Part 19 (2/2)
The little old man went with them to the car and loitered to watch them roll away.
”You'll see me back to-night,” called Bob from the front seat.
”Not to-night, to-morrow,” Roger corrected laughingly.
”Well, to-morrow then,” smiled the young man.
The engine pulsed, there was a quick throb of energy, and off they sped. Almost without a sound the motor shot along the sand of the Harbor Road and whirled into the pine-shaded thoroughfare that led toward Belleport.
”A fine old fellow that!” mused Mr. Galbraith aloud. ”What a pity he could not have had his chance in life.”
Bob nodded.
”I suppose he hasn't a cent to carry out any of these schemes of his.”
”No, I am afraid he hasn't.”
The financier lit a cigar and puffed at it in thoughtful silence.
”That motor-boat idea of his now--why, if it could be perfected and boomed properly, it would make his fortune.”
”Do you think so?”
”I know it.”
Again the humming of the engine was the only sound.
”Do you know, Bob, I've half a mind to get Snelling down here and set him to work at that job. What should you say?”
”Snelling? You mean the expert from your s.h.i.+p-building plant?”
”Yes. Wouldn't it be a good plan?”
Robert Morton hesitated.
”There is no question that a man of Mr. Snelling's ability would be a tremendous a.s.set in handling such a proposition,” he agreed cautiously.
”Snelling could drop in as if to see you,” went on the capitalist.
”You could fix up all that so there would not be any need of the old fellow suspecting who he was. Once there he could pitch in and help the scheme along. It is going to be quite an undertaking before you get through with it, and the more hands there are to carry it out, the better, in my opinion.”
”Yes, it is going to be much more of a job than I realized at first,”
Bob admitted. ”It certainly would be a great help to have Mr.
Snelling's aid. But could you spare him? And would he want to come and duff in on this sort of an enterprise?”
”If I telegraphed Snelling to come he would come; and when here he would do whatever he was told,” replied Mr. Galbraith, bringing his lips sharply together.
”It's very kind of you!”
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