"Very likely," admitted Mr. Henderson coolly. "Washington and I were out there doing some work."
"All right," was the rather ungracious answer. "I have those chemicals you wanted."
"Give them to me!" implored the old man in an anxious tone. "I thought you would never bring them."
"Oh, I don't forget so easily. Here you are," and the newcomer passed over a package. "Now when are you going to sail?"
"In about a week," answered the inventor.
"Then I guess I'll stay until you go," spoke the stranger. "I don't want to be left behind."
At this the old professor seemed strangely excited. His hands trembled as he placed the chemicals on a shelf.
"You don't like it, I see," observed the stranger with a sort of snarl. "But I know you too well, Professor Henderson. You would be only too glad to go and leave me behind after all I have done for you."
"My only desire, and you know it, James Taggert," broke in the old man, "is to preserve my secret from the world until I see whether I can succeed or not. I do not want to be laughed at if I fail. I admit you have been of service to me, but, rather than risk failure, rather than run the chance of having my plans made known before I am ready to have them, I would do anything. I know you too well to imagine that you have aided me from pure love."
"Well, go on," snarled the man, as the professor paused.