der. "You're a regular boat-builder, you are. The moon might 'a'
pogeed an' perigeed before I'd 'a' got as fur along as we have to-day.
How you've learned all you have about boats without ever goin' near the
water beats me. Now you ain't a-goin' to think of quittin' Wilton an'
leavin' me high an' dry with this propeller idee, are you? 'Twould be
a downright shabby trick."

Bob smiled into the old man's anxious face.

"I can't promise to see you to the finish for I must be back home
before many days, or I'll have my whole family down on me. Besides, I
have some business in New York to attend to," he said kindly. "But I
will arrange to stick around until the job is so well under way that
you won't need me. I am quite as interested in making the scheme a
success as you are. All is you mustn't let me wear out my welcome and
be a burden to Aunt Tiny."

"Law, Tiny'll admire to have you stay long as you can, if only because
you drag me into the house at meal time," chuckled Willie.

"At least I can do that," Bob returned.

"You can do that an' a durn sight more, youngster," the inventor
declared with earnestness. "I ain't had the pleasure I've had to-day
in all my life put together. To work with somebody as has learned the
right way to go ahead--it's wonderful. When me an' Jan tackle a job,
we generally begin at the wrong end of it an' blunder along, wastin'
time an' string without limit. If we hit it right it's more luck than
anything else."

Robert Morton, watching the mobile face, saw a pitiful sadness steal
into the blue eyes. A sudden shame surged over him.

"I ought to be able to do far more with my training than I have done,"
he answered humbly. "Dad has given me every chance."

"Think of it!" murmured Willie, scrutinizing him with hungering gaze.
"Think of havin' every chance to learn!"

For an interval he smoked in silence.

"Well," he asserted at length, "you've sure proved to-day that brains
with trainin' are better'n brains without. Now if Jan an' me--" he
broke off abruptly. "There! I wonder what in tunket's become of Jan,"
he speculated. "We've been so busy that he went clean out of my mind.
It's queer he didn't show up again. He ain't stayed away for a whole
day in all history. Mebbe he's took sick. I believe I'll trudge over
there an' find out what's got him. I mustn't go to neglectin' Jan,
inventin' or no inventin'."

He rose from his chair wearily.

"I reckon a note would