ng. You can plan to spend all the money you can possibly use, if the
mine has any kind of vein in it," said Kenneth, soothingly.

"I believe in taking a 'bird in the hand instead of the one in the
bush,' and here is a fortune right on this wall!" said Jim, pointing at
the jeweled cliffs.

He picked up a handful of the colored lava-stones and showed them to
Kenneth. "Do you know, Ken, that I wouldn't be one bit surprised but
what that new patent your father got out for cutting rare gems would
work on these to some good."

"I never thought of that! Maybe it would. If only he could come here to
investigate and try his machine on the jewels."

"Why not send him a small box-full of the stones and let him experiment
on them with the model he has in father's office?" asked Jim, eagerly.

"If Polly will give us some--I will send them on with a letter of
explanation," returned Kenneth.

"Of course! Take all you want. Every one is welcome to them," said
Polly, breaking off a cluster of fresh stones from the wall.

"What are you talking about, Jim? I heard Bob say something about a new
patented machine that would make millions out of these Cliffs, but what
do _you_ mean?" asked Eleanor.

"I guess we were both speaking of the same idea," replied Jim. "You see,
my father is financing the wonderful patent Ken's father invented. Dr.
Evans is a great inventor, and every once in a while he has a big idea.
That was how he planned the vacuum sweepers, and the self-stop on the
victrolas. He has lots of unusual patents granted him, and now he has
this idea patented.

"He can cut a stone so that it surpasses any hand-cut jewel for facets
and beauty, by merely dropping the material into the feeder on the
machine and letting it cut out the jewel in a few moments. The size of
stone wanted can be regulated by a screw. And the small bits of refuse
left after making large jewels, can be cut into sparkling chips.

"My father and Uncle George incorporated the company that is financing
this cutting machine. Now they can try out this lava and see if it is
hard enough to cut brilliantly."

"Wouldn't it be lovely to have Ken's father use these lava jewels in his
company, and let Nolla and me have the royalty to send us to school?"
ventured Polly, wistfully, looking at the distant peak where her gold
mine seemed lost for the present.

Jim and his friend were selecting the finest specimen of the lava as
Polly spoke, so they made no reply. He