w
complication set in." He also brought a letter from the Smithsonian man,
Arlington, somewhat caustically deploring the fact that Roger had not
been sufficiently interested to meet him and closing with the remark
that he would not be in the neighborhood again for another six months.
Gustav brought with him, too, the refilled drums of sulphur dioxide.

Roger handed the letter, without comment, to Ernest and went back into
the engine house. He did not go up to the ranch for supper that evening
as he had been doing, but the following morning which was Sunday, he
appeared for breakfast. He was looking haggard and old but he greeted
his friends cheerfully.

"Got any victuals for a broken down inventor?" he asked Charley.

She smiled faintly as she set a place for Roger at the table.

"You certainly look the part, Rog," said Ernest. "It's a good thing
you've got friends with business heads."

"With what?" exclaimed Roger.

"Don't be cynical!" cried Elsa. "We sat up half the night working out a
wonderful scheme for you. We--"

"Yes," Ernest interrupted eagerly, "we all went over the situation and
we've made up our minds to a mode of action. You are such an impractical
old chump, Rog! It's ridiculous for you to waste your time trying to
make an engine out of a junk pile while the main idea of your invention,
the real selling part, is neglected." He stopped to butter a biscuit.

Roger sipped his coffee and waited for Ernest to continue. "Now then,
Elsa has a little money, enough to take me to Washington and back. It's
her idea that I take that and go to see the Smithsonian people. There's
not the slightest sense in your going. You're no salesman and I am. You
remember it was I who landed Austin in the first place."

"I remember," said Roger quietly.

There was a long silence. Roger thought of the tiny food supply and of
the months of experimentation that must go on before the Sun Plant would
show efficiency.

"I hate to see Elsa putting money into this thing," he said slowly, "but
at most I can always take a job and pay her back."

"Of course you can!" exclaimed Elsa.

"I know I can get money from the Smithsonian," said Ernest, "and we'll
repay her at once."

Roger looked at Charley. "What do you advise?" he asked.

"I wouldn't hesitate for an instant," she replied. "Elsa feels just as I
would--that the work must be finished."

"I know I can land the Smithsonian," reiterated Ernest, "and we'll repay
Elsa at