"Oh, you mean the silver stuff," said Nita casually. "Daddy has offered a huge reward to any one who can fight it successfully. He and half a dozen other steamship men put together and made up a purse. About two millions, I believe."
Davis was looking at her, paying but little attention to what she was saying, simply absorbed in looking. Gerrod saw his expression.
"Don't you ever use your head?" he demanded. "Here you are worrying about Nita's father, and there you have a reward offered that would clear away all his objections at once."
"Why—why, that's an idea!" said Davis.
"Glad you think so," said Gerrod acridly. "Suppose you two talk things over. You have a brain, Davis, even if you rarely use it."
Davis laughed good-naturedly.
After dinner Evelyn and her husband retired to the laboratory again. Neither of them wanted to waste any time that might be useful in developing a means of fighting the Silver Menace. They were deep in their work when Davis and Nita rushed in upon them.
"We've got it!" said Davis dramatically.
Nita was clinging to his arm, and looked immensely proud of him.
"What have you?" asked Gerrod practically.