"
"Why isn't he here now?"
"Well, I heard one of the other scientists say
that he had gone to a place called Fayetteville,
and will come on from there."
"Fayetteville!" ejaculated Tom.
"Yes. That isn't far from Shopton."
"I know," assented Tom. "I wonder--I wonder
why he is going there?"
"I can tell you that, too."
"You can? You're a regular detective."
"No, I just happened to overhear it. Beecher
is going to call on Mary Nestor in Fayetteville,
so his friends here said he told them, and his call
has to do with an important matter--to him!"
and Ned gazed curiously at his chum.
CHAPTER VIII
OFF FOR HONDURAS
Just what Tom's thoughts were, Ned, of
course, could not guess. But by the flush that
showed under the tan of his chum's cheeks the
young financial secretary felt pretty certain that
Tom was a bit apprehensive of the outcome of
Professor Beecher's call on Mary Nestor.
"So he is going to see her about `something
important,' Ned?"
"That's what some members of his party called
it."
"And they're waiting here for him to join
them?"
"Yes. And it means waiting a week for
another steamer. It must be something pretty
important, don't you think, to cause Beecher to
risk that delay in starting after the idol of gold?"
"Important? Yes, I suppose so," assented
Tom. "And yet even if he waits for the next
steamer he will get to Honduras nearly as soon
as we do."
"How is that?"
"The next boat is a faster one.
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