"Why should I tell a stranger about my employer's business?" asked Jack sharply.
"Here's my card." The man was a Mr. Stevenson, the head of a firm of ship's steel jobbers. "Here's a bill for twenty-five thousand dollars, and Farnum seems to have disappeared. I can sell this at face value, but I don't want to."
"Give Mr. Farnum a chance, Mr. Stevenson," pleaded Jack. "We can guess who is willing to buy that bill from you—for a bonus. The man will be as eager to buy next week as this."
The man looked shrewdly into the eyes of the two boys for a moment, then, with a shrug of his shoulders, turned away, saying:
"I guess this can wait awhile."
The boys, after a brief call in the office, went on to town. Mr.
Melville was fond of horses, and still drove a handsome pair.
"There comes Don Melville in his father's carriage. I don't wonder they hang on to it. Those horses are beauties," remarked Hal.
The carriage stopped and Don jumped out.
"Say, you muckers, things are happening and you won't be needed now on the 'Pollard.'"
"Really?" drawled Jack indifferently.