e they belonged when that radiant
face appeared so near his own.

"Have you tried the machine yet to see if it will work on good eggs?"
asked Helen, after a pause, during which Bauer drew a few more lines on
the paper.

"No, I'm going to make a full trial of it when I go back to Burrton."

"And if it should be a success, I suppose there would be money in it
too, wouldn't there?"

"I suppose so," said Bauer indifferently.

"Then you might actually become rich?"

"I suppose I might. A man who invented a little mouse trap, I
understand, made a fortune from it. There are all sorts of possibilities
in the world of invention."

"Would you care to be rich?" asked Helen absently.

"I might." For the first time in his life Felix Bauer had flash into his
soul the power of money to buy, what? Love? Would it be worth anything
if it could be bought? And yet women like Helen Douglas felt the power
of money and--and--demanded it in the young man who aspired to be a
possible wooer in this age. Was she like all the rest? And if he should
some time be rich would that make any difference? And if so, what
difference?

"Money is a great power nowadays," said Helen calmly.

"Yes," said Bauer, slower than usual. And at that moment Mrs. Douglas
came in.

"Are you willing to show this to mother?" asked Helen.

"Certainly," said Bauer, smiling. "I am sure she will not betray my
secret."

Mrs. Douglas, who had instantly taken a great liking to Bauer from the
moment of his arrival, was as enthusiastic as Helen and praised the
inventor until he was well nigh overwhelmed.

"I need all this encouragement to help me face Anderson. He will
probably pick some flaw in it somewhere. He is merciless with all the
fellows."

"I don't see what a teacher is for," said Helen indignantly. "Half of
the teachers I know pound at the students all the time instead of giving
them encouragement."

"They probably need it," said Mrs. Douglas, wisely.

"Mr. Bauer is going to get rich with his invention," said Helen gaily.

"I'll tell you what I will do, if it goes," said Bauer cheerfully. "I'll
divide with Walter. We'll manufacture the incubator ourselves and so get
all the profits."

"Don't count your chickens before they are hatched," said Mrs. Douglas,
and then added gratefully, "I appreciate that thought of Walter. The
poor fellow seems to have lost his ambition since the affair of the arc
light. I know you will do all you can to encourage hi