“What would be the effect of passing a whopper of an electric current direct through the kerosene before you do anything else?” Tommy, as he said this, looked as wise as a woman does when she offers advice because having no knowledge she can give no commands. “I don't know,” said Bill, indifferently. Then he repeated, “I don't know,” less indifferently. Then he shouted: “I don't know, but, by heck, I'm going to find out! Now get out of here!” “Will it explode?” asked Tommy. “No. But I can't work with anybody round me.” “Why can't you? Honestly now.” “Well,” said Bill, “I feel like a fool when I fail, and I have a rotten temper, and--and--” Bill hesitated; then his face flushed. “Then what?” asked Tommy, curiously. “Well, I'm fond of you and I don't want to have a fight when I'm out of my head. Now will you go or will you stay?” “I'll go. If I ever landed on the point of the chin--” And shaking his head dolefully, Tommy shook hands with Bill and left. There was always his automobile. He took Mrs. Clayton out for a joy-ride. A few days later Bill said to Tommy at breakfast: “Your new high-tension generator is a wonder. I can get a very high-frequency current--” “You can?” interrupted Tommy, with a frown. He did this merely to encourage Bill, who thereupon explained: “Of course I'm using a step-up transformer with it, and something has happened!” “Certainly”; and Tommy nodded wisely. He added: “I expected it to. But you can't use that kind of generator on cars, can you?” “Oh, we'll have no trouble about the generator once I get what I'm after.” “Sure of that?” “Oh yes,” said Bill, gloomily. “Then what's the trouble?” asked Tommy, alarmed by Bill's look. “I certainly do get the vaporization all right, all right.” “Great Scott! isn't that what you wanted?” “Yes.” “Then we've got it!” “Yes, but I don't know what does it,” said Bill in despair. “No smoke?” persisted Tommy. “Not a darned bit. The inside of the engine was clean as a whistle.” Bill shook his head and frowned as at very unpleasant news. “Well,” observed Tommy, thoughtfully, “something has happened!” “Indeed?” Bill looked very polite. “You don't know what, and I don't, either. Therefore--” Tommy paused for effect. Bill's elaborate sarcasm failed him. “Go on, you idiot!” he shouted. “Therefore, I will find out!” announced Tommy. “Ask La Grange and have him cop the whole cheese!” “No, William. You admit we've got to know what happens, don't you?” “Certainly. Otherwise, what will I get a patent on?” Tommy realized in a flash that Bill might have stumbled upon something that would have far-reaching results on everybody concerned as well as on the industry. What was now needed was plain to him. “William,” he said, slowly, “I will go to an altruist.” “A what?” “A college professor. We must prepare a lot of questions to ask and we will get his answers. And then we must check up the answers by actual experiment. See?”