“What is that?”
“I understand you mean to try out your new seaplane to-day?”
“That is a private matter,” returned Tom, awakened now to full caution.
“Agreed. But I would like the chance of going with you on the try-out.”
“What’s that?” demanded Tom, in amazement “You want to join my mechanics and myself on what may be a dangerous voyage?”
“Exactly. I am interested in your invention. I may be more interested when I see personally how it works. And if that is so——”
“Well, sir?” shot in Tom, not at all pleased.
“If the plane acts as you seem to think it will, I may be able to finance your building several of the machines and under circumstances that will make it well worth your while to sign a contract.”
Tom got a grip on himself almost at once. He replied in a most casual way:
“I am not at all sure that you could interest me in any such proposition, even if I knew who you were and was assured of your good intent. In the first place, this is an entirely private venture, and I have no thought of selling the plane, or any like it. It may be some time before I consider the machine perfect. In any case, I do not know you——”