Uncle Ezra sat in gloomy silence during the remainder of the meal. Simon and Guy ate the last of the ham and eggs, and drained their coffee cups. "I _would_ like a cigar," began Simon, in a reflective sort of tone. "Then, you'll buy it yourself," fairly growled Mr. Larabee. "Boys shouldn't smoke, nor men neither. Now, if you've finished, and the land knows you've eaten enough for two days, we'll talk business. I have some work I think you can do for me, but it must be kept quiet. I'll pay this bill, though probably it'll be terrible high, and then we can go to some private room. Is there a secluded room here?" the old man asked the waitress. "Yes," she assented, as she handed Mr. Larabee a slip with the amount of the charge on it. "As much as that?" he gasped. "Can't you make it a little less?" "Those are the regular prices," she answered with scornfully curling lip, as she handed him the bill of fare. He scanned it carefully through his spectacles, and, finding that the waitress was right, slowly counted out the change. He wanted the girl to accept, with the other money, a quarter with a hole in it, which piece he had vainly tried to pass several times before, but without success. She took it to the proprietor, who offered to accept it at fifteen cents. "No, I won't take less than twenty-three for it," said Uncle Ezra. "It's a very small hole," and he put the quarter back in his pocket, to save for a future occasion. Carefully closing the door of the private room, to which the waitress showed him, Mr. Larabee had a long talk with Guy and Simon. That there were differences of opinion was evident from the loud voices which came from the apartment at times. Finally the old man was heard to say: "Well, that's my offer; take it or leave it." "It's very small pay, considering the risk we run, and counting that the boat might sink in a storm," said Guy. "Hush!" begged Mr. Larabee, "not so loud! Some one might hear you. Will you do the work, or not? I only want you to help the two men I've engaged." "Guess we might as well," assented Simon. "It will be a good trip for us. And you want us to help get Dick----" "Will you be quiet?" pleaded Mr. Larabee. "Now it's settled, and you can meet me in New York, say, in two days." "Then leave us the money for our railroad fares," demanded Guy, and with many a wry face, and after some hesitation, Uncle Ezra took out his wallet, removed a leather strap and several wrappings of cord from around it, and counted out some bills. With crafty smiles on their unpleasant faces, Guy and Simon pocketed the cash. "Now, Dick Hamilton can look out for himself," said Guy, as the three left the room. "I'll get even for the way he once treated me." "So will I," added Simon. "Only I hope Grit, his dog, isn't around when the thing comes off." CHAPTER XI PLUM DUFF OVERBOARD