������������85
Forming Test Messages���������������������������������������������������������������������������������86
Testing the Network��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������90
For More Fun�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������95
Component Shopping List�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������95
Troubleshooting Tips and Common Issues����������������������������������������������������������97
Things to Check���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������98
Common Issues���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������99
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������101

vi
Table of Contents

Chapter 3: Programming in MicroPython�����������������������������������������103


MicroPython Features and Limitations�������������������������������������������������������������105
MicroPython Features���������������������������������������������������������������������������������105
MicroPython Limitations������������������������������������������������������������������������������106
Basic Concepts�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������107
Code Blocks�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������108
Comments���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������110
Arithmetic����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������111
Output to Screen������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������112
Variables and Data Types����������������������������������������������������������������������������������114
Variables������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������114
Types�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������116
Basic Data Structures���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������118
Lists�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������118
Tuples����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������120
Dictionaries�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������121
Flow Control Statements�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������123
Conditional Statements�������������������������������������������������������������������������������123
Loops�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������125
Modularization: Modules, Functions, and Classes��������������������������������������������127
Including Modules���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������127
Functions�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������128
Classes and Objects������������������������������������������������������������������������������������130
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Terminology��������������������������������������134
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������141

vii
Table of Contents

Chapter 4: XBee-Based Sensor Nodes����������������������������������������������143


How to Host Sensors with XBee������������������������������������������������������������������������144
Building an XBee Environment Sensor��������������������������������������������������������������145
Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������146
XBee Hardware Option��������������������������������������������������������������������������������150
MicroPython Option�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������155
Example: Using XBee Modules to Gather Data��������������������������������������������������166
Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������168
Configuring the XBee Sensor Node�������������������������������������������������������������171
Programming the Sensor Node�������������������������������������������������������������������172
Testing the XBee Sensor Node��������������������������������������������������������������������186
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������188
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������191

Chapter 5: Raspberry Pi–Based Sensor Nodes���������������������������������193


What Is a Raspberry Pi?������������������������������������������������������������������������������������194
Noble Origins�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������196
Models���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������198
A Tour of the Board��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������200
Required Accessories����������������������������������������������������������������������������������202
Recommended Accessories������������������������������������������������������������������������203
Raspberry Pi Tutorial�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������207
Getting Started��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������207
Installing a Boot Image��������������������������������������������������������������������������������208
Booting Up���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������213
GPIO Pin Mapping����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������217
Required Software���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������221
Project: Hardware “Hello, World!”����������������������������������������������������������������223

viii
Table of Contents

Hosting Sensors with Raspberry Pi�������������������������������������������������������������������230


Project: Building a Raspberry Temperature Sensor Node���������������������������������232
Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������232
Testing the Hardware����������������������������������������������������������������������������������234
Software Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������236
Testing the Sensor���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������242
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������243
Project: Building a Raspberry Barometric Pressure Sensor Node��������������������243
Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������245
Testing the Hardware����������������������������������������������������������������������������������245
Software Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������246
Testing the Sensor���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������251
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������251
Project: Creating a Raspberry Pi Data Collector for XBee Sensor Nodes����������252
XBee Sensor Node���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������252
Hardware�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������254
Software������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������256
Testing the Final Project������������������������������������������������������������������������������264
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������265
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������266
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������268

Chapter 6: Arduino-Based Sensor Nodes�����������������������������������������269


What Is an Arduino?������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������269
Arduino Models��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������271
Arduino Clones��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������279
So, Which Do I Buy?�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������286
Where to Buy�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������287

ix
Table of Contents

Arduino Tutorial�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������288
Learning Resources�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������289
The Arduino IDE�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������290
Project: Hardware “Hello, World!”����������������������������������������������������������������294
Hosting Sensors with Arduino���������������������������������������������������������������������������300
Project: Building an Arduino Temperature Sensor���������������������������������������������302
Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������302
Software Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������304
Writing the Sketch���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������306
Test Execution���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������310
Project: Using an Arduino As a Data Collector for XBee Sensor Nodes�������������312
XBee Sensor Node���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������312
Coordinator Node�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������313
Arduino with XBee Shield����������������������������������������������������������������������������314
Testing the Final Project������������������������������������������������������������������������������326
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������328
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������328
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������331

Chapter 7: Methods for Storing Sensor Data������������������������������������333


Storage Methods�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������334
Local Storage Options for the Arduino��������������������������������������������������������������336
Nonvolatile Memory������������������������������������������������������������������������������������336
SD Card��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������337
Project: Saving Data in Nonvolatile Memory�����������������������������������������������338
Project: Writing Data to an SD Card�������������������������������������������������������������356

x
Table of Contents

Local Storage Options for the Raspberry Pi������������������������������������������������������372


Project: Writing Data to Files�����������������������������������������������������������������������373
Remote Storage Options�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������375
Storing Data in the Cloud�����������������������������������������������������������������������������377
Project: Writing Data to ThingSpeak with an Arduino����������������������������������386
Project: Writing Data to ThingSpeak with a Raspberry Pi����������������������������398
Storing Sensor Data in a Database��������������������������������������������������������������409
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������409
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������412

Chapter 8: Turning Your Raspberry Pi into a Database Server���������413


What Is MySQL?������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������414
Getting Started with MySQL������������������������������������������������������������������������������420
What’s a Relational Database Management System?���������������������������������420
How and Where MySQL Stores Data������������������������������������������������������������422
The MySQL Configuration File���������������������������������������������������������������������428
How to Start, Stop, and Restart MySQL�������������������������������������������������������429
Creating Users and Granting Access�����������������������������������������������������������430
Building a Raspberry Pi MySQL Server�������������������������������������������������������������432
Partitioning and Formatting the Drive���������������������������������������������������������433
Setting Up Automatic Drive Mounting���������������������������������������������������������437
Project: Installing MySQL Server on a Raspberry Pi������������������������������������441
Advanced Project: Using MySQL Replication to Back Up
Your Sensor Data�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������462
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������472
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������472

