"What's in the wind?"

"To-night, at eleven o'clock, on a lonely bit of road well out of town,"
replied George Melville, "young Captain John Benson has agreed to meet
my son, Don."

"For what purpose?"

"Pollard has recently perfected a submarine boat device of the greatest
practical value. Young Benson has promised Don to steal the drawings and
descriptions pertaining to that device, and to turn them over to Don, for
a price, of course!"

"It's horrible--unspeakable!" gasped Mr. Emerson, indignantly.

"Of course. But I want you to understand the kind of crowd that
surrounds Farnum. It will be a guide to you in investing with those
people. If you go with me, to the appointed place, ahead of time, and
we hide close enough to witness the whole transaction, then you'll
believe all that I've been telling you, won't you?"

"Of course," nodded Mr. Emerson, speaking thickly. His whole soul
revolted at the treachery of such a transaction, which made him add:

"But won't you and your son, Melville, be in as bad a light through
profiting by such infernal treachery?"

"We would, if we _did_ profit," replied George Melville, flushing.
"However, as soon as Don has dismissed the young blackguard, Benson,
my son will touch a lighted match to the papers and burn them all, with