The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip / Making Good" as Young Experts"

ing, Mr. Pollard?" asked Ca

e outer office. In his hands Jack carried a small wo

nventor, with a laugh. "I seem to have plen

oment, Benson led the way to one of the desks, opened t

behind to close the rear port of the torpedo tube and to operate the compressed air a little. So, valuable though our trick may be, it really means that, in case of serious accident, one member of the crew would have to remain behind in order to help the

d the inventor, examining

be and letting off some compressed air. By means of this automatic device the last fellow could let himself out safely. That's the theory, y

ether. Then Benson drew from an inner pocket, and spread out, some carefully made mechanical drawings that ma

did idea here," cried

work, though," s

t that, for a big percentage of my inventions have turned out to have more flaws than go

ows," replied t

ph, "although Hal Hastings and I

elfish admiration. "And you've made it plain just how you expect to attach this

hile to take the device up at this point, and work over it until you find out where the hitc

your idea, so nearly finished, and go

ovided it makes the 'Pollard' a world-beater. Do you care to take this in hand, Mr. Pollard,

o work over it. It'll be better than sleep to me for many a night to c

Hal Hastings. "The only thin

the better," gru

nestly. "But you boys, if the device can be made

. "By the way, here's something that may interest you. I've a letter from a man who writes a

ed Jack, "that we're only three ap

"My correspondent is pretty near righ

uttered Benson, more than half seriously,

ave been at work on," begged the inventor, ca

became absorbed in the idea

, Dave?" he asked, eagerl

Pollard. "The boys have been

writing right and left trying to raise more capital on terms that would be fair to us. Now, here's a letter from Broughton Emerson, a man worth millions. He admits that my letter has interested him. He'll come here, soon, and he states that, if we can show him a good

ood a showing as he expects," r

for the purchase of submarines. If we could get the Government to buy the 'Pollard,' that would show investors what's what in money-making." Benson's face was all aglow w

Navy Department?" smil

ing you that we may have

?" breathed Capt

ine boats are green with jealousy of us, just now. Your escaping trick, Jack, has made so much public clamor that Farnum stock is going up all over the c

r, inventor and crew dreamed! The f

his needed sleep, often refusing food, David Pollard attacked the problem of

en way of looking into things. No one could guess quite what he thought of the chances of success in the enterprise of building submarine boats. Before the day was over George

," hinted George Melville, "you want to be very

arnum business?" questio

f the 'Pollard' were a capable a boat as its backers claim, it wo

capital for your subm

a shrewd little t

ike the idea of your losing a lot of money with that other cro

aid Mr. Emerson, musingly. "I like people as enthusiastic as the

um will wish he never s

Melv

hy

olly ready to sell out

um b

lle?" demanded Mr. Emerson,

s about the 'Pollard.' He'll steal plans, shift to our employ, or s

other capitalist. "And you a

n be made by Ben

me whereby Jack could be hopelessly disgraced, had gone as far as to tell his father that Jack was willing t

Broughton Emerson, later that night. "Yet, if I put any money into the venture, on any t

s deliberate lie to his father, Captain Jack

, despite the advice he had received from Mr. Melville, was thinking most seriously of a

n they hear, won't it?" laughed Jack, in tal

they known of the plans forming to disgrace Jack Be