"See--you generate right down in here. See? She worked that time, ma." "Jimminycracks! Where'd you get your juice and--Well, well! Whatta you know about that? Don't even have to reverse. I guess that storage down there ain't some stunt!" "See, Jimmie, my boy! I told you it was a grand invention. Hear what Joe says?" "Say, kid, you bring that--take that over to the Institute to-morrow. I know a fellow over there'll protect your rights and work that out with you swell." "See, Jimmie, your--your old ma was right!" "Aw, the generator don't always work like that--only about four times out of six. I'm kinda stuck on the--" "Say, kid, what you wanna do is protect your rights on that, and--and bring it over--take it over to the Institute. You'll give 'em the jolt of their lives over there. I know a fellow's been chasin' this idea ten years, and you're fifty per cent. closer to the bull's-eye than he is." "Hear, Jimmie! Hear, Essie! Just like I been sayin'. I been beggin' and beggin' him, Joe, but he--he's so stubborn; and--" "Aw, ma, cut it, can't you?" "He's so stubborn about it, Joe." "There's no use tryin' to force him, ma; but he's gotta good idea there if he handles it right." "Aw, she ain't finished yet--she don't spark right." "That what I'm telling you, kid. What you need is a laboratory, where you've got the stuff to work with and men who can give you a steer where you need it, and--" "Aw!" "I'll go over with you. I know a fellow over there--he's the guy that helped Kinney win his transmitter prize. You'll give him the jolt of his life, old man. Huh, kid? Wanna go over?" He placed his hand on the gold-braided shoulder and smiled down. "Huh? You on, old man?" "Aw, I ain't much for buttin' in places." "Are you on, Jimmie? It's your chance, old man." "Aw!" "Jimmie! Jimmie, my boy, I--" "Aw, I said I was on, didn't I, ma?" "Sure, he said he was on, ma dearie. Shake on it, old man!" "Jimmie! Jimmie, my boy--honest!--it's just like your papa was talkin'! Don't leggo my hand, Joe. Layin' here with my eyes shut, it's just like he was talkin' hisself. He's--he's like your papa was, Essie, big and strong." "Yes, darlin'." "Is that the doctor? Is Lizzie Marks come back? Is that--" "No; not yet, ma." "You're all tired out, Essie baby. Look at your little face! Go wash it, baby, and cool it off before old man Gibbs comes." "It ain't hot, ma." "He brought you into the world, Essie baby, and I don't want him to see it--to see it all--all--" "I'm all right, ma. Lemme stay by you." "Go wash your face, Ess. Ma says go wash your face." "You shut up, Jimmie Birdsong--it ain't your face!" "You know all righty, missy, why she wants you to wash it--you know--" "Ma, he keeps fussin' with me! Jimmie, please don't." "Aw, I ain't, neither, ma. She's always peckin' at me. I--I ain't mad at her; but I want her to wash that--that stuff off her face." "Jimmie!"