on't you go back on me, too."

"Go back on you? Never! While this machine is to me! Why, Patty, I'd
defend you to the last ditch, and then fill in the ditch!"

"Be serious, Billee. You don't know those people, but can't you take
my word for it that they're splendidly worth while? They're geniuses,
and artists."

"Patty, I'd take your word for anything you know about. But, for
instance, I couldn't take your word that there are blue roses."

"But there are! That's just what the Cosmic Centre people
are,--they're blue roses! I never thought of it before, but they are."

"Then beware of them. Blue roses are freaks----"

"Yes, I know it. But there are worse things in this world than freaks.
I'd rather a man would be a freak than a--a mud turtle!"

"Are many of your friends mud turtles?"

"Yes, they are. They stick their heads in the sand----"

"Look out for your Natural History! You're thinking of ostriches."

"All the same. Now, Sam Blaney----"

"Patty! You don't mean to say that chap is _Sam_ Blaney! I thought he
looked a bit familiar! Sam! old Sam Blaney! Well!"

"What's the matter, Billee? Do you know him?"

"I used to, when we were boys. Fifteen or more years ago. I doubt if
he'd even remember my name. We went to a public school together. Sam
Blaney! Well!"

"You exasperating thing! Don't sit there saying 'Well!' and '_Sam_
Blaney!' but tell me what you know of him."

"Nothing, child, nothing. I haven't seen or heard of him for--since we
were fourteen years old or so. Where did you pick him up?"

Patty told of her meeting the Blaneys at Lakewood, and of her
continuing their acquaintance in New York. But suddenly Farnsworth
seemed to lose interest in her story.

"Never mind the Blaneys," he said. "I want to talk to _you_. What do
you think, my girl? I've won out in that matter of business I've been
at so long."

"Have you? I'm very glad. I don't know what it was all about, Little
Billee, but if you've succeeded in what you wanted to do, I'm very
glad."

"Yes, I have. And it means,--it means, Patty, that I shall live in New
York now, all the time."

"Yes?"

"Yes. And it means, too, if this interests you, that I'm a rich
man,--a very rich man."

"That's nice, Bill; I congratulate you."

"Oh, thank you." Farnsworth's voice had grown suddenly cold, and the
eager light had faded from his blue eyes. He looked at Patty, and
quickly looked away.

"I thought you