| THE BOYS CONSULT JACK-IN-THE-BOX. |
Ned had thoroughly identified himself with the invention, and thought it was as much his as Phaeton's.
"But then," he added thoughtfully, "that would spoil your business, Jack. And we should be sorry to do that."
Jack smiled, and said it didn't matter; he wouldn't wish to let his private interests obstruct the march of improvement.
Phaeton explained the invention to Jack, illustrating it with a rubber-string stretched on the frame, just as he had explained it to us.
"I see," said Jack. "Quite a novel idea."
"We haven't made up our minds," said Ned, "what sort of depot we'll have. But it'll be either a big tank full of water, or an awful soft mattress."
"How is that?" said Jack.
"Why, you see," said Ned, "this railroad of ours is going to go like lightning. There's no trouble about its going."