w--why, if it could be perfected and
boomed properly, it would make his fortune."

"Do you think so?"

"I know it."

Again the humming of the engine was the only sound.

"Do you know, Bob, I've half a mind to get Snelling down here and set
him to work at that job. What should you say?"

"Snelling? You mean the expert from your ship-building plant?"

"Yes. Wouldn't it be a good plan?"

Robert Morton hesitated.

"There is no question that a man of Mr. Snelling's ability would be a
tremendous asset in handling such a proposition," he agreed cautiously.

"Snelling could drop in as if to see you," went on the capitalist.
"You could fix up all that so there would not be any need of the old
fellow suspecting who he was. Once there he could pitch in and help
the scheme along. It is going to be quite an undertaking before you
get through with it, and the more hands there are to carry it out, the
better, in my opinion."

"Yes, it is going to be much more of a job than I realized at first,"
Bob admitted. "It certainly would be a great help to have Mr.
Snelling's aid. But could you spare him? And would he want to come
and duff in on this sort of an enterprise?"

"If I telegraphed Snelling to come he would come; and when here he
would do whatever he was told," replied Mr. Galbraith, bringing his
lips sharply together.

"It's very kind of you!"

"Pooh! the idea amuses me. I'll provide any materials you may need,
too. Snelling shall have an order to that effect so that he can call
on the Long Island plant for anything he wants."

"That will be splendid, Mr. Galbraith; but where do you come in?"

"I'll have my fun, never you fear," returned the capitalist. "In the
first place I'd like nothing better than to do that little old fellow a
good turn. There is something pathetic about him. Sometimes it is
hard to believe that life gives everybody a square deal, isn't it?
That man, for instance. He has the brain and the creative impulse, but
he has been cheated of his opportunity. I should enjoy giving him a
boost. Occasionally I fling away a small sum on a whim that catches my
fancy; now its German marks, now an abandoned farm. This time it shall
be Mr. Willie Spence and his motor-boat idee."

He laughed.

"I appreciate it tremendously," Bob said.

"There, there, we won't speak of it any more," the elder man protested,
cutting him short. "I will telegraph Snelling and you may arrange the
rest. The o