he had refused to sell his services to the rival company.

"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men working
for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many possibilities of
which to take advantage, that we may get a little off our balance. But
what I called for was not to renew our offer to you. I understand that
is definitely settled."

"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller seemed to
want an answer.

"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are thinking of
taking any legal action against us because of the action of that man
Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely no authority to--"

"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man who also
posed as Bower, the spy?"

"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked for us.
He, too, had no authority to come here and get a position. He was still
in our service when he did that."

"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a spy, who
came here to try to find out for you some of my secrets."

"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against that from
the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really did you no harm."

"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that other
spy--the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our mud hole?"

"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came."

"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I don't
wish to discuss him."

"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, "that what he has done will
not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods we can not
countenance. He is too daring--"

"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to me--he
didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You needn't apologize
on his account. He did me no harm, and--"

"But I understood from him that--"

"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I want to
take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not your own. But I
am very busy. I have an important test to make for the government, and
my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I shall have to bid you
good-morning and--"

"But won't you give me a chance to--" began the president.

"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted Tom.
"Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't really do
anything to me nor any great harm to any of my possessions,