"What's this Mary tells me, Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, as he
followed his daughter back into the room.

"You mean about Dixwell Hardley?"

"Yes. Do you suppose he can be the same man who has so meanly
treated my brother-in-law?"

"I wouldn't want to say, Mr. Nestor, until you describe to me
the Mr. Hardley you know. Then I can better tell. But from what
little I have seen of the man to whom I was introduced by my
friend Mr. Damon, I'd say, off hand, that he was capable of such
action."

"Does Mr. Damon know this Mr. Hardley well?" asked Mrs. Nestor,
who accompanied her husband.

"I wouldn't say that he did," Tom replied. "I don't know just
how Mr. Damon met this chap--I think it was in a financial way,
though."

"Well, if it's the same Mr. Hardley, I'll say he has some queer
financial ways," said Mr. Nestor. "Now let's see if we can make
the two jibe. Describe him, Tom."

This the young inventor did, and when this description had been
compared with one given of the Mr. Hardley with whom Mr. Keith
once was associated, Mrs. Nestor said: