Jenks," began Tom, when he had descended to the
garden, and greeted the man who had acted so strangely on
Earthquake Island, "this is rather an odd time for a visit."
"I realize that, Tom Swift," was the answer, and the lad
noticed that the man spoke much more calmly than he had that
evening at the jewelry shop. "I realize that, but I have to be
cautious in my movements."
"Why?"
"Because there are enemies on my track. If they thought I was
seeking aid to discover the secret of Phantom Mountain, my life
might pay the forfeit."
"Are you in earnest, Mr. Jenks?"
"I certainly am, and, while I must apologize for awakening you
at this unseemly hour, and for the mysterious nature of my visit,
if you will let me tell my story, you will see the need of
secrecy."
"Oh, I don't mind being awakened," answered Tom, good-naturedly,
"but I will be frank with you, Mr. Jenks. I hardly can believe what
you have stated to me several times--that you know how diamonds
can be made."
"I can prove it to you," was the quiet answer.
"Yes, I know. For centuries men have tried to discover the
secret of transmuting base metals into gold, and how to make
diamonds by chemical means. But they have all been failures."
"All except this process--the process used at Phantom
Mountain," insisted the queer man.
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