that was his feeling. That he might be
mistaken, he admitted frankly. Time alone could tell.

"Have you a half hour to give me while it explain matters?" asked Mr.
Hardley. "I may go farther and say I need considerable time to go into
all the details. May I speak now?"

To tell the truth Tom Swift had many important matters to consider,
and, in addition, Ned Newton was prepared to go over some financial
ends of the business with Tom. But the young inventor felt that, in
justice to his friend Mr. Damon, who had brought Mr. Hardley, he could
do no less than give the stranger a hearing. But only the introduction
by Mr. Damon brought this about.

"I shall be glad to hear what you have to say, Mr. Hardley," said Tom,
as courteously as he could. "I will not go so far as to say that my
time is unlimited, but I will listen to you now if you care to go into
details."

"That's good!" exclaimed the visitor. "I'm sure that when you have
listened you will agree with me."

"He's a little bit too sure!" mused Ned.

"Bless my pocketbook, Tom, but there are millions in it!" exclaimed Mr.
Damon. "Literally millions, Tom!"

Mr. Hardley settled himself comfortably in his chair and looked from
Tom to Ned.

"May I speak freely here?" he asked, with obvious intent.

"You may," the young inventor answered. "Mr. Newton is my financial
manager, and I do nothing of importance without consulting him. You may
regard him as a member of the firm, in fact, as he does own some stock.
My father is practically retired, and I do not trouble him with
unimportant details. So Mr. Newton and I are prepared to listen to you."

"Very well, Mr. Swift, I'm going to ask you a question. Have you all
the money you want?"

Tom laughed.

"I suppose any man would answer that question in the negative," he
replied. "Frankly, I could use more money, though I am not poor."

"So I have heard. Well, would a million dollars clear profit appeal to
you?"

"It certainly would," was the answer.

"Then I am prepared to offer you that sum," went on Mr. Hardley. "But
there are certain conditions, and I may say that this vast wealth is
not easy to come at. However, with your inventive genius, I am sure you
will be able to solve the mystery of the sea. Now then as to details.
There lies, on the floor of the ocean--"

"Hark!" exclaimed Tom, raising a hand to enjoin silence. "I think I
hear some one coming." At that moment there was a knock at the door.

CH