“Yes; and they wanted to get the business away from the Pollard Company. They told Tip Gaynor it would be worth ten thousand dollars to him for each Sidenham boat he could sell to the Government. Tip hired me—”
“One moment, please,” interrupted Jack. “Did the Sidenham officials know that Gaynor intended to use such methods?”
[pg 208] “I don't believe they did,” replied Truax.
“Humph! So Gaynor hired you to do all you could to disgrace me in the eyes of the naval authorities and to injure the machinery in the engine room of the submarine!”
“Yes. Tip said it was highly important that the Pollard boats should break down while under the eyes of all Annapolis, so that it would seem that they could not be depended upon.”
Truax here became so ill that his audience had to wait until he could proceed. Then Jack asked:
“What sort of looking fellow is Gaynor?”
“He was the black-bearded man who shanghaied you in the white knockabout. He doesn't usually wear a beard. He grew it for the occasion.”
“So, acting for Tip Gaynor, you undertook to ruin us all and the good name of our boats! You even met Dave Pollard and got him to take you on as a machinist for our boats!”
“Tip knew a man who was willing to introduce me to Mr. Pollard.”