xi
Table of Contents

Chapter 9: MySQL and Arduino: United at Last!�������������������������������475


Introducing Connector/Arduino�������������������������������������������������������������������������476
Hardware Requirements������������������������������������������������������������������������������477
What About Memory?����������������������������������������������������������������������������������480
Installing MySQL Connector/Arduino�����������������������������������������������������������481
Limitations���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������482
Building Connector/Arduino-Enabled Sketches������������������������������������������������485
Database Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������485
Setting Up the Arduino���������������������������������������������������������������������������������488
Starting a New Sketch���������������������������������������������������������������������������������489
Testing the Sketch���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������496
What About the Ethernet Shield 2?��������������������������������������������������������������501
What About the WiFi Shield?�����������������������������������������������������������������������502
What About the WiFi 101 Shield?����������������������������������������������������������������503
Troubleshooting Connector/Arduino������������������������������������������������������������������504
MySQL Server Configuration�����������������������������������������������������������������������506
MySQL User Account Problems�������������������������������������������������������������������508
Networking Configuration����������������������������������������������������������������������������511
Connector Installation����������������������������������������������������������������������������������513
Others����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������514
None of These Solved My Problem—What Next?���������������������������������������515
A Tour of the MySQL Connector/ Arduino Code�������������������������������������������������516
Library Files�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������516
Field Structure���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������517
Public Methods��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������518
Example Uses����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������522

xii
Table of Contents

Project: Building a MySQL Arduino Client����������������������������������������������������������527


Hardware Setup�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������527
Software Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������529
Setting Up the Sensor Database������������������������������������������������������������������531
Writing the Code������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������531
Test Execution���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������538
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������540
Project Example: Inserting Data from Variables������������������������������������������������541
Project Example: How to Perform SELECT Queries�������������������������������������������544
Displaying a Result Set in the Serial Monitor����������������������������������������������545
Writing Your Own Display Method���������������������������������������������������������������546
Example: Getting a Lookup Value from the Database����������������������������������551
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������554
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������555

Chapter 10: Building Your Network: Arduino Wireless


Aggregator + Wireless Sensor Node + Raspberry Pi Server������������557
Data-Aggregate Nodes��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������558
Local-Storage Data Aggregator�������������������������������������������������������������������560
Project: Data-Aggregate Node with Local Storage��������������������������������������561
Remote-Storage Data Aggregator���������������������������������������������������������������594
Project: Arduino Data-Aggregate Node with Database Storage������������������595
Project: Raspberry Pi Data-Aggregate Node with Database Storage����������617
Component Shopping List���������������������������������������������������������������������������������635
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������638

xiii
Table of Contents

Chapter 11: Putting It All Together���������������������������������������������������639


Sensor Networks Best Practices�����������������������������������������������������������������������639
Considerations for Data-Aggregate Nodes��������������������������������������������������639
Considerations for Sensor Network Databases�������������������������������������������645
Other Considerations�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������653
Choosing Sensor Nodes������������������������������������������������������������������������������������659
Wired or Wireless?���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������660
Arduino or Raspberry Pi?�����������������������������������������������������������������������������661
Alternative Hosts�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������666
Project: Home Temperature-Monitoring Network���������������������������������������������673
Planning Considerations������������������������������������������������������������������������������674
Planning the Nodes�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������675
Cost Considerations�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������676
What About Implementation?����������������������������������������������������������������������679
Conclusion���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������679
For More Fun�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������680
Optional Component Shopping List�������������������������������������������������������������������680
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������681

Appendix�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������683
Consolidated Shopping Lists�����������������������������������������������������������������������������683
Alternative Connection Systems�����������������������������������������������������������������������691
Grove�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������691
Qwiic�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������695
STEMMA QT������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������700
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������701

Index�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������703

xiv
About the Author
Charles Bell conducts research in emerging
technologies. He is a principal software
developer of the Oracle MySQL Development
team. He lives in a small town in rural Virginia
with his loving wife. He received his Doctor
of Philosophy in Engineering from Virginia
Commonwealth University in 2005.
Dr. Bell is an expert in the database field
and has extensive knowledge and experience in
software development and systems engineering.
His research interests include microcontrollers, three-dimensional printing,
database systems, software engineering, and sensor networks. He spends his
limited free time as a practicing maker focusing on microcontroller projects
and refinement of three-dimensional printers.

