Arrived at the Gilsey House, Scott went into the reading room, thinking he might find Mr. Wood there. But he failed to see him.

"Whom are you looking for?" asked Edward Stripling, the telephone boy, who occupied one corner of the room.

"Mr. Wood."

"Perhaps you are the one he wanted to see. He told me to tell any one inquiring that he would be back in fifteen minutes."

"Then we shan't have to wait long, Mr. Babcock."

The inventor took up a paper from the table, but he was so nervous that he could not concentrate his attention upon it.

Ten minutes later Justin Wood entered the room.

"I am glad to see you, Scott," was his cordial greeting.

[Pg 194]

"Thank you, Mr. Wood. I come on business. Let me introduce Mr. Babcock."

"Glad to see you, Mr. Babcock," said Wood, courteously¹.

"Could we go up to your room? We won't keep you long."

"Certainly. Follow me."

Mr. Wood had a front room on the third floor a pleasant apartment, for which he paid a high rent.

"Now, Mr. Wood," began Scott, "I am going to ask your attention for ten minutes."

"I will give you fifteen, if necessary," said Wood, smiling.

Thereupon Scott told the story of the inventor, to which Justin Wood listened attentively².

"Have you a model of your invention?" he asked, turning to Babcock.

"Here it is, sir."

The young man asked various questions, which Babcock answered satisfactorily.

"I think well of your invention," said Mr. Wood, in conclusion. "Now, what do you want me to do?"

Scott answered.

"Mr. Babcock has exhausted³ all his means and[Pg 195] is penniless," he said. "The invention is perfected, but he is not in a position to put it before the public. He has, to be sure, received offers of assistance from a gentleman whom we both know."

"To whom do you refer?"

"Ezra Little."

"Indeed! Is that liberal gentleman willing to help him?"

"He offers me thirty-five dollars for the invention," said Babcock, bitterly. "I have spent a whole year in perfecting it, and this is to be my compensation."

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