“And you didn’t think of inviting me, I suppose,” said Mary demurely. “I think I will sit by Ned.”
“If you do I’ll discharge him, and then he won’t like you,” said Tom, as he made room beside himself for the girl to whom he was engaged. “I’m awfully glad you’re here. We came in such a hurry—on the inspiration of a spontaneous suggestion by Ned—that I never thought to ’phone over and see if you wanted to come.”
“Oh, all right—I’ll forgive you!” the girl laughed.
But there was a quick exchange of looks between Mary and Ned. In fact, Mary had suggested privately to Ned that he bring Tom to the game, as she intended to meet him there. Often it was necessary to use a ruse to get Tom away from his absorbing work of inventing things.
However, here he was, and soon he was enjoying the game with his friends. It was not much in the way of a ball contest, but it served to pass away the afternoon and change the current of all their thoughts.
That evening after supper, Tom and his father drew their chairs together in the living room for one of their old-time chats. Mr. Swift was in a pleasant mood, for he had done some work on his book that afternoon which gratified him very much and about which he was enthusiastic.
“Tom, how are things going?” he asked his son.
“Very nicely, indeed,” was the answer. “Of course, I am not making as much progress as I’d like to on that train-stop device, but it will come. And when it does, I think it will be worth good money to us.”
“Yes, that, and some of the other inventions we have under way, will be worth sixty thousand dollars, I think, when they are completed.”
“Well, that estimate may be a bit high,” returned Tom slowly.