xv
Another Random Scribd Document
with Unrelated Content
CHAPTER II

A DISCIPLE OF AVIATION

The Kanes had come to California some three years previous


because of Mr. Kane’s impaired health. He had been the manager of
an important manufacturing company in the East, on a large salary
for many years, and his family had lived royally and his children
been given the best education that money could procure. Orissa
attended a famous girls’ school and Stephen went to college. But
suddenly the father’s health broke and his physicians offered no
hope for his life unless he at once migrated to a sunny clime where
he might be always in the open air. He came to California and
invested all his savings—not a great deal—in the orange ranch.
Three months later he died, leaving his blind wife and two children
without any financial resources except what might be gleaned from
the ranch. Fortunately the boy, Stephen, had just finished his
engineering course at Cornell and was equipped—theoretically, at
least—to begin a career with one of the best paying professions
known to modern times. Mechanical to his finger tips, Stephen Kane
had eagerly absorbed every bit of information placed before him and
had been graduated so well that a fine position was offered him in
New York, with opportunity for rapid advancement.
Mr. Kane’s death prevented the young man from accepting this
desirable offer. He was obliged to go to Los Angeles to care for his
mother and sister. It was a difficult situation for an inexperienced
boy to face, but he attacked the problem with the same manly
courage that had enabled him to conquer Euclid and Calculus at
school, and in the end arranged his father’s affairs fairly well.
The oranges from the ranch would give them a net income of
about two thousand dollars a year, which was far from meaning
poverty, although much less than the family expenditures had
previously been. There were other fruits on the place, an ample
vegetable garden and a flock of chickens, so the Kanes believed they
would live very comfortably on their income. In addition to this,
Steve could earn a salary as a mechanical engineer, or at least he
believed he could.
He found, however, after many unsuccessful attempts, that his
professional field was amply covered by experienced men, and as a
temporary makeshift he was finally driven to accept a position in an
automobile repair shop.
“It’s an awful comedown, Ris,” he said to Orissa, his confidant,
“but I can’t afford to loaf any longer, you know, and the pay is
almost as much as a young engineer gets to start with. So I’ll tackle
it and keep my eye open for something better.”
While Stephen was employed in this repair shop a famous aviator
named Willard came to town with his aëroplane and met with an
accident that badly disabled his machine. Although aviators have
marked Southern California as their chosen field from the beginning,
because one may fly there all winter, there was not a place in the
city where a specialty was made of repairing airships. Naturally Mr.
Willard sought an automobile repair shop as the one place most
liable to supply his needs.
The manager shook his head.
“We know nothing about biplanes,” he confessed.
“Pardon me, sir,” said Stephen Kane, who was present, “I know
something about airships, and I am sure I can repair Mr. Willard’s, if
you will take the job.”
The aviator turned to him gratefully.
“Thank you,” he said; “I’ll put my machine in your hands. What
experience have you had with biplanes of this type?”
“None at all,” was the answer; “but I am sure you will not find an
experienced airship man in this city. I’ve studied the devices, though,
ever since Montgomery made his first flights, and as we have all the
requisite tools and machinery here I am sure, with your assistance
and direction, I can readily put your machine into perfect condition.”
He did, performing the work excellently. Before long another
biplane needed repairs, and Stephen was recommended by Mr.
Willard. Later a Curtiss machine came under Steve’s hands, and then
an Antoinette monoplane. The manager raised the young fellow’s
salary, proud that he had a man competent to repair these new-
fangled inventions which were creating such a stir throughout the
country.
Stephen Kane might have continued to follow the calling of an
expert aëroplane doctor with marked success, had he been an
ordinary young mechanic. But the air castles he had built at college
were not all dissipated, as yet, and aside from possessing decided
talent as a workman Steve had an inventive genius that promised
great things for his future. By the time he had taken a half dozen
different aëroplanes apart and repaired them he had a thorough
knowledge of their construction and requirements, and the best of
them seemed to him wholly inadequate for the purpose for which
they were planned.
“The fact is, Ris,” he said to Orissa one evening, after he had been
poring over a book on air currents, “the airships of to-day are all
experimental, and chock full of mistakes. No two are anywhere near
alike, and each man thinks he has the only correct mechanism.”
“But they fly,” answered the girl, who was keenly interested in the
subject of aviation and had twice been down to the shop to examine
the aëroplanes Steve was repairing.
“So they do; they fly, after a fashion,” admitted the young man,
“which fully proves the thing can be accomplished. But present
machines are all too complicated, and the planes seem to have been
shaped by guesswork, rather than common sense. They fuss with
motors and propellers and ignore the sustaining mechanism, which
is the most vital principle of all. Some day we shall see the sky full of
successful aviators, and flying will be as common as automobiling
now is; but when that time comes we shall laugh at the crude
devices they brag of to-day.”
“That may be true,” returned the girl, thoughtfully; “but isn’t it
true of every great invention, that the first models are imperfect?”
“Quite true,” said he. “I can make a better biplane than any I have
seen, but I admit that had I not had the advantage of seeing any I
might have blundered as all the rest seem to have done.”
“Why don’t you make one, Steve?” asked Orissa impulsively. “If
aviation is going to become general the man who builds the best
aëroplane will make his fortune.”
Steve flushed and rose to tramp up and down the room before he
answered. Then he stopped before his sister and said in low, intense
accents:
“I long to make one, Orissa! The idea has taken possession of my
thoughts until it has almost driven me crazy. I can make a machine
that will fly better and be more safe and practical than either the
Wright or Curtiss machines. But the thing is impossible. I—I haven’t
