Chapter VII
The Man with Big Feet
The consultation in the private office of the Swift
Construction Company after the departure of Mr. Richard
Bartholomew between the two Swifts and Ned Newton had more to do
with a vision of the future than with mere present finances.
"I expect you know just about how you are going to work on this
new invention, Tom?" suggested the financial manager, and Tom's
chum.
"Haven't the first idea," rejoined the young inventor,
promptly.
"What do you mean?" ejaculated Ned. "You talked just now as
though you knew all about electric locomotives."
"I know a good deal about those that have been built, both
under the Jandel patent and those built for the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul in the great Philadelphia shops.
"But when you ask me if I know how I am going to improve on
those patents so as to make my locomotive twice as speedy and
quite as powerful as those other locomotives--well, I've got to
tell you flat that I have not as yet got the first idea."
"Humph!" grumbled Ned. "You say it coolly enough."
"No use getting all heated up about it," returned his friend.
"I have got to consider the situation first. I must look over the
field of electrical invention as applied to motive power. I must
study things out."
"I don't just see myself," Ned Newton remarked thoughtfully,
"why there should be such a great need for the electrification of
locomotives, anyway.
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