t to
anything you've fussed over so long? It gets to be 'most a part of
you. You'll think it funny, I guess, but do you know I'll be sorter
sorry to see this thing goin'."

It was the regret of the parent compelled to part from his child and
with an effort at comfort Robert Morton said cheerfully:

"Oh, you'll be having a new scheme before long."

"Mebbe I will," Willie answered, brightening. "I never can tell when
the sun rises in the mornin' what idee will kitch me before night.
Still, I somehow feel there'll be no idee like this one. You know they
say every artist creates one masterpiece," he smiled shyly. "This, I
reckon, is my masterpiece."

"It is a bully one, anyhow!" ejaculated Bob. "Aren't you curious to
hear what Zenas Henry will say when he sees it?"

"I am sorter itchin' to," admitted Willie in less meditative tone.
"Only last night I was thinkin' after I got to bed how would be the
best way of givin' it to him. I've sorter set my heart on springin' it
on him as a surprise. What's your notion?"

"I think that would be a fine plan," replied Bob, eager to humor the
gentle dreamer. "If we could get him and the captains out of the way,
it would be good sport simply to fasten the attachment to the boat and
wait and see what happened."

"Wouldn't that be the beateree!" chimed in Willie excitedly. His face
glowed and he rubbed his hands with honest pleasure. "Wouldn't it,
though? We could manage it, too, for Delight could arrange to get
Zenas Henry an' the three captains out of the way. She's an almighty
good one at keepin' a secret, as I reckon you've found out already."

He stole a sly glance at the young man at his elbow who flushed
uncomfortably.

"Yes," he rambled on, "Delight can shut her mouth on occasions like as
if it was a scallop shell. The only trouble is she'd oughter close her
eyes too, for they talk 'most as well as her tongue does. Likely
you've noticed that," he added innocently.

"I--eh--"

"Fur's that goes, your own eyes do somethin' in the speakin' line,"
affirmed Willie, bending to fleck a bit of dust from the appliance
before them.

"What!" Robert Morton exclaimed with alarm.

The old inventor nodded gravely.

"Yes," continued he, "now I come to think of it, you've got among the
most speakin' eyes I ever see. They kinder bawl things right out."

"What--what--have they--" stammered Bob, crumpling weakly down upon the
rickety chair before the stove.

"Bawled