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looked aghast at hearing Tom say this.

"Has he some good reason for fearing such a thing, Tom?" he hastened to ask.

"He has," came the other's reply. "There was a German who tried hard to get on friendly terms with my father. He finally hinted very broadly that his Government, in order to secure the secret of the new stabilizer, stood ready to double any amount of money our Government at Washington had offered."

"Whew! then he must have been a secret agent of Wilhelmstrasse!" suggested Jack, with bated breath.

"There's not the slightest doubt about it." And Tom frowned and looked very determined. "No one could have made such a promise unless he was in close touch with the German Legation at Washington and the pay agents of the Kaiser in New York City."

"Of course your father refused to consider any offer from German sources," continued Jack, eagerly.