charming creature!"

CHAPTER III

ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB

An hour after dinner the orchestra of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into
the first two-step.

The big ballroom was already two thirds as well filled as it could be
with comfort. Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides. The
orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
Scores of young women in all varieties of handsome evening dress
enlivened the appearance of the scene. Their gems cast glitter and
enchantment. There were men enough, too, for partners in the dance,
the men behind expanses of white shirt-front and clad in the black of
evening dress.

Just a few of the men, however, lent additional color to the scene.
These were officers and midshipmen from the "Waverly," who came attired
in the handsome blue, gold-braided dress uniforms of the service.

Among the guests of the hotel who attended the dance were Jacob Farnum
and his two young submarine experts; Jack Benson and Hal Hastings. The
shipbuilder had come ashore with his young friends, registering at the
Clayton and taking rooms there.

"It's time for you youngsters to get ashore and have a little gaiety,"
Farnum had declared. "If you don't mix with lively people once in a
while, you'll rust even while you keep the 'Benson's' machinery bright."

Jack and Hal had agreed to this. Eph, however, had expressed himself
decidedly as preferring to remain on board the submarine for the time.
Williamson, too, had elected to remain on board, and so had David
Pollard, who rarely cared for anything in the social line.

On the floor, even before the music struck up, was M. Lemaire. He was
in the usual black evening dress, though on his wide shirt front
glistened the jeweled decoration of some order conferred upon him by a
European sovereign.

A handsome and distinguished figure did M. Lemaire present. He nodded
affably to many of the ladies in passing, and the interest with which
his greetings were acknowledged proved that M. Lemaire was in a gathering
where he could boast many acquaintances.

Almost at the first, M. Lemaire had succeeded in having Captain Jack
Benson pointed out to him. The tall, sallow man looked over the
submarine boys eagerly, though covertly. He beheld them in handsome
dress uniforms, very much like those worn by the naval officers, for
Jacob Farnum had