Her father thanked her by a sign, but there was possibility enough of
infection to make him wave her back from kissing him, and she took
refuge at the foot of the bed, on a sofa shut off by the curtains.
which had been drawn to exclude the light.

Joe meantime wrote on the slate the words, "Magnum bonum."

"Magnum bonum?" read his wife, in amazement.

"Papers in bureau," he wrote; "lock all in my desk. Mention to no
one."

"Am I to put them in your desk?" asked Caroline, bewildered as to his
intentions, and finding it hard to read the writing, as he went on—-

"No word to anyone!" scoring it under, "not till one of the boys is
ready."

"One of the boys!" in utter amazement.

"Not as a chance for himself," he wrote, "but as a great trust."

"I know," she said, "it is a great trust to make a discovery which
will save life. It is my pride to know you are doing it, my own dear
Joe."

"It seems I am not worthy to do it," was traced by his fingers. "It
is not developed enough to be listened to by anyone. Keep it for the
fit one of the boys. Religion, morals, brains, balance."