第4章

The talk of Tom and his financial manager was interrupted by the arrival of Mr.Damon and the stranger he had introduced as Mr.Hardley.

Eradicate, or "Rad," and Koku, have been mentioned.Rad was an ancient colored man who once owned a mule named Boomerang.Sampson was the colored servant's last name, and he declared he had chosen the one "Eradicate" because in his younger days he was a great cleaner and whitewasher, "eradicating" the dirt, so to speak.

Boomerang had, some time since, gone where all good mules go, though Eradicate declared he would get another and call him BoomerangII.But, so far, he had not done so.

Rad, though too old to do heavy work, still believed he was indispensable to the welfare of Tom and his father; and as the giant Koku, who was physically an immense man, held the same view, it followed there were frequent clashes between the two, as on the occasion just mentioned.

"What was the matter, Tom?" asked Ned, when the young inventor came back into the room.

"Oh, the same old story," replied Tom."Rad wanted to sweep the hall, and Koku insisted he was to do it.""What'd you do, Tom?" asked Mr.Damon.

"I settled it by having Rad sweep this hall and sending Koku to doanother--a bigger one I told him.He likes hard work, so he was pleased.Now we'll have it quiet for a little while.Did I understand you to say, Mr.Damon, that--er--Mr.Hardley I believe the name is--had a proposition to make to me"That's exactly it, my dear Mr.Swift!" broke in the man in question."I have a wonderful offer to make you, and I'm sure you will admit that it will be well worth your while to consider and accept it.There will be at least a million in it--""Bless my check book, I thought you said several millions!" exclaimed Mr.Damon.

"So I did," was the rather nettled answer."I was about to say, Mr.Damon, that there will be at least a million in it for Mr.Swift, and another million for myself.There may be more, but I want to be conservative.""Talking in millions, and calling himself conservative," mused Ned Newton."Somehow or other I don't just cotton to this fellow!""When our mutual friend, Mr.Damon, told me about you, my dear Mr.Swift," went on Mr.Hardley, "I at once came to the conclusion that you were the very man I wanted to do business with.I'm sure it will be to our mutual advantage."Tom Swift said nothing.He was willing to let the other talk, while he waited to see how far he would go.And, as Tom said afterward, he, as had Ned, took an instinctive dislike to Mr.Hardley.He could not say definitely what it was, but 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.