n and New York. I was on my way here with the completed
code. I had it under my pillow in my berth on the sleeper. When I
awakened it had gone."

"Didn't you have a hunt made for Judson when you reached New York?"

"Yes, but we had made two stops in the night. Undoubtedly, they got off
at one of them. Unless that code is found I'm a ruined and a disgraced
man."

At that moment Billy Raynor came hurrying up. But there was not much
warmth in Jack's welcome to him. His mind was busy with other things.

"What's the matter?" said Billy in a low voice, for he too had noticed
Captain Simms' dejection.

"Never mind now," whispered Jack, "I'll tell you later. If I may suggest
it, sir," he said, addressing the captain, who appeared completely
broken by the loss of the code, "hadn't we better get into a cab and
drive to the Willard? You are not going to the department to-night?"

"No, I couldn't face them to-night," said the captain. "We'll do as you
say."

"There may be a way of catching the rascals," said Jack as the taxicab
bumped off.

The captain shook his head.

"The code is in the hands of the ambassador of the foreign power that
wanted it as the price of a contract by this time," he said. "It is gone
beyond recovery. I am disgraced."

On their arrival at the hotel, the captain retired at once to his room.
The boys had dinner without much appetite for the meal and then set out
for a stroll to talk things over.

"This is a terrible off-set to my good news," said Jack.

"Don't you think there's a chance of getting the code back?" asked
Billy.

Jack shook his head.

"I think it is as Captain Simms said, the code is in the hands of that
ambassador by this time."

"Jack Ready, by all that's good, and Billy too, shake!"

The cry came from up the street and a tall, good-looking lad of their
own age came hurrying toward them. It was Ned Rivers, a youth who was
interested in wireless and in that way had become acquainted with Jack
and Billy on board the _Tropic Queen_ while he was accompanying his
father on a cruise on that ill-fated ship.

"Ned!" cried Jack.

"You're a sight for sore eyes," exclaimed Billy, and a general
handshaking followed.

"What are you doing here, Ned?" asked Jack, after a few more words had
been exchanged.

"Yes, I thought you lived in Nebraska," said Billy.

"So we did, but we've moved here. Father's in the Senate now. I thought
you knew."

"Congratulations," said Jack. "I gues