"So far, that trick is known only to the Pollard people and a few officers of the Navy. The fewer that know, the better the chance of keeping it a secret. Don't you believe me?"
"That's one way of looking at it, perhaps," nodded a reporter. "But there's another side to that, too, Somers. The United States now own some of your boats, and the money of the people paid for those boats. Now, don't you think the people of this country have a right to know some of the secrets for which they pay good money, and a lot of it?"
On hearing the question put that way Eph looked tremendously thoughtful for a few seconds.
"Why, yes, undoubtedly," admitted the carroty-topped submarine boy.
"I never thought of it that way before."
"Then—"
"See here," interrupted Eph, "it was the Secretary of the Navy, who on behalf of the people, bought our boats."
"Yes—"
"He acted as the agent of the people," Eph continued.
"Well—"
"Therefore," asserted Eph Somers, with a roguish twinkle in his eyes, "the Secretary of the Navy is the proper official for you to go to in search of that information. And you may tell the Secretary—"