ped beyond the first formal preliminaries to a
time when he and Laurie Fernald would really know one another, even
come to be genuine friends, perhaps. What sport two lads, interested in
the same things, could have together!

Ted had few companions who followed the bent of thought that he did.
The fellows he knew either at school or in the town were ready enough
to play football and baseball but almost none of them, for example,
wanted to sacrifice a pleasant Saturday to constructing a wireless
outfit. One or two of them, it is true, had begun the job but they soon
tired of it and either sat down to watch him work or had deserted him
altogether. The only congenial companion he had been able to count on
had been the young assistant in the laboratory at school who, although
he was not at all aged, was nevertheless years older than Ted.

But with the mention of Mr. Laurie myriad dreams had flashed into his
mind. Here was no prim old scholar but a lad like himself, who probably
did not know much more about electrical matters than he. You wouldn't
feel ashamed to admit your ignorance before such a person, or own that
you either did not know, or did not understand. You could blunder along
with such a companion to your heart's content. Such had been his belief
until now, with a dozen words, Ted saw his father shatter the illusion.
No, of course Mr. Laurie would never come to the shack. It had been
absurd to think it for a moment. And even if he did, it would only be
as a lofty and unapproachable spectator. Mr. Fernald's words were a
subtly designed flattery intended to put him in good humor because he
wanted something of him.

What could it be?

Perhaps he meant to oust him out of the boathouse and rebuild it, or
possibly tear it down; or maybe he had taken a fancy to use it as it
was and desired to be rid of Ted in some sort of pleasant fashion.
Unquestionably the building belonged to Mr. Fernald and if he chose to
reclaim it he had a perfect right to do so.

Poor Ted! With a crash his air castles tumbled about his ears and the
ecstasy of his mood gave way to apprehension and unhappiness. Each day
he waited, expecting to hear through Mr. Wharton that Mr. Clarence
Fernald had decided to use the shack for other purposes. Time slipped
along, however, and no such tidings came. In the meanwhile Mr. Wharton
made no further mention of the Fernalds and gradually Ted's fears
calmed down sufficiently for him to gain confidence eno