JACK STUMBLES UPON A BIG SURPRISE
"Busy, Farnum?"
"At this moment, not especially."
"I'm glad of that."
George Melville's attire was particularly fashionable this morning,
three days after the first trial trip run, when he dropped in at the
boatbuilder's office, finding the latter there alone.
Mr. Melville's eyes were twinkling, his face beaming. He had the whole
appearance of a man who is satisfied with himself and anxious to please
others.
"I've come to hold out the olive branch, Farnum, if anything of the sort
is needed," continued the capitalist.
"It isn't. Nothing is needed here but a good decision from the United
States Government," replied Jacob Farnum, briefly.
"Ahem! Now, see here, Farnum, of course I understand that you had
abundant reasons for feeling offended the other day. But this state of
affairs ought not to last between us. You have a splendid type of boat,
but you need more money in order to push your yard properly. You need
a lot more of building plant here."
"Yes," assented Mr. Farnum.
"Now, on the terms that I was inclined to refuse before, I am ready to
supply a sum even greater than was at first spoken of," and the man
beamed on Mr. Farnum.
"I no longer care to talk business with you, Mr. Melville."
"Why not?"
"We need not go into that. I bid you good day, Mr. Melville."
"You don't seem to know what you're doing, Farnum. I control millions.
I also have some influence--in Washington," and the man strode from the
room, leaving Jacob Farnum a bit shaken but not repenting his decision
not to deal with George Melville.
"One other road is open to Melville if he but knows it," thought the
boatbuilder. "One hundred and ten thousand dollars' worth of bills for
materials are now a few days overdue. My creditors have faith in me,
but Melville, with his money, could buy up these bills by offering a
bonus and could then press me for immediate payment. If only Washington
did not move, so slowly!" and the man groaned.
That same evening about ten o'clock the submarine boys were on their
way from the village to the "Pollard" when they heard the fire alarm.
They were in front of the volunteer fire house, and were at once pressed
into service to take the place of some of the young firemen who were not
at hand.
"Look!" shouted Eph Somers. "The fire is in the Melville boatyard!"
The volunteer firemen beat down the big gate of the yard with lusty
blows and rolled the hand engine inside and, coupling the hose, threw
a stream of water on a fiercely burning shed. Jack Benson, relieved of
his task of pulling the engine, went toward the big shed where the
submarine was under construction--at least, there was no other place on
the premises that such work could be carried on.
Just as Jack reached the big shed some firemen battered down the door
in order to turn a stream of water on the fire there. The flames
lighted up the place with an intensive light, leaving no corner
unilluminated. Jack, on the _qui vive_ with interest and curiosity,
looked within.
"Empty, oh-ho! What do you know about that!"
Hal Hastings came up just then and Jack said:
"See that, Hal? The Melvilles have been putting up a show of building
a submarine to beat ours. This fire betrays the fact that no boat is
being built here. Nothing here but iron plates and the hammers with
which the workmen have been beating every day!"
"Of all idiotic things!" exclaimed Hal.
The three submarine boys came upon Mr. Farnum standing in the watching
crowd and gleefully told him of the empty shed.
"That might have helped a week ago," said the boatbuilder. "I fear
we're beyond help now, boys." He had already told them in confidence
of the financier's threat.
Just then Melville came along. Mr. Farnum and the boys would have
ignored him, but he stepped up to the group and snapped:
"You're a fine bunch! Some of my workmen tell me that you young rascals
were sneaking about my yards and set fire to the sheds."
"That will do, Mr. Melville. We'll listen to no such talk," and before
the boys could speak or Melville reply Mr. Farnum pushed the boys before
him out of the crowd.
"All those fellows heard him say that, and some of them will believe
it!" cried Hal.
"That's bluff on his part, and silly bluff, at that," said Jack. "These
firemen can say where we were when the alarm came in."
"But not where we were when the fire started," grumbled Eph.
"The fire's practically out; we'd all better go home now," said Mr.
Farnum.