“Why, invest it in a new invention, of course,” cried Bob. “Make it your working capital, and get out something finer and finer till you rival Edison.”
“You’re poking fun at me,” declared Ben. “The whistle was a mere trifle, and an accident. I may know how to handle a few machine tools, but I’m no real inventor, Bob Dallow. Of course——”
Ben paused abruptly. His eyes sparkled as a sudden idea came to him. Quick-witted Bob eyed him keenly. “Go ahead, Ben,” he ordered, “of course what?”
“Oh, I was just thinking some foolishness,” answered Ben, with a conscious flush.
“What foolishness?” persisted Bob.
“Well then, airships.”
“Eh—what’s that?” demanded Bob.
“Why, Ben!” murmured his mother.
“What put airships in your head?” pressed Bob, with a token of real curiosity and interest in manner and voice.
“Well, I saw a man to-day who set me wild over them,” confessed Ben bluntly. “He is a real airship man himself. He had a book on airships full of drawings, and he has invited me to the airship meet at Blairville next week.”