the ocean, Tom? Bless my bank balance! but that's foolish, it
seems to me."

"Perhaps it is, but I can't help it."

"What's your principal objection?" asked the eccentric man. "It
isn't that you don't want the money, is it?"

"Not exactly."

"Then it must be that you object to Mr. Hardley personally."
went on Mr. Damon. "I began to suspect that, Tom, and I want to
say that you are wrong. Mr. Hardley is a friend of mine--a good
friend. I have not known him long, but he strikes me as being all
right. He had some good letters of introduction, and I believe he
has money."

"Where'd he get it?" asked Tom.

"I don't know, exactly. Seems to me I heard him mention silver
mines, or it may have been gold. Anyhow, it had something to do
with getting wealth out of the ground. Now, Tom, I don't mind
saying that I stand to make a little money in case this thing
goes through."

"How's that, Mr. Damon?" asked the young scientist in surprise.

"Why, I agreed to bear part of the expense," was the answer. "I
thought this was a pretty good scheme, and when Mr. Hardley came
to me and told me of the possibilities I agreed to help him