the money.”
Orissa sat staring at the rug for a long time. Finally she asked:
“How much money would it take, Steve?”
He hesitated.
“I don’t know. I’ve never figured it out. What’s the use?”
“There is use in everything,” declared his sister, calmly. “Get to
work and figure. Find out how much you need, and then we’ll see if
we can manage it.”
He gazed at her as if bewildered. Then he turned and left the
room without a word.
A few evenings later he handed her an estimate.
“I think it could be done for three thousand dollars,” he remarked.
“Which means, of course, it can’t be done at all.”
Orissa took the paper without replying and pondered over it for
several days. She was only seventeen, but had inherited her father’s
clear, business-grasping mind, and would have been an essentially
practical girl had not her youth and inexperience lent her some
illusions that time would dissipate.
Stephen posed as the “head of the family;” but Orissa really
directed its finances, poor Mrs. Kane being so helpless that her
children never depended upon her for counsel but on the contrary
kept all business matters from her, lest she worry over them. The
one maid employed in the bungalow served Mrs. Kane almost
exclusively, while Orissa always had devoted much time to her
mother, who had been stricken blind at the time of her daughter’s
birth.
One evening, when brother and sister were in the garden
together, the girl said:
“I believe I have discovered a plan that will permit you to build
your airship. What is it to be, Steve; a biplane or a monoplane?”
“Let me hear your plan,” was the eager reply.
“Well, I’ve been to see Mr. Wentworth, and he will advance us
fifteen hundred on our orange crop, by discounting the price ten per
cent. He came and looked at the trees and said they were safe to
pay us at least twenty-three hundred dollars next February.”
“But—Orissa!—how could we live, with our income cut down that
way—to a mere seven or eight hundred dollars?”
“I’m going to work,” she said quietly. “I’m tired of doing nothing
but dig around the garden and cook. Mamma doesn’t need me, at
least during the day, so I’m going into business.”
Steve smiled.
“You work, Orissa? What on earth could you do?”
“I’ll find something to do. And my salary, added to yours, will
make up for the loss of the orange money. We must economize, of
course; but when we’ve such a big deal on hand—one that will make
our fortune—we can put up with a few temporary discomforts.”
“But fifteen hundred won’t build the thing, that is certain,” he said,
with a sigh. “I’ve got to construct an entirely new motor—engine
and all—and some original propellers and elevators, and the patterns
and castings for these will be rather expensive.”
“Well, by the time the fifteen hundred are gone,” she replied, “you
will know exactly how much more money is needed, and we will
mortgage the place for that amount.”
“Rubbish!” cried Stephen, impatiently. “I won’t listen an instant to
such a wild plan. Suppose I fail?”
“Oh, if you’re going to fail we won’t undertake it,” said his sister.
“You claimed you could make a better airship than the Curtiss or the
Wright—either one of which is worth a fortune—and I believed you.
If you were only joking, Steve, we won’t talk of it any more.”
“I wasn’t joking; or bragging, either; you know that, Orissa. I’m
pretty sure of my idea; but it’s untried. I’ve bought all the books on
aviation I can find and I’ve been reading of Professor Montgomery’s
discovery of the laws of air currents and his theories concerning
them. They’re only primers, dear, for the science of aviation is as yet
unwritten. That is why I cannot speak with perfect assurance; but
the more I look into the thing the more positive I am that I’ve hit
upon the right idea of aërial navigation.”
“What is your idea?” she asked.
“To simplify the construction of the craft. The present devices are
all too complicated and keep the aviator too busy while he’s in the
air.”
“In other words, he’s all up in the air while he’s up in the air,” she
remarked.
“Precisely. Most of his time is required to maintain a lateral
balance, so as not to tip over or lose control. I’m to have a simpler
construction, an automatic balance, and a plane only large enough
to support the machinery and the aviator.”
“If you can manage that,” said Orissa, “we’re not taking any
chances.”
He sat with furrowed brow, thinking deeply. Finally he said in a
decisive way:
“Nothing is certain until it is accomplished. I won’t take the risk of
making you and mother paupers. Please don’t speak of the thing
again, Ris.”
Orissa didn’t; but Steve did, about a month later. A great aviation
meet had been arranged at Dominguez Field, near Los Angeles and
only a few miles from their own home. The event, which was
destined to be an epoch in the history of aviation, brought many
famous aviators to the city with their machines, among them a
Frenchman named Paulhan, with whom Stephen soon became
acquainted. An examination of Paulhan’s machine, a Farman of the
latest type, which had already performed marvels, served to
convince the boy that his own ideas were not only practical but
destined soon to be discovered and applied by someone else if he
himself failed to take advantage of the time and opportunity to
utilize them. With that argument to calm any misgivings that he
might perhaps fail, coupled with an eagerness to build his invention
that drove him to forsake caution, Steve went to Orissa one day and
said:
“All right, dear; I’m going to undertake the thing. Can you still get
Mr. Wentworth to advance the money?”
“I think so,” she replied.
“Then get it, and I’ll start work at once. The drawings are already
complete,” and he showed them to her, neatly traced in
comprehensive detail.
Most girls would have been bewildered by the technicalities and
passed the drawings with a glance; but Orissa understood how
important to them all this venture was destined to be, so she sat
down and studied the designs minutely, making her brother explain
anything she found the least puzzling. By this time the girl had made
herself familiar with the latest modern improvements in aëroplanes
and had personally examined several of the best devices, so she was
able to catch the true value of Stephen’s idea and immediately
became as enthusiastic as he was.
The money was raised and placed by Stephen in a bank where he
could draw upon it as he needed it. Mrs. Kane concurred mildly in
the plans when they were explained to her, being accustomed to
lean upon Orissa and Stephen and to accept their judgment without
protest. Aviation was all Greek to the poor woman and she did not
bother her head trying to understand why people wanted to fly, or
how they might accomplish their desire.
CHAPTER III

