Part 8 (1/2)

Moving abruptly to the work-bench he began to overturn at random the tools lying upon it.

Something in this unusual proceeding arrested Jan's attention, causing him to glance with suspicion from Robert Morton to the inventor, and from the inventor back to Robert Morton again. The elder man was whistling ”Tenting To-night,” an air that had never been a favorite of his; and the younger, with self-conscious zeal, was shredding into bits a long curl of shavings.

Jan eyed both of them with distrust

”I figger we're goin' to have a spell of fine weather now,” remarked Willie with jaunty artificiality.

The offhand a.s.sertion was too casual to be real. Cloud and fog were not dealt with in this cursory fas.h.i.+on in Wilton. It clinched Jan's doubts into certainty. Something was being kept from him, something of which this stranger, who had only been in the town a few hours, was cognizant. For the first time in fifty years another had usurped his place as Willie's confidant. It was monstrous! A tremor of jealous rage thrilled through his frame, and he stiffened visibly.

”I reckon I'll be joggin' along home,” said he, moving with dignity toward the door.

”But you've only just come, Jan,” protested Willie.

”I didn't come fur nothin' but to leave this hammer,” Jan answered, placing the implement on the long bench before which his friend was standing.

”Maybe there was something you wanted to see Mr. Spence about,”

ventured Bob. ”If there was I will--”

”No, there warn't,” snapped Janoah. ”Mister Spence ain't got nothin'

confidential to say to me--whatever he may have to say to other folks,”

and with this parting thrust he shot out of the door.

Bob gave a low whistle.

”What's the matter with the man?” he asked in amazement.

Willie flushed apologetically.

”Nothin'--nothin' in the world!” he answered. ”Jan gets like that sometimes. Don't you remember I told you he was kinder quick. It's just possible it may have bothered him to see me talkin' to you. Don't mind him.”

”Do you think he suspected anything?”

”Mercy, no! Not he!” responded Willie comfortably. ”He's liable to fly off the handle like that a score of times a day. Don't you worry 'bout him. He'll be back before the mornin's over.”

Nevertheless, sanguine as this prediction was, the hours wore on, and Janoah Eldridge failed to make his appearance. In the meantime Bob and Willie became so deeply engrossed in their new undertaking that they were oblivious to his absence. They worked feverishly until noon, devoured a hurried meal, and returned to the shop again, there to resume their labors. By supper time they had made quite an encouraging start on the model they required, their combined efforts having accomplished in a single day what it would have taken Willie many an hour to perfect.

The inventor was jubilant.

”Little I dreamed when you came to the front door, Bob, what I was nettin'!” he exclaimed, clapping his hand vigorously on the young man's shoulder. ”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.