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knows about the idol of gold； and is trying to get ahead of Professor
Bumper in the search。〃
〃He did say something of it； but nothing was certain；〃 remarked Tom。
〃But it is certain！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my toothpick； it's
altogether too certain！〃
〃How is that？〃 asked Tom。 〃Is Beecher certainly going to
Honduras？〃
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〃Yes； of course。 But what is worse； he and his party will leave New
York on the same steamer with us！〃
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CHAPTER VII
TOM HEARS SOMETHING
On hearing Mr。 Damon's rather startling announcement； Tom and
Ned looked at one another。 There seemed to be something back of the
simple statementan ominous and portending 〃something。〃
〃On the same steamer with us； is he？〃 mused Tom。
〃How did you learn this？〃 asked Ned。
〃Just got a wire from Professor Bumper telling me。 He asked me to
telephone to you about it； as he was too busy to call up on the long
distance from New York。 But instead of 'phoning I decided to come over
myself。〃
〃Glad you did；〃 said Tom； heartily。 〃Did Professor Bumper want us
to do anything special； now that it is certain his rival will be so close on
his trail？〃
〃Yes； he asked me to warn you to be careful what you did and said in
reference to the expedition。〃
〃Then does he fear something？〃 asked Ned。
〃Yes； in a way。 I think he is very much afraid this young Beecher
will not only be first on the site of the underground city； but that he may be
the first to discover the idol of gold。 It would be a great thing for a
young archaeologist like Beecher to accomplish a mission of this sort； and
beat Professor Bumper in the race。〃
〃Do you think that's why Beecher decided to go on the same steamer
we are to take？〃 asked Ned。
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃Though from what Professor Bumper
said I know he regards Professor Beecher as a perfectly honorable man； as
well as a brilliant student。 I do not believe Beecher or his party would
stoop to anything dishonorable or underhand； though they would not
hesitate； nor would we； to take advantage of every fair chance to win in
the race。〃
〃No； I suppose that's right；〃 observed Tom； but there was a queer
gleam in his eye； and his chum wondered if Tom did not have in mind the
prospective race between himself and Fenimore Beecher for the regard of
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Mary Nestor。 〃We'll do our best to win； and any one is at liberty to travel
on the same steamer we are to take；〃 added the young inventor； and his
tone became more incisive。
〃It will be all the livelier with two expeditions after the same golden
idol；〃 remarked Ned。
〃Yes； I think we're in for some excitement；〃 observed Tom grimly。
But even he did not realize all that lay before them ere they would reach
Kurzon。
Mr。 Damon； having delivered his message； and remarking that his
preparations for leaving were nearly completed； went back to Waterfield；
from there to proceed to New York in a few days with Tom and Ned； to
meet Professor Bumper。
〃Well； I guess we have everything in pretty good shape；〃 remarked
Tom to his chum a day or so after the visit of Mr。 Damon。 〃Everything is
packed； and as I have a few personal matters to attend to I think I'll take
the afternoon off。〃
〃Go to it！〃 laughed Ned； guessing a thing of two。 〃I've got a raft of
stuff myself to look after； but don't let that keep you。〃
〃If there is anything I can do；〃 began Tom； 〃don't hesitate to〃
〃Nonsense！〃 exclaimed Ned。 〃I can do it all alone。 It's some of the
company's business； anyhow； and I'm paid for looking after that。〃
〃All right； then I'll cut along；〃 Tom said； and he wore a relieved air。
〃He's going to see Mary；〃 observed Ned with a grin； as he observed
Tom hop into his trim little roadster； which under his orders； Koku had
polished and cleaned until it looked as though it had just come from the
factory。
A little later the trim and speedy car drew up in front of the Nestor
home； and Tom bounded up on the front porch； his heart not altogether as
light as his feet。
〃No； I'm sorry； but Mary isn't in；〃 said Mrs。 Nestor； answering his
inquiry after greeting him。
〃Not at home？〃
〃No； she went on a little visit to her cousin's at Fayetteville。 She said
something about letting you know she was going。〃
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〃She did drop me a card；〃 answered Tom； and； somehow he did not
feel at all cheerful。 〃But I thought it wasn't until next week she was
going。〃
〃That was her plan； Tom。 But she changed it。 Her cousin wired；
asking her to advance the date； and this Mary did。 There was something
about a former school chum who was also to be at Myra's houseMyra is
Mary's cousin you know。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 assented the young inventor。 〃And so Mary is gone。
How long is she going to stay？〃
〃Oh； about two weeks。 She wasn't quite certain。 It depends on the
kind of a time she has； I suppose。〃
〃Yes； I suppose so；〃 agreed Tom。 〃Well； if you write before I do you
might say I called； Mrs。 Nestor。〃
〃I will； Tom。 And I know Mary will be sorry she wasn't here to take
a ride with you； it's such a nice day；〃 and the lady smiled as she looked at
the speedy roadster。
〃Maybemaybe you'd like to come for a spin？〃 asked Tom； half
desperately。
〃No； thank you。 I'm too old to be jounced around in one of those
small cars。〃
〃Nonsense！ She rides as easily as a Pullman sleeper。〃
〃Well； I have to go to a Red Cross meeting； anyhow； so I can't come；
Tom。 Thank you； just the same。〃
Tom did not drive back immediately to his home。 He wanted to do a
bit of think