why the
possibility never occurred to us; but it never did. She is to marry
Howard Snelling."

A quick wave of revulsion swept over Robert Morton. This, then, was
the reason Snelling had filched from Willie his invention,--that he
might have greater riches to lay at the feet of his fiancee, and
perhaps reach more nearly a financial equality with her family. He saw
it all now. And probably it was Snelling's jealousy of himself that
had led him to retaliate by heaping his unwelcome attentions on
Delight. At last it was clear as day,--Cynthia's growing coldness and
her continual trips to and from Belleport in the boatbuilder's company.
Robert Morton could have laughed aloud at his own stupidity. The
engagement explained, too, Mr. Snelling's confusion and embarrassment
at every mention of the Galbraith family. Why, a child might have
fathomed the romance!

Again Mr. Galbraith was speaking.

"And now, Bob, for the last surprise of all. At first, I thought I
would delay telling you until the papers were all in shape and ready
for signature; but on second thought it seemed a pity to shut you out
of the fun. We have all the data prepared to take out a patent on Mr.
Spence's motor-boat."

Bob felt a sudden sinking of his heart, a stifling of his breath.

"The afternoon you all came over to Belleport," explained the
financier, "I got Snelling and a draughtsman from our company to go to
the shop and in the old gentleman's absence secure measurements and the
necessary information. These we took to New York and put into proper
hands, and when the affidavits are sworn to and everything is in legal
form I see no reason why the government should not grant the patent.
If it does, there should be a little fortune in the appliance."

Robert Morton did not move. He felt as if he had been turned to stone.

"I thought you would be interested," observed Mr. Galbraith, a
suggestion of disappointment in his voice. "I did not consult you at
first because I felt so sure that the idea would please you. I'm sorry
if it doesn't. It seemed to me that if we could help Mr. Spence to
patent his device, he might do quite a little with it. I thought he
might not know how to go at the matter himself. So we are preparing
all the papers for him to file an application in his own name.
Afterward I propose either to purchase from him the rights to use it,
or to buy the thing outright at a reasonable figure. In either case,
the deal wil