nto the flushed countenance of his roommate, who
was saying:

"Snorky, are you a Christian?"

"Say, what do you--"

"No matter--you believe in God!"

"Sure I do."

"Then swear!"

"Swear what?"

"Swear never to reveal to man, woman or child what I am about to
disclose to you."

"I swear!"

"As I am a Christian and believe in God."

"As I am a Christian and believe in God."

"And if I do may God strike with his afflictions those I love best--"

"Oh, I say--"

"Say it."

Snorky reluctantly subscribed to this terrible oath and five minutes
later the Secret was his.

"Great Jehosophat!"

"Do you see it?"

"Do I see it?" Snorky tore from his throat the collar that was stifling
him. "My aunt's cat's pants!" he said solemnly. "Skippy, we'll be
billionaires!"

"We'll buy a yacht and live on Fifth Avenue," said Skippy, who for
sentimental reasons suppressed any reference to Lillian Russell.

"Say this is so big we've got to take every precaution," said Green,
whose imagination was on more practical lines. "No one must even suspect
until we've got this drawn up and patented."

"That's what worries me."

Snorky Green cautiously opened the door and investigated the hall, then
returning drew up his chair and said in a confidential whisper:

"Skippy, when this goes through every bathtub in the country will go in
the scrap heap. Think of that!"

"I have thought of that."

"It'll do what the pneumatic tube did to the bicycle."

"What the trolley did to the horse-car!"

"It's revolutionary."

"It is."

"Enormous!"

"Stupendous!"

They shook hands and Skippy, bursting with happiness, said impulsively:

"Old friend, whatever I make--you're down for half."

"No, no. Two-thirds to you--one-third to me," said Snorky, as Caesar
putting from him the proffered crown.

"I won't have it--share and share alike," said Skippy in a rush of
emotion.

"But, Skippy, do you realize what even one-third will mean!" said
Snorky, in a voice trembling with the vision of the future. He went
nervously to the desk and returned with pad and pencil. "Write down
these figures."

"Ought we to?"

"We'll destroy it afterward. Put down ninety-two million."

"What's that?"

"The population of the United States."

"I see--ninety-two it is."

"Divide that by--by--well let's be conservative."

"It's better."

"Let's say there's one bathtub to every fifty-five inhabitants."

"I think that's too conservative."