pened to overhear two of them talking down in the lobby a while
ago. They didn't make any secret of it. They spoke freely of going
with Beecher to some ancient city in Honduras, to look for an idol of
gold."

"They did? But where is Beecher?"

"He hasn't joined them yet. Their plans have been changed. Instead of
leaving on the same steamer we are to take in the morning they are to
come on a later one. The professors here are waiting for Beecher to
come."

"Why isn't he here now?"

"Well, I heard one of the other scientists say that he had gone to a
place called Fayetteville, and will come on from there."

"Fayetteville!" ejaculated Tom. "Yes. That isn't far from Shopton."

"I know," assented Tom. "I wonder--I wonder why he is going there?"

"I can tell you that, too."

"You can? You're a regular detective."

"No, I just happened to overhear it. Beecher is going to call on Mary
Nestor in Fayetteville, so his friends here said he told them, and his
call has to do with an important matter--to him!" and Ned gazed
curiously at his chum.

CHAPTER VIII

OFF FOR HONDURAS

Just what Tom's thoughts were, Ned, of course, could not guess. But by
the flush that showed under the tan of his chum's cheeks the young
financial secretary felt pretty certain that Tom was a bit apprehensive
of the outcome of Professor Beecher's call on Mary Nestor.

"So he is going to see her about 'something important,' Ned?"

"That's what some members of his party called it."

"And they're waiting here for him to join them?"

"Yes. And it means waiting a week for another steamer. It must be
something pretty important, don't you think, to cause Beecher to risk
that delay in starting after the idol of gold?"

"Important? Yes, I suppose so," assented Tom. "And yet even if he
waits for the next steamer he will get to Honduras nearly as soon as we
do."

"How is that?"

"The next boat is a faster one."

"Then why don't we take that? I hate dawdling along on a slow
freighter."

"Well, for one thing it would hardly do to change now, when all our
goods are on board. And besides, the captain of the _Relstab_, on
which we are going to sail, is a friend of Professor Bumper's."

"Well, I'm just as glad Beecher and his party aren't going with us,"
resumed Ned, after a pause. "It might make trouble."

"Oh, I'm ready for any trouble HE might make!" quickly exclaimed Tom.

He meant trouble that might be developed