THE KANE AIRCRAFT

Stephen set up his workshop at home, devoting his evenings to


the new aëroplane. Progress was necessarily slow, as four or five
hours out of each twenty-four were all he could devote to his
enterprise.
The boy was still employed in this manner when the Aviation Meet
was held at Dominguez Field and Paulhan accomplished the
wonderful flights that made him world famous. Of course, Orissa and
Stephen were present and did not miss a single event. On the grand
stand beside them sat a young fellow Stephen had often met at the
automobile shop, a chauffeur named Arch Hoxsey. It was the first
time Hoxsey had ever seen an aëroplane, and neither he nor
Stephen could guess that within one year this novice would become
the greatest aviator in all the world. These are days when, comet-
like, a heretofore unknown aviator appears, accomplishes marvels
and disappears, eclipsed by some new master of the art of flying. It
is the same way with aëroplanes; the leading one to-day is within a
brief period destined to be surpassed by a greatly improved
machine.
The enthusiasm of the Kanes rose to fever heat in witnessing this
exhibition, at the time the most remarkable ever held in the annals
of aviation. Afterward they counseled together very seriously and
agreed that it would be better for Steve to resign his position at the
shop and devote his whole time to his aëroplane, in which he had
now more confidence than ever.
He applied for patents on his various devices and the complete
machine, being fearful that someone else might adopt his ideas
before he could finish his first aëroplane; yet at the same time he
observed the utmost secrecy as to the work on which he was
engaged and admitted no person except Orissa to the garden, where
he had set up his hangar and shop.
The girl had been for some time persistently seeking employment,
for now that Steve had ceased to be a breadwinner it was more
important than ever for her to earn money. By good fortune she was
engaged by Mr. Burthon as his secretary the very week following her
brother’s retirement.
Steve’s expenses were growing greater, however, and Orissa
began figuring on “ways and means.” Their life in this retired place
was so simple that she believed her mother could do without the
maid and questioned her on the subject. Mrs. Kane declared she
preferred to be alone, if Orissa felt she could prepare the breakfasts
and dinners unaided. Luncheons at home were very plain affairs and
Steve readily agreed to come into the house at noon and get a bite
for himself and his mother. So the maid was dismissed and a
considerable expense eliminated.
During the summer construction of the airship progressed more
rapidly and, after the motors were completed and tested and found
to be nearly perfect, Steve began to model the planes and perfect
his automatic balance.
It was hard work sometimes for Orissa to sit in the office and keep
her mind on her work when she knew her brother was completing or
testing some important detail of the aëroplane, but she held herself
in rigid restraint and succeeded in giving satisfaction to her
employer.
On the August afternoon on which our story opens Stephen Kane
was to begin the final assembling of the parts of his machine, after
which he could test it in real flight. He needed Orissa’s assistance to
help him handle some of the huge ribbed planes, and so she had
promised to come home early.
It was not long before she entered the hangar, arrayed in her old
gingham, which allowed her to move freely. The two became so
interested that Mrs. Kane almost missed her dinner in spite of the
girl’s promise; but Orissa did manage to tear herself away from the
fascinating task long enough to prepare the meal and serve it. Steve
came in and tried to eat, for he was at a point where he could do
nothing without his sister’s help; but neither of them was able to
swallow more than a morsel, and as quickly as possible hurried back
to their work.
Mrs. Kane, although totally blind, knew her way about the house
perfectly and was able to take care of herself in nearly all ways; so
when bedtime came she abandoned her monotonous knitting,
played a few pieces on the pianoforte—one of her few amusements
—and then calmly retired for the night. She never worried over the
“children,” believing they were competent to care for themselves.
It was long past midnight before Steve got to a point where he
could continue without Orissa. “In about three days more,” he said,
as they washed up and prepared to adjourn to the house, “I will be
able to make my first flight. Shall we wait till Sunday, Ris, or will you
take a day off?”
“Oh, not Sunday,” she replied. However eager her brother might
be she had never yet allowed him to work a moment on a Sunday,
and Steve deferred to her wishes in this regard. “We’re pretty busy
at the office and Mr. Burthon was inclined to be a little cranky to-
day; but I’ll manage it somehow, just as soon as you are ready.”
“What sort of a fellow is Burthon?” asked her brother, somewhat
curiously.
“Why, he stands well in the business world, I’m told, and is very
successful in handling large tracts of real estate,” she replied. “Also,
he seems a gentleman by birth and breeding, yet a queerer man I
never met. His chief peculiarity is in being very absent-minded, but
he does other odd things. Yesterday he refused to sell a piece of
land to a customer because he did not like him, and he told the man
so with rude frankness. One day I discovered he had cheated
another man out of six hundred dollars. I called his attention to what
I described as a ‘mistake,’ and he said he robbed the man on
purpose, because he had been snobbish and overbearing. He gave
the six hundred dollars to a poor woman to build her a house with,
saying to me that he had once committed a serious crime for which
this was in part penance, and soon after he platted a lot of swamp
land down near San Pedro and advertised it as ‘desirable residence
property.’ Really, Steve, I can’t quite make out Mr. Burthon.”
“He seems to have good and bad points, from what you say,”
observed her brother, “and I judge the two qualities are about
evenly mixed. Is he nice to you, Ris?”
“He is always polite and respectful, but most of the time he
doesn’t know I’m in existence. When he gets one of his absorbed fits
his eyes look right through me, as if I wasn’t there.”
“Perhaps he is thinking out some big schemes. Is he a rich man?”
“He is said to be quite wealthy. But he is an old bachelor, and the
girl across the hall says he lives at a club, goes to the theater every
night and drinks more than is good for him. I hardly believe that
last, Steve, for Mr. Burthon doesn’t look a bit like a drinking man.”
“Perhaps he’s a morphine fiend. That would make him absent-
minded, you know.”
“No; when he’s aroused his head is clear as a bell and he drives a
shrewd bargain. Do you know, Steve, I’m inclined to think that
speech of his was in earnest, although he laughed harshly at the
time, and that—that—”
“That what?”
“That at some time or other he has committed some crime that
worries him.”
CHAPTER IV

