"I'd say not," rejoined the former Air Mail pilot sententiously. "Mum's the word; we've got something here, Buddy.  Unless I'm greatly mistaken we'll be consulting with the Patent Office at Washington much sooner than little mother anticipates."  He poked Paul in the ribs as he spoke, and both young men gave vent to a low chuckle of intense satisfaction.  It was an even greater pleasure to look forward to surprising their mother than to astonishing the world and winning its plaudits.