"What same man?"

"Dixwell Hardley!"

"Is he the man who cheated your uncle?" cried Tom.

"I won't say that he cheated him," said Mary. "But Dixwell
Hardley is the man who furnished the money when my uncle went
into partnership with him to locate oil wells in Texas. The oil
wells were located, Mr. Hardley got his share, and my uncle got
nothing. And just because he can't prove there was a legal
partnership! I hope you won't have the same experience with Mr.
Hardley, Tom."

"Whew!" whistled the young inventor. "This is news to me! I can
say one thing, though. Mr. Hardley doesn't take a dollar out of
that wreck unless I get one to match it. I think I hold the best
cards on this deal. But, Mary, are you sure it's the same man?"

"Pretty sure. Wait, I'll call my father and make certain," she
answered, and as she went from the room to summon Mr. Nestor, Tom
felt a vague sense of uneasiness.



CHAPTER XI

BARTON KEITH'S STORY