uessing what would occur next to hamper or destroy the
fruits of their hard labor.

CHAPTER XX

A SECRET IN SIGHT

"Mr. Prenter," asked Tom suddenly, "is there anything about which you wish
to see me just now?"

"Not particularly," replied the treasurer. "Only, in view of late
developments I'm going to remain about for the next few days, unless you
order me out of the house. I want to be close to the trouble."

"Then, if I'm not needed," gaped Reade, "I'm going to turn in and steal a
little sleep. I need rest."

"As I'm going to stay up to-night, Tom, and keep you company through the
dark hours, I'm for the bale of lint, too," announced Lieutenant Prescott.

"At what hour shall I call you?" asked Harry.

"At eight o'clock to-night," answered Tom.

Refreshed by a few hours' sleep Tom and Dick were called, to find their
supper ready. Nicolas stood behind their chairs, attentive to their needs.

Mr. Prenter remained out on the porch, but Harry sat at table with his
friends.

"Has Mr. Bascomb put in an appearance here?" Tom inquired.

"No," said Hazelton briefly.

"He certainly has wound up my curiosity," murmured Tom. "Why on earth
should he bail out Evarts?"

"Probably because Evarts asked him to," suggested Dick.

"But why should he want to please Evarts in such a matter?"

"Well, you know," hinted Harry, "we've heard that Evarts is some sort of
relative to Mr. Bascomb."

"But the rascal has been working to ruin this company," Tom protested,
"and Mr. Bascomb is the trusted president of the company."

"Yet _is_ Mr. Bascomb really fit to be trusted?" Prescott propounded.

"Mr. Prenter seems to think so, and he is a capable judge of men," Tom
rejoined. "It is the combination of all these circumstances taken together
that makes me so curious over Mr. Bascomb's being willing to bail the
fellow."

"Oh, well, it's too much of a puzzle for us," said Harry, shrugging his
shoulders. "All we've got to do is to keep our eyes open and faithfully
guard the property that is entrusted to our care. However, I'm growing
sour and sore. Here I've got to go to bed presently, and you and Dick are
going to be prowling about all night. You'll have all the excitement,
while I'll be in bed."

"You seem to forget," Tom reminded him, "that the last big excitement took
place in the daytime, during your shift. Dick and I may have a lazy night,
and you may have the air full of wreckage to-morrow in broad da