speedy craft again took the air.

"You haven't heard anything from your uncle since last night, have
you?" asked Tom, as they flew along.

"Yes," answered Mary, "mother had a letter. He is worse, if anything,
and the doctor says the only thing that will save him is the knowledge
that the oil-well matter has turned out right and that my uncle will
get his share of the wealth."

"That's too bad!" sympathized Tom. "I hope we can make it turn out that
way. If the two Dixwell Hardley chaps are the same it may be that I can
do something for your uncle. If not--we'll have to wait and see."

It was not difficult for Tom and Mary to talk while in the aeroplane,
as it was almost noiseless. In due time, Bedford was reached without
mishap, and Tom and Mary were soon at the home of her uncle.

An explanation to the housekeeper and an inspection on the part of the
nurse, brought forth permission for Tom to see the patient. Though he
had never known Mr. Keith he could see that the man's health was indeed
fast waning.

Wasting little time in preliminaries, the object of the visit was told
and Tom showed the passport photograph of Dixwell Hardley.

"Is that the man who cheated you on the oil-well deal?" asked the young
inventor.

"I won't admit he has yet cheated me, but he is trying to!" exclaimed
Mr. Keith, with something of a return of his former spirit. "If I ever
get off my back I'm going to fight him tooth and nail. But that's the
same scoundrel! He got me to locate the wells, and when they panned out
big--bigger than either of us dreamed--he turned me out cold. He denied
he had ever offered to share with me, and said I was only working for
monthly wages! Why, sometimes I didn't get even that!"

"How did he get the best of you?" asked Tom.

"By making away with or hiding the papers by which I could prove our
partnership and my right to half a share in all the wells," answered
Mary's uncle. "Yes, that's the same man all right. I'd know his face
anywhere, and he has the same name."

"He isn't going under a false name, that's sure," agreed Tom. "He must
be a bold chap."

"He is--bold and unscrupulous! That's what makes him so successful in
his own way!" declared Mr. Keith. "And so you are working with him!
Well, I'm sorry for you."

"I'm not exactly working with him," replied Tom. "As a matter of fact,
I'm sorry I ever agreed to look for this wreck."

He told the details of the pending treasure-trove expedition, a