MR. BURTHON IS CONFIDENTIAL

Orissa was tired next day and she blundered several times in
copying deeds and attending to the routine of the private office,
where she alone was closeted with the proprietor. But Mr. Burthon
would not have noticed had she set fire to the place, so intent was
he upon a bundle of papers he had brought in with him and to which
he devoted his exclusive attention.
The girl left him at his desk when she went to lunch and found
him there, still occupied with the papers, when she returned. Several
people wanted to see him personally, but he told Orissa to state he
was engaged and could admit no one. She gave the message to the
young man in charge of the outer office, where several clerks were
employed, and they knew better than to allow anyone to invade Mr.
Burthon’s private sanctum.
At about three o’clock, while she was busy at her desk, the
secretary heard her name spoken and looked up. From his chair Mr.
Burthon was eyeing her observantly. His gaze was clear and
intelligent; the abstracted mood had passed.
“Come here, please, Miss Kane,” he said.
She brought her writing pad and sat down beside his desk, as she
did when he dictated his letters; but he shook his head.
“We’ll not mind the mail to-day,” he said. “I want to talk with you;
to advise with you. Queerly enough, Miss Kane, there isn’t a soul on
earth in whom I can confide when occasion arises. In other words, I
haven’t an intimate friend I can trust, or one who is sincerely
interested in me.”
That embarrassed Orissa a little. Since she had been working at
the office this was the first time he had addressed a remark to her
not connected with the business. Indeed, the man was now
regarding her much as he would a curiosity, as if he had just
discovered her. She was amazed to hear him speak so confidentially
and made no reply because she had nothing to say.
After a pause he continued:
“You haven’t much business experience, my child, but you have a
keen intellect and decided opinions.” Orissa wondered how he knew
that. “Therefore I am going to ask your advice in a matter where
business is blended with sentiment. Will you be good enough to give
me your candid opinion?”
“If you wish me to, sir,” she said, after some hesitation.
“Thank you, Miss Kane. The case is this: With four others I
purchased some time ago a gold mine in Arizona known as the
‘Queen of Hearts.’ It cost me about all I am worth—some two
hundred thousand dollars.”
Orissa gasped. It seemed an enormous sum. But he continued,
speaking calmly and clearly:
“I thought at the time the mine was surely worth a million. I went
to see it and found the ore exceedingly rich. The others, who
purchased the Queen of Hearts with me, were equally deceived, for
just recently we have discovered that the rich vein was either very
narrow or was placed there by those we purchased from, with the
intention of defrauding us. In either case, please understand that
the mine is not worth a cotton hat. We are a stock company, and our
stock is listed on the exchange and commands a high premium, for
no one except the owners knows the truth about it. The general idea
is that the mine is still producing largely—and it is—for, to protect
ourselves until we can unload it on to others, we have secretly
purchased rich ore elsewhere, dumped it into the mine, and then
taken it out again.”
He paused, drumming absently on the desk with his fingers, and
Orissa asked:
“What is the object of that deception, sir?”
“To maintain the public delusion until we can sell out. And now I
come to the point of my story, Miss Kane. Gold mines, even as rich
as the Queen of Hearts is reputed to be, are not easy to sell. I have
exhausted all my resources in keeping up this deception and the
time has come when I must sell or become bankrupt. The other
stockholders have smaller interests and are wealthier men, but each
one is striving hard to secure a customer. I have found one.”
He looked up and smiled at her; then he frowned.
“The man is my brother-in-law,” he added.
Orissa was getting nervous, but waited for him to continue.
“This brother-in-law is a man I detest. He married my only sister
and did not treat her well. He is a notorious gambler and confidence
man, although perhaps he would not admit that is his profession. At
all events he had the assurance to sneer at me and abuse my sister,
and I was powerless at the time to interfere. Fortunately the poor
woman died several years ago. Since then I have not seen much of
Cumberford, for he lives in the East. He came out here last month
on some small business matter and has gone crazy over the Queen
of Hearts mine. He hunted me up and asked if I’d sell part of my
stock. I told him I would sell all or none. So he has been getting his
money together and has raised two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars—the sum I demanded.”
Orissa was looking at him wonderingly. The story seemed
incredible. Perhaps Mr. Burthon saw the dismay and reproach in her
eyes, for he asked:
“What do you think of this deal, Miss Kane? Am I not fortunate?”
“But—would you really sell a worthless property to this man—your
own brother-in-law—and—and steal a fortune from him?” she
inquired.
The man flushed and shifted uneasily in his seat.
“He abused my sister,” he said, as if defending himself.
“The property is worthless,” she persisted.
“He can hustle around and sell it again, as I am doing.”
“Suppose he fails? Suppose he refuses to do such a wicked thing?”
Mr. Burthon stared at her a moment. Then he laughed harshly.
“Cumberford would delight in such a ‘wicked’ game,” he replied.
“And, if he failed to sell, the scoundrel would be ruined, for I believe
this two hundred and fifty thousand is about all he’s worth.”
“It’s dreadful!” exclaimed the girl, really shocked.
“It is done every day in a business way,” he rejoined.
“Then why did you ask my advice?” demanded the girl, quickly.
Before answering he waited to drum on the desk with his fingers
again.
“Because,” said he, speaking slowly, “I dislike this man so
passionately that I have wondered if the hatred blinds my judgment.
He may be dangerous, too, yet I think he is too much of a fool to be
able to injure me in retaliation. I don’t know him very well. I’ve not
seen him before for years.” He paused, taking note of the horror
spreading over the girl’s face. Then he smiled and added in a gentler
voice: “Perhaps my chief reason, however, for seeking your advice is
that I find I have still a conscience. Yes, yes; a troublesome
conscience. I have been suppressing it for years, yet like Banquo’s
ghost it will not down. My business judgment determines me to
unload this worthless stock and save myself from the loss of my
entire fortune. I must do it. It is like a man taking unawares a
counterfeit coin, and then, discovering it is spurious, passing it on to
some innocent victim. You might do that yourself, Miss Kane.”
“I do not believe I would.”
“Well, most people would, and think it no crime. In this case I’m
merely passing a counterfeit, that I received innocently, on to
another innocent. If the fact is ever known my business friends will
applaud me. But that obstinate conscience of mine keeps asking the
question: ‘Is it safe?’ It asserts that I am filled with glee because I
am selling to a man I hate—a man who has indirectly injured me. I
am to get revenge as well as save my money. Safe? Of course it’s
safe. Yet my—er—conscience—the still small voice—keeps digging at
me to be careful. It doesn’t seem to like the idea of dealing with
Cumberford, and has been annoying me for several days. So I
thought I would put the case to a young, pure-minded girl who has
a clear head and is honest. I imagined you would tell me to go
ahead. Then I could afford to laugh at cautious Mr. Conscience.”
“No,” said Orissa, gravely, “the conscience is right. But you
misunderstand its warning. It doesn’t mean that the act is not safe
from a worldly point of view, but from a moral standpoint. You could
not respect yourself, Mr. Burthon, if you did this thing.”
He sighed and turned to his papers. Orissa hesitated. Then,
impulsively, she asked:
“You won’t do it, sir; will you?”
“Yes, Miss Kane; I think I shall.”
His tone had changed. It was now hard and cold.
“Mr. Cumberford will call here to-morrow morning at nine, to
consummate the deal,” he continued. “See that we are not
disturbed, Miss Kane.”
“But, sir—”
He turned upon her almost fiercely, but at sight of her distressed,
downcast face a kindlier look came to his eyes.
“Remember that the alternative would be ruin,” he said gently. “I
would be obliged to give up my business—these offices—and begin
life anew. You would lose your position, and—”
“Oh, I won’t mind that!” she exclaimed.
“Don’t you care for it, then?”
“Yes; for I need the money I earn. But to do right will not ruin
either of us, sir.”
“Perhaps not; but I’m not going to do right—as you see it. I shall
follow my business judgment.”
Orissa was indignant.
“I shall save you from yourself, then,” she cried, standing before
him like an accusing angel. “I warn you now, Mr. Burthon, that when
Mr. Cumberford calls I shall tell him the truth about your mine, and
then he will not buy it.”
He looked at her curiously, reflectively, for a long time, as if he
beheld for the first time some rare and admirable thing. The man
was not angered. He seemed not even annoyed by her threat. But
after that period of disconcerting study he turned again to his desk.
“Thank you, Miss Kane. That is all.”
She went back to her post, trembling nervously from the
excitement of the interview, and tried to put her mind on her work.
Mr. Burthon was wholly unemotional and seemed to have forgotten
her presence. But, a half hour later, when he thrust the papers into
his pocket, locked his desk and took his hat to go, he paused beside
his secretary, gazed earnestly into her face a moment and then
abruptly turned away.
“Good night, Miss Kane,” he said, and his voice seemed to dwell
tenderly on her name.
CHAPTER V

