“Oh, I guess he is all right,” Mrs. Peterson soothed.  “Perhaps he is thinking out something else, and will surprise us with some new idea.”

“Oh, do you think so?” and the girl’s eyes grew big with wonder.  “Won’t it be great if he does!”

David was much brighter the next morning and sat for some time out upon the verandah.  Betty had gone to the office for the mail, as Mrs. Peterson was too busy about the house.  She did this nearly every day now, and enjoyed the walk.  The captain was always anxious to get his daily paper, and sometimes there would be a letter from an old friend.

It was almost noon when Betty arrived.  Her cheeks were flushed more than usual and she was greatly excited.

“What’s up now?” the captain enquired.  “Haven’t been scared, have ye?”

“It’s a letter for Mr. David!” she replied.  “Just think of that!”

“H’m,” and the captain gave a grunt of disgust.  “Is that all.  I thought maybe ye’d seen a ghost.  Why should a letter so upset you?”

“Oh, but he never got a letter before since I’ve known him, and it must be very important.”

While the two were talking David rose from his chair and stepped toward Betty.

“A letter for me?” he asked, in a somewhat doubtful voice.

“Yes, here it is.  You had better open it at once.”

The old man took it in his hand and stood studying it for a few seconds.  Then he slowly opened the envelope, and drew forth the letter.  As he scanned the contents, his eyes grew suddenly wide with astonishment and his hands trembled violently.

“Oh, Mr. David, what’s the matter?” Betty cried as she observed his intense excitement.  “Is it some bad news?”

But the old man did not seem to notice her.  He stood there, shaking in every limb, staring upon the letter.

“Tell me what it is,” the girl again demanded.  “I want to know at once.”

This imperious order brought David to his senses, and without a word he handed her the letter.  Eagerly seizing it, she began to read.  It took her longer than the old man to make out its meaning, and when the truth at last dawned upon her mind she gave a glad cry of joy, and her eyes beamed with delight as she turned them upon his face.

“Oh, isn’t it great!” she exclaimed.  “Five thousand dollars for that thing in your head, Mr. David.  Won’t you be rich.  Now we can have a house of our very own, and I can be your housekeeper!”

“But that isn’t all, Betty,” David replied.  “I am to be Honorary President of the company, just think of that.  And they are to carry out my plans and do just what I wish.  Girl, my dreams are to come true at last.  I shall live to see my beautiful falls bringing a blessing to the entire country.  I wonder if people will laugh at me now, and call me crazy.”

It was only natural that intense excitement should reign at the Haven for the next few hours.  The captain and his wife were greatly impressed by the good fortune which had come so suddenly to old David.  They could hardly believe it possible, and they had the feeling that there had been some mistake.  But Betty would not hear of such a thing.  She was sure that it was all true, and it was due to the wonderful thing that David had in his head.