"You seem to be pretty well posted in this matter," was all Cobb could say, as Hugh gave him this array of figures.
"I am. I was on a board of engineer officers in connection with the water-power of these falls, some years ago," he replied.
"How long have these works been in operation?"
"Is it a private concern?" inquired Cobb.
"Oh, bless you, no. It cost too much money to put it into operation. The government expended over two hundred millions of dollars in building the works; but they have paid for themselves almost twice over."
"And this is the source of the great electrical supply--"
"For the Eastern States of the nation," interrupted Hugh; "but it is only a portion of the power used. The water-power everywhere is converted into electricity, and sent over the country."
"And steam isn't used any more?" hesitatingly.
"To be sure, it is; in the great timber districts, and where fuel, which otherwise would go to waste, is plentiful, steam engines are still used."
After a thorough inspection of the great center of electrical supply, the two returned to their hotel, and made preparations to leave Niagara and visit New England, and especially Boston and Providence, "the places I love so dearly," said Cobb. "I must once more visit the scenes of my childhood, and note their advancement."
So away they went to pass a week, intending to be in Washington by the 10th of January.
It was the third morning after Cobb and Hugh had started for America, that Marie Colchester, or, as she should be called, Marie Hathaway, had said to Mollie:
"I wish I could see some of those peculiar contrivances which Mr. Cobb used in his sepulchre, in San Francisco."
"And why may we not?" Mollie had returned. "He is away, and we can take a peep into his room without a living soul but ourselves knowing it."
So it was that these two girls stole silently into Cobb's bedroom, and noted, with feminine curiosity, every detail of a man's private apartments.
With a guilty feeling, they opened bureau and chiffonier drawers, peered into boxes, and finally opened the doors of the wardrobe. None of the wonderful inventions for prolonging life, which they had expected to find, were discernible. Then into the closet, to the left of the bed, they looked. An old trunk, an iron box, some old boots, and a bundle of clothing, were all that met their view.