Doctor Jones' Picnic

  CHAPTER II.

  Two Men Resolve to Go Picnicking.

  One afternoon, the Doctor being at leisure, he and Denison talked longand earnestly of their never-failing theme, the aluminum globe. Denisonfinally said:

  "You know, Doctor, that I never go into anything without dueconsideration. I have studied this matter over carefully, and am willingto chance it with you. We have been acquainted a great many years, and Inever knew you to make any bad breaks. I have nothing else to do atpresent, and have a few thousands that I am willing to risk in thisbusiness. If I lose it I shall let it go for experience and blame no onebut myself."

  "Denison, you know very well that I would not lead you into anythingthat would do you an injury, financially or otherwise, for anything inthe world. I had not thought, indeed, of asking you to take any part orstock in this scheme. I believe in it with all my soul, but had notallowed myself to seriously think of promoting or investing in it. Youhad better think of it for a while longer."

  "As I told you," returned Denison, "I have given it very serious thoughtfor several weeks. I have every confidence in the world in you, and mymind is thoroughly made up now that I wish to go with you into thisenterprise. You know that since my wife died I have done little ornothing. I have no family to occupy my mind, and this is the first timesince her death that I have felt any interest in anything. It tooksomething extraordinary, like your scheme, to wake me up. So here I am,Doctor, yours for the North Pole!"

  "Well, old friend, you are a man of the right spirit," said Dr. Jones,taking him by the hand, "and I am willing to do with you what we can toget the Government interested in this matter. What shall be our firstmove?"

  "How can you leave your business or get any time to do anything in thisundertaking?" asked Denison.

  "I will tell you: I have been right here, at the old stand, fortwenty-odd years. In all that time I have never taken a vacation of anysort. I have for years been intending to do so, but something alwaysprevented. Now I have an opportunity to put a good man into my place,and I feel the necessity of taking a rest of a year or so. This lookslike just the chance for me. So you may consider that question settled.Now, what shall be our first move?"

  "Since we are each determined to take hold of this venture, Doctor, Isuppose that the first thing will be to get an architect to figure onthe thing, and give us necessary figures and data. And I have just theman--Will Marsh, office on Main Street. He is an extraordinary fellow, areal genius, and a gentleman in every sense of the word. Let's see himright away. I'm catching your spirit of enthusiasm, Doctor, and whatdoes a man amount to without enthusiasm in this age of the world?"

  "Well, of course, the enthusiast is numbered with the cranks," repliedDr. Jones. "But, Denison, the cranks are the only men who accomplishanything of note in this world. I have really great respect for cranks,if they only are honest and not too abusive. So we may as wellanticipate the dear public, and enroll ourselves among the cranks."

  "All right," returned Denison, "'Sail on!' as Joaquin Miller hasColumbus say to the faint-hearted sailing master. 'The North Pole orbust!' is my motto now."

  "That's right, that's right," grinned the Doctor, amused to see theenthusiasm he had aroused in his friend. "And now let's to business. Iam ready to go with you and see the architect."

  So together they walked to the office of that gentleman. They found himin and at leisure, and they immediately opened their business to him.The Doctor took the lead, Denison occasionally offering a suggestion.Mr. Marsh proved to be a good listener, jotting down the items as theywere given him, and they made excellent progress. Evidently Dr. Joneshad studied the subject very thoroughly, for he gave measurements andspecifications with a readiness and accuracy that were surprising.

  "And now, Mr. Marsh, there are doubtless some important points that havenot occurred to me, and which you will discover. What we want atpresent is an approximate estimate of the cost, carrying and floatingcapacity of our globe. I think you have the idea as nearly as we cangive it, and please let us know all about it as soon as possible," saidDr. Jones as they were about to depart.

  "I will do so, sir," replied the architect, "but you understand thatyour project is so extraordinary--if I may be allowed to say so--that itwill require several days before I can give you any definiteinformation. I must go to the city and ascertain the prices of material,etc."

  "We understand that, Mr. Marsh; only please do not neglect to attend toit immediately."

  With this parting injunction they bade him good-day and departed, eachto his home.