BETWEEN MAN AND MAN—AND A GIRL

That night Orissa confided the whole story to Steve. Her brother
listened thoughtfully and then inquired:
“Will you really warn Mr. Cumberford, Ris?”
“I—I ought to,” she faltered.
“Then do,” he returned. “To my notion Burthon is playing a mean
trick on the fellow, and no good business man would either applaud
or respect him for it. Your employer is shifty, Orissa; I’m sure of it; if
I were you I’d put a stop to his game no matter what came of it.”
“Very well, Steve; I’ll do it. But I don’t believe Mr. Burthon means
to be a bad man. His plea about his conscience proves that. But—
but—”
“It’s worse for a man to realize he’s doing wrong, and then do it,
than if he were too hardened to have any conscience at all,”
asserted Steve oracularly.
“And if I let him do this wrong act I would be as guilty as he,” she
added.
“That’s true, Ris. You’ll lose your job, sure enough, but there will
be another somewhere just as good.”
So, when Mr. Burthon’s secretary went to the office next morning
she was keyed up to do the most heroic deed that had ever come to
her hand. Whatever the consequences might be, the girl was
determined to waylay Mr. Cumberford when he arrived and tell him
the truth about the Queen of Hearts.
But he did not come to the office at nine o’clock. Neither had Mr.
Burthon arrived at that time. Orissa, her heart beating with
trepidation but strong in resolve, watched the clock nearing the hour,
passing it, and steadily ticking on in the silence of the office. The
outer room was busy this morning, and in the broker’s absence his
secretary was called upon to perform many minor tasks; but her
mind was more upon the clock than upon her work.
Ten o’clock came. Eleven. At half past eleven the door swung open
and Mr. Burthon ushered in a strange gentleman whom Orissa at
once decided was Mr. Cumberford. He was extremely tall and thin
and stooped somewhat as he walked. He had a long, grizzled
mustache, wore gold-rimmed eyeglasses and carried a gold-headed
cane. From his patent leather shoes to his chamois gloves he was as
neat and sleek as if about to attend a reception.
Observing the presence of a young lady the stranger at once
removed his hat, showing his head to be perfectly bald.
“Sit down, Cumberford,” said Mr. Burthon, carelessly.
As he obeyed, Orissa, her face flaming red, advanced to a position
before him and exclaimed in a pleading voice:
“Oh, sir, do not buy Mr. Burthon’s mine, I beg of you!”
The man stared at her with faded gray eyes which were enlarged
by the lenses of his spectacles. Mr. Burthon smiled, seemed
interested, and watched the scene with evident amusement.
“Why not, my child?” asked Mr. Cumberford.
“Because it is worthless—absolutely worthless!” she declared.
He turned to the other man.
“Eh, Burthon?” he muttered, inquiringly.
“Miss Kane believes she is speaking the truth,” said the broker
jauntily.
“Oh, she does. And you, Burthon?”
“I? Why, I’m of the same opinion.”
Mr. Cumberford took out his handkerchief, removed his glasses
and polished the lenses with a thoughtful air. Orissa was trembling
with nervousness.
“Don’t buy the Queen of Hearts, sir; it would ruin you,” she
repeated earnestly.
He breathed upon the glasses and wiped them carefully.
“You interest me,” he remarked. “But, the fact is, I—er—I’ve
bought it.”
“Already!”
“At nine o’clock, according to agreement. Burthon sent word he’d
come to my hotel instead of meeting me at his office, as first
planned.”
“Oh, I see!” cried Orissa, much disappointed. “He knew I would
prevent the crime.”
“Crime, miss?”
“Is it not a crime to rob you of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars?”
“It would be, of course. I should dislike to lose so much money.”
“You have lost it!” declared the girl. “That mine has no gold in it at
all—except what has been bought elsewhere and placed in it to
deceive a purchaser.”
Mr. Cumberford replaced his glasses, adjusting them carefully
upon his nose. Then he stared at Orissa again.
“You’re an honest young woman,” he said calmly. “I’m much
obliged. You interest me. But—ahem!—Burthon has my money, you
see.”
Mr. Burthon’s expression had changed. He was now regarding his
brother-in-law with a curious and puzzled gaze.
“You’re not angry, Cumberford?” he asked.
“No, Burthon.”
“You’re not even annoyed, I take it?” This with something of a
sneer.
“No, Burthon.”
Both Orissa and her employer were amazed. Looking from one to
another, Mr. Cumberford’s waxen features relaxed into a smile.
“I’ve placed my Queen of Hearts stock in a safety deposit vault,”
he remarked blandly.
“I have deposited your money in my bank,” retorted Mr. Burthon,
triumphantly.
“Excellent!” said the other. “The thing interests me—indeed it
does. You couldn’t purchase that stock from me at this moment,
Burthon, for twice the sum I paid you.”
“No? And why not?”
“I’ll tell you. I had not intended to refer to the matter just yet, but
this young woman’s exposé of your attempted trickery induces me to
explain matters. You have always taken me for a fool, Burthon.”
“I’ve tried to place a proper value on your intellect, Cumberford.”
“You have little talent in that line, believe me. Before I came out
here I had heard such glowing reports of the Queen of Hearts that I
stopped off in Arizona to see the wonderful mine. The manager was
very polite and showed me about, but somehow I got a notion that
all was not square and aboveboard. I’ve always been interested in
mines; they fascinate me; and if this mine was as rich as reported I
wanted some of the stock. But I imagined things looked a little
queer, so I sent a confidential agent—fellow named Brewster, who
has been with me for years—to hire out as a miner and keep his
eyes open. He soon discovered the truth—that the mine was being
‘salted’ or fed with outside gold ore in precisely the way this girl has
stated.”
He turned to Orissa with a profound bow, then looked toward
Burthon again. “The thing interested me. I wondered why, and wired
my man to stay on a little longer, till I had time to think it over. I—er
—think very slowly. Very. In a few days Brewster telegraphed me the
startling intelligence that the mine had actually struck a new lead,
with ore far richer than the first showing, although that had made
the Queen of Hearts famous. My man had been sent to the
telegraph office with messages from the manager to Mr. Burthon and
the four other stockholders; but poor Brewster’s memory is bad, and
he forgot to send a telegram to anyone but me. Of course the great
strike—er—interested me. I instructed Brewster over the telegraph
wire. At a cost of five thousand dollars we bribed the manager to
keep the valuable strike secret for ten days. He’s an honest man,
and I shall retain him in the office. The ten days expire to-night.
Meantime, I’ve purchased the stock.”
Mr. Burthon sprang to his feet, white with anger.
“You scoundrel!” he shouted.
“Don’t get excited, Burthon. This is a mere business incident,
between man and man—and a girl.” Another bow toward Orissa.
“You tried to rob me, sir, and sneered when you thought you had
succeeded. I haven’t robbed you, for I paid your price; but I’ve
made a very neat investment. My stock is worth a million at this
moment. Interesting, isn’t it?”
Mr. Burthon recovered himself with an effort and sat down again.
“Very well,” he said a little thickly. “As you say, it’s all in the way of
business. Good day, Cumberford.”
The other man arose and faced Orissa, who stood by wholly
bewildered by this unexpected development.
“Thank you again, my child. Your name? Orissa Kane. I’ll
remember it. You tried to do me a kindness. Interesting—very!”
Without another glance at Mr. Burthon he put on his hat, walked
out and closed the door softly behind him.
Orissa looked up and found the broker’s eyes regarding her
intently.
“I—I’m sorry, sir,” she stammered; “but I had to do it, to satisfy
my conscience. I suppose I am dismissed?”
“No, indeed, Miss Kane,” he returned in kindly tones. “An honest
secretary is too rare an acquisition to be dismissed without just
cause. Having told you what I did, I could expect you to act in no
other way.”
“And, after all, sir,” she said, brightening at the thought, “you did
not rob him! Yet you saved your fortune.”
He made a slight grimace, and then laughed frankly.
“Had I taken your advice,” he rejoined, “I should now be worth a
million.”
CHAPTER VI

