Jack Ready. He thinks he's a wizard at wireless. Why, do you
know him, Jarrow?"

Jarrow, at the sound of the name there, brought into Jack's mind the
recollections of the rascally partner of Terrill & Co., who had financed
his uncle's treasure hunt and had then tried to steal the hoard from
him. It was Jack who had overthrown the rascal's schemes and made him
seek refuge in the west to escape prosecution. Yet he had apparently
returned and in some way become associated with Judson. Noddy, too, as
had Bill, had started at the name. Both nudged Jack, who returned the
gesture to show that he had heard and understood.

"So Ready is here, eh?" growled Jarrow. "Confounded young milksop."

"You appear not to be very fond of him," interjected the elder Judson.

"Fond of him! I should think not! I hate him like poison."

"What did he ever do to you?"

"He--er--er--he upset an--er--er--business deal I was in with his
uncle."

"The one-legged old sea captain?"

"That's the fellow. He trusted me in everything till Jack Ready came
nosing in and spoilt his uncle's chance of becoming a rich man through
his association in business with me."

"I've no use for him either," exclaimed Donald vindictively. "I'll give
him a good licking when I see him."

"Well, well, let's get down to business," said the elder Judson
decisively. "You have been to Washington, Jarrow?"

"Yes, and found out something, but not much. The new naval wireless code
is not yet completed. I found out that by bribing a clerk in the Navy
Department and----"

"This business is proving pretty expensive," grumbled Judson.

"We're playing for a big stake," was the reply. "I found out that the
code has been placed in the hands of a Captain Simms, recently attached
to the revenue service, for revision. I believe that it is the same
Captain Simms against whom I have a grudge, for it was on his ship that
I was insulted by aspersions on my business honesty, and that, also, was
the work of this Jack Ready."

"Pity he didn't tell them that he was in irons at the time," thought
Jack to himself.

"Where is this Captain Simms?" asked Judson, not noticing, or appearing
not to, his companion's outbreak.

"That's just it," was the rejoinder. "Nobody knows. His whereabouts are
being kept a profound secret. Since it has become rumored that the Navy
wireless code was being revised, Washington fairly swarms with secret
agents of different governments. Simms is either abr