ng to put their machine together in time
to appear before the judging committee with it. He was greatly relieved
to find that the lads were about to put the motor and fan in place and he
realized that this marked almost the last stage of their work.

"Well, boys, it looks all right to me," he said.
"When are you going to be ready for the official tryout?"

"Just as soon as we can put the automobile lamp into place. We are
building some iron brackets for that now. We'll be all ready by tomorrow
evening, I guess. That will give us one full day leeway. The tests can
be conducted up to midnight Saturday, can't they?"

"Sure, I'll see that the judges are ready for you. I have an engagement
that may keep me a little bit late, but I'll get there. Where are you
going to test it?"

"Out on the back road here; down by the bend opposite Chipman's Hill,"
said Nipper.

"Fine, I'll be there. Say, by the way, I was talking about your idea
down town this evening and a reporter from the _Journal_ heard me. He
seemed very much interested when I told him about your work and he wants
to come up and see the machine. He'll probably be up some time
to-morrow. Perhaps I can get him up to see the test. If I can
I--Listen, is that some one coming? Sure enough, perhaps it is he.
Open the door, Bruce."

Bruce swung open the big double door and Rogan, one of the reporters for
the Woodbridge _Journal_ and the local correspondent for the St. Cloud
_Call_, entered.

"Hello, boys," he shouted good naturedly. "Heard you have a new wrinkle
in moth catchers. Is that the machine? Looks mighty businesslike. Is
it ready to test? Well, if there isn't Mr. Ford. How are you? What do
you think of the scout's invention? How does it work? Whose idea is it.
Where--?"

"Oh, goodness gracious, don't ask 'em so fast," said Bruce. "We'll
answer them one at a time and explain the machine to you if you'll give
us a chance."

"Sure. Excuse me. Go right ahead," said Hogan, his inquisitive blue
eyes taking in everything in the room.

Nipper had the honor of describing his own invention, which he did with
no little pride. And evidently Rogan was impressed for, after cross
examining Mr. Ford and going into the device from every angle, he wrote a
two-column story which appeared on the first page of the Journal the
following morning. Also he telephoned a story to the St. Cloud paper
which the boys read the following afternoon.

As soon