finance the expenses. That is, I have taken shares in the company
he formed to raise his half of the expense money.

"Of course I thought of you at once when he spoke of having to
search out a sunken wreck, and I proposed your name. He'd heard
of you, he said, but didn't know you. So I brought you together
and now--bless my apple pie, Tom! I hope you aren't going to turn
down a chance to make a million and, incidentally, help an old
friend."

"Well," remarked Tom, slowly, "I must admit, Mr. Damon, that I
didn't think you'd go into a thing like this. Not that it is more
risky than other schemes, but I thought you didn't care for
speculation."

"Well, this sort of appealed to me Tom. You know--sunken wreck
under the ocean, down in a diving bell perhaps, and all that!
There's romance to it."

"Yes, there is romance," agreed Tom. "And hard work, too. If I
undertook this it would mean an extra lot of work getting ready.
I suppose I could use my own submarine. I could get her in
commission, and make improvements more quickly than on any
other."

"Then you'll go?" quickly cried the eccentric man.

"Well, since you tell me you are interested financially, I
believe I will," assented Tom, but he spoke reluctantly. "As a
matter of fact, I am going against my better judgment. Not that I