at a table.

Fifteen minutes later a stout, rather short, middle-aged man entered the
breakfast room in haste. He spoke to the head waiter, who pointed out
the table at which the submarine party sat.

Then the head waiter came over with a card and a letter which he handed
to Farnum.

"'Mr. Walter C. Hodges,'" read Farnum, from the card. Then, glancing at
the envelope "'Introducing Mr. Hodges.' It's from Judson, proprietor
of the hotel where I stop when in Washington," continued the shipbuilder,
as he glanced through the letter. "He asks me to extend any possible
courtesies to Mr. and Miss Hodges, for whom he vouches cordially."

Rising, Mr. Farnum stepped over to meet Mr. Hodges, shaking hands with
the stranger. Then the pair walked back to the table. Farnum quickly
presented Mr. Hodges to the others.

"Judson asks me to extend to you any possible courtesies," pursued the
shipbuilder. "I shall be very glad. Now, what can I do that will be
most agreeable to you?"

"Why--er--er--" began Mr. Hodges, hesitatingly, "the thing that my
daughter and I are most interested in is your line of boats. In fact,
we came over to Colfax to see what we could of the boats and the tests.
Now, my daughter and I would both like very much to go aboard one of
your boats. Yet, if this would be at all irregular, or cause you any
inconvenience, I beg you to refuse us, and we shall understand your
refusal."

None the less, the shipbuilder did feel and look embarrassed.

"I wish it were anything else on earth," Farnum replied, frankly. "For,
though it gives me more pain than you can understand, my dear Mr. Hodges,
it will be absolutely impossible for us to admit anyone to the submarine
boats during the present tests."

"Then say no more about it," replied Mr. Hodges, pleasantly. "I can
quite understand your position."

"There is just a bare chance, though," mused the shipbuilder, "that I
might manage to obtain an invitation for your daughter and yourself to
go out on one of the gunboats, and watch the submarine craft at their
work."

"Fine!" cried Hodges, with enthusiasm. "Yet, if it will inconvenience
you in the least, Mr. Farnum, I beg you to give no further thought to
it. Will you all, as soon as you are finished, come to the ladies'
parlor with me? My daughter will be most delighted at meeting real
submarine people."

"We are finished, now," replied Mr. Farnum, laying down his cigar, "and
it will give us great pl