A BUCKING BIPLANE

Stephen Kane had scarcely slept a wink for three nights. When
Orissa came home Thursday evening he met her at the car with the
news that his aëroplane was complete.
“I’ve been adjusting it and testing the working parts all the
afternoon,” he said, his voice tense with effort to restrain his
excitement, “and I’m ready for the trial whenever you say.”
“All right, Steve,” she replied briskly; “it begins to be daylight at
about half past four, this time of year; shall we make the trial at that
hour to-morrow morning?”
“I couldn’t wait longer than that,” he admitted, pressing her arm
as they walked along. “My idea is to take it into old Marston’s
pasture.”
“Isn’t the bull there?” she inquired.
“Not now. Marston has kept the bull shut up the past few days.
And it’s the best place for the trial, for there’s lots of room.”
“Let’s take a look at it, Steve!” she said, hastening her steps.
In the big, canvas covered shed reposed the aëroplane, its
spreading white sails filling the place almost to the very edges. It
was neither a monoplane nor a biplane, according to accepted ideas
of such machines, but was what Steve called “a story-and-a-half
flyer.”
“That is, I hope it’s a flyer,” he amended, while Orissa stared with
admiring eyes, although she already knew every stick and stitch by
heart.
“Of course it’s a flyer!” she exclaimed. “I wouldn’t be afraid to
mount to the moon in that airship.”
“All that witches need is a broomstick,” he said playfully. “But
perhaps you’re not that sort of a witch, little sister.”
“What shall we call it, Steve?” she asked, seriously. “Of course it’s
a biplane, because there are really two planes, one being above the
other; but it is not in the same class with other biplanes. We must
have a distinctive name for it.”
“I’ve thought of calling it the ‘Kane Aircraft,’” he answered. “How
does that strike you?”
“It has an original sound,” Orissa said. “Oh, Steve! couldn’t we try
it to-night? It’s moonlight.”
He shook his head quickly, smiling at her enthusiasm.
“I’m afraid not. You’re tired, and have the dinner to get and the
day’s dishes to wash and put away. As for me, I’m so dead for sleep
I can hardly keep my eyes open. I must rest, so as to have a clear
head for to-morrow’s flight.”
“Shall we say anything to mother about it?”
“Why need we? It would only worry the dear woman
unnecessarily. Whether I succeed or fail in this trial, it will be time
enough to break the news to her afterward.”
Orissa agreed with this. Mrs. Kane knew the airship was nearing
completion but was not especially interested in the venture. It
seemed wonderful to her that mankind had at last learned how to
fly, and still more wonderful that her own son was inventing and
building an improved appliance for this purpose; but so many
marvelous things had happened since she became blind that her
mind was to an extent inured to astonishment and she had learned
to accept with calm complacency anything she could not
comprehend.
Brother and sister at last tore themselves away from the
fascinating creation and returned to the house, where Steve,
thoroughly exhausted, fell asleep in his chair while Orissa was
preparing dinner. He went to bed almost immediately after he had
eaten and his sister also retired when her mother did, which was at
an early hour.
But Orissa could not sleep. She lay and dreamed of the great
triumph before them; of the plaudits of enraptured spectators; of
Stephen’s name on every tongue in the civilized world; and, not least
by any means, of the money that would come to them. No longer
would the Kanes have to worry over debts and duebills; the good
things of the world would be theirs, all won by her brother’s
cleverness.
If she slept at all before the gray dawn stole into the sky the girl
was not aware of it. By half past four she had smoking hot coffee
ready for Steve and herself and after hastily drinking it they rushed
to the hangar.
Steve was bright and alert this morning and declared he had
“slept like a log.” He slid the curtains away from the front of the
shed and solemnly the boy and girl wheeled the big aëroplane out
into the garden. By careful manipulation they steered it between the
trees and away to the fence of Marston’s pasture, which adjoined
their own premises at the rear. To get it past the fence had been
Steve’s problem, and he had arranged to take out a section of the
fencing big enough to admit his machine. This was now but a few
minutes’ work, and presently the aëroplane was on the smooth turf
of the pasture.
They were all alone. There were no near neighbors, and it was
early for any to be astir.
“One of the most important improvements I have made is my
starting device,” said Steve, as he began a last careful examination
of his aircraft. “All others have a lot of trouble in getting started. The
Wright people erect a tower and windlass, and nearly every other
machine uses a track.”
“I know,” replied Orissa. “I have seen several men holding the
thing back until the motors got well started and the propellers were
whirling at full speed.”
“That always struck me as a crude arrangement,” observed her
brother. “Now, in this machine I start the motor whirling an eccentric
of the same resisting power as the propeller, yet it doesn’t affect the
stability of the aëroplane. When I’m ready to start I throw in a clutch
that instantly transfers the power from the eccentric to the propeller
—and away I go like a rocket.”
As he spoke he kissed his sister and climbed to the seat.
“Are you afraid, Steve?” she whispered, her beautiful face flushed
and her eyes bright with excitement.
“Afraid! Of my own machine? Of course not.”
“Don’t go very high, dear.”
“We’ll see. I want to give it a thorough test. All right, Ris; I’m off!”
The motors whirred, steadily accelerating speed while the
aëroplane trembled as if eager to dart away. Steve threw in the
clutch; the machine leaped forward and ran on its wheels across the
pasture like a deer, but did not rise.
He managed to stop at the opposite fence and when Orissa came
running up, panting, her brother sat in his place staring stupidly
ahead.
“What’s wrong, Steve?”
He rubbed his head and woke up.
“The forward elevator, I guess. But I’m sure I had it adjusted
properly.”
He got down and examined the rudder, giving it another upward
tilt.
“Now I’ll try again,” he said cheerfully.
They turned the aircraft around and he made another start. This
time Orissa was really terrified, for the thing acted just like a bucking
broncho. It rose to a height of six feet, dove to the ground, rose
again to plunge its nose into the turf and performed such absurd,
unexpected antics that Steve had to cling on for dear life. When he

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