have my answer as soon as I can, Mr. Hardley, and I will give the
matter considerable thought."

"I'm sure I hope you will, and also that you will consent to
go," was the answer. "A million is not easily to be come at in
these days after the Great War."

"I realize that," agreed Tom with a smile. "And you shall have
my answer as soon as possible."

With this the visitor was forced to be content, and a little
later he withdrew with Mr. Damon, the latter telling Tom that he
would see him. again soon.

"Well, that was queer, wasn't it?" remarked Ned, when he and
Tom were alone again.

"What was?" asked Tom, as though his mind was far away, as
indeed it was.

"That this man should come in with his project to search for a
sunken treasure wreck just as we were talking about how many
millions were on the bottom of the ocean."

"Yes, it was quite a coincidence," Tom admitted.

"What do you think of it--and him?" asked Ned.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't take a great fancy to
Mr. Hardley," Tom said. "I think he's altogether too cocksure,