第7章

AGAINST HIS WILL

For a moment it seemed that Mr.Damon, as well as Mr.Hardley, felt disappointment at Tom's answer, for the eccentric man exclaimed:

"Bless my leather belt, Tom, but you aren't very keen on making a million dollars!""Oh, yes, I like to make money," the young inventor answered."I guess you know that, as well as any one, for you've been with me on several trips.And I don't mind hard work, nor danger.""I'll say you don't!" added Ned, as he thought of some of Tom's perilous voyages, among the diamond makers and in the caves of ice.

"Well, if you are anxious to make money, as I admit I am," said Mr.Hardley, "why can't you give me an answer now?""Because," answered Tom, "there are many things to be considered.Hunting for a treasure on the floor of the Atlantic isn't like going to some location on land, however wild or inaccessible it might be.Do you realize, Mr.Hardley, what a large difference in miles a small error in nautical calculations makes? We might go to the exact spot where you thought the wreck of the Pandora lies, only to find that we would have to hunt around a long time.

"I must think of that, and also think of my other business affairs.Then, too, there is my father.He is getting old, and while he is still active in the affairs of the company, particularly when it comes to taking up new lines of work, I do not like to think of leaving him, as I should have to, in case I went on this trip.""Take him along!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."He's gone with us before, Tom.""He's too old now," said the young inventor a bit sadly."Father will never make another extended trip.But I will let you have my answer as soon as I can, Mr.Hardley, and I will give the matter considerable thought.""I'm sure I hope you will, and also that you will consent to go," wasthe answer."A million is not easily to be come at in these days after the Great War.""I realize that," agreed Tom with a smile."And you shall have my answer as soon as possible."With this the visitor was forced to be content, and a little later he withdrew with Mr.Damon, the latter telling Tom that he would see him.again soon.

"Well, that was queer, wasn't it?" remarked Ned, when he and Tom were alone again.

"What was?" asked Tom, as though his mind was far away, as indeed it was.

"That this man should come in with his project to search for a sunken treasure wreck just as we were talking about how many millions were on the bottom of the ocean.""Yes, it was quite a coincidence," Tom admitted."What do you think of it--and him?" asked Ned.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't take a great fancy to Mr.Hardley," Tom said."I think he's altogether too cocksure, and takes too much for granted.Still I may misjudge him.Certainly he doesn't have a chance at a million dollars every day.""Do you think you could get the treasure out of this wreck, Tom, if you could locate her?""Why, it's possible; yes.We proved that with the Boldero." "Would you use the same submarine?""No, I think I'd have to rebuild it, or make an altogether new one.Possibly I might get one of Uncle Sam's and add some improvements of my own.""Yes, you could do that," agreed Ned."You've done so much for the government that it couldn't refuse you something reasonable, now that the war is over.Then do you think you'll go?""Really, Ned, I can't make up my mind yet.Now let's forget the Pandora and all the millions and get down to business.This Criterion company seems to me to want altogether too much, We'll have to trim their request down a bit.They owe the money and ought to pay it.""Yes, I'll get after them," said Ned, and then he and his chum, as well as employer, plunged into a mass of business details.

It was the next afternoon, when Tom, following a strenuous morning of work, leaned back in his chair at his desk, that Mr.Damon was announced.

"Tell him to come in," ordered Tom, always glad to see his friend."Wait a minute, though!" he called to the messenger."Is any one with him?""No, sir; he is alone."