admitted Tom. "But several times I have seen
the bearded man going in there, and it's only a single stateroom, for
it's so marked on the deck plan."

"Waddington might be disguised with a false beard, Tom."

"Yes, he might. But did the man who just now looked out have a beard?"

"I couldn't tell, as I saw only the upper part of his face. But those
were Waddington's shifty eyes, I'm positive."

"If Waddington were on board don't you suppose you would have seen him
before this?"

"Not positively, no. If he and the bearded man are one and the same
that would account for it. But I haven't noticed the bearded man once
since he came aboard in such a hurry."

"Nor have I, now that I come to think of it," Tom admitted. "However,
there is an easy way to prove who is in there."

"How?"

"We'll knock on the door and go in."

"Perhaps he won't let us."

"He'll think it's the steward he called for. Come, you know Waddington
better than I do. You knock and go in."

"I don't know Waddington very well," admitted the contractor. "I have
only seen him a few times, but I am sure that was he. But what shall I
do when he sees I'm not the steward?"

"Tell him you have sent for one. I'll go with the message, so it will
be true enough. Even if you have only a momentary glance at him in
close quarters you ought to be able to tell whether or not he has on a
false beard, and whether or not it is Waddington."

Mr. Titus considered for a moment, and then he said:

"Yes, I guess that is a good plan. You go for the steward, Tom, and
I'll see if I can get in that stateroom. But I'm sure I'm not mistaken.
I'll find Waddington in there, perhaps in the person of the bearded
man, disguised. Or else they are using a single stateroom as a double
one." And while Tom went off down the pitching and rolling corridor to
find a steward, Mr. Titus, not without some apprehension, advanced to
knock on the door of the suspect.

"If it is Waddington he'll know me at once, of course," thought the
contractor, "and there may be a row. Well, I can't help it. The success
of my brother and myself depends on finishing that tunnel, and we can't
have Waddington, and those whose tool he is, interfering. Here goes!"

He tapped on the door, and a faint voice called:

"Come in!"

The contractor entered, and saw the bearded man lying in his berth.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the contractor, bending
close over the man. He wanted to see if th