TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
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Victor Appleton >> TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
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"I'd like to get an expert opinion as to whether or not those
stones are diamonds," spoke Tom, to the polite clerk who came up
to wait on him, and our hero handed over the two gems which Mr.
Jenks had given him. "I'm willing to pay for the appraisement, of
course," the young inventor added, as he saw the clerk looking
rather doubtfully at him, for Tom had on a rough suit, which he
always donned when he flew in his monoplane.
"I'll turn them over to our Mr. Porter, a gem expert," said the
clerk. "Please be seated."
The young man disappeared into a private office with the
stones, and Tom waited. He wondered if he was going to have his
trouble for his pains. Presently two elderly gentlemen came from
the little room, on the glass door of which appeared the word
"Diamonds."
"Who brought these stones in?" asked one of the men, evidently
the proprietor, from the deference paid him by the clerk. The
latter motioned to Tom.
"Will you kindly step inside here?" requested the elderly man.
When the door was closed, Tom found himself in a room which was
mostly taken up with a bench for the display of precious stones,
a few chairs, and some lights arranged peculiarly; while various
scales and instruments stood on a table.
"You wished an opinion on--on these?" queried the proprietor of
the place. Tom noticed at once that the word "diamonds" was not
used.
"I wanted to find out if they were of any value," he said. "Are
they diamonds?"
"Would you mind stating where you got them?" asked the other of
the two men.
"Is that necessary?" inquired the lad. "I came by them in a
legitimate manner, if that's what you mean, and I can satisfy you
on that point. I am willing to pay for any information you may
give me as to their value."
"Oh, it isn't that," the proprietor hastened to assure him.
"But these are diamonds of such a peculiar kind, so perfect and
without a flaw, that I wondered from what part of the world they
came."
"Then they are diamonds?" asked Tom, eagerly.
"The finest I have ever tested!" declared the other man,
evidently Mr. Porter, the gem expert. "They are a joy to look at,
Mr. Roberts," he went on, turning to the proprietor. "If it is
possible to get a supply of them you would be justified in asking
half as much again as we charge for African or Indian diamonds.
The Kimberly products are not to be compared to these," and he
looked at the two stones in his hand--the one cut, and sparkling
brilliantly, the other in a rough state.
"Do you care to state where these diamonds came from?" asked
Mr. Roberts, looking critically at Tom.
"I had rather not," answered the lad. "It is enough for me to
know that they are diamonds. How much is your charge?"
"Nothing," was the unexpected answer. "We are very glad to have
had the opportunity of seeing such stones. Is there any chance of
getting any more?"
"Perhaps," answered Tom, as he accepted the gems which the
expert held out to him.
"Then might we speak for a supply?" went on Mr. Roberts,
eagerly. "We will pay you the full market price."
"What is the value of these stones?" asked Tom.
Mr. Roberts looked at his gem expert.
"It is difficult to say," was the answer of the man who had
handed Tom the gems. "They are so far superior to the usual run
of diamonds, that I feel justified in saying that the cut one
would bring fifteen hundred dollars, anywhere. In fact, I would
offer that for it. The other is larger, though what it would lose
in cutting would be hard to say. I should say it was worth two
thousand dollars as it is now."
"Thirty-five hundred dollars for these two stones!" exclaimed
Tom.
"They are worth every cent of it," declared Mr. Roberts. "Do
you want to sell?"
Tom shook his head. He could scarcely believe the good news.
Mr. Jenks had told the truth. Now the young inventor could go
with him to seek the diamond makers.
"Can you get any more of these?" went on Mr. Roberts.
"I think so--that is I don't know--I am going to try," answered
the lad.
"Then if you succeed I wish you would sell us some," fairly
begged the proprietor of the store.
"I will," promised Tom, but he little knew what lay before him,
or perhaps he would not have made that promise. He thanked the
diamond merchant for his kindness, and arranged to have the cut
stone set in a pin for Miss Nestor. The uncut gem Tom took away
with him.
Thinking of many things, and wondering how best to start in his
airship Red Cloud for the mysterious Phantom Mountain, Tom
hurried back to where he had left the monoplane, wheeled it out,
and was soon soaring through the air toward Shopton.
"I think I'll go with Mr. Jenks," he decided, as he prepared
for a landing in the open space near his aeroplane shed. "It will
be a risky trip, perhaps, but I've taken risks before. When Mr.
Jenks comes to-night I'll tell him I'll help him to get his
rights, and discover the secret of the diamond makers."
As Tom was wheeling the Butterfly into the shed, Eradicate came
out to help him.
"Dere's a gen'man here to see yo', Massa Tom," said the colored
man.
"Who is it?"
"I dunno. He keep askin' ef yo' de lad what done bust up
Earthquake Island, an' send lightnin' flashes up to de sky, an'
all sech questions laik dat."
"It isn't Mr. Damon; is it, Rad? He hasn't been around in some
time."
"No, Massa Tom, it ain't him. I knows dat blessin' man good an'
proper. I jest wish he'd bless mah mule Boomerang some day, an'
take some oh de temper out ob him. No, sah, it ain't Massa Damon.
De gen'man's in de airship shed waitin' fo' you."
"In the airship shed! No strangers are allowed in there, Rad."
"I knows it, Massa Tom, but he done persisted his se'f inter
it, an' he wouldn't come out when I told him; an' your pa an' Mr.
Jackson ain't home."
"I'll see about this," exclaimed Tom, striding to the large
shed, where the Red Cloud was kept. As he entered it he saw a man
looking over the wonderful craft.
"Did you want to see me?" asked Tom, sharply, for he did not
like strangers prowling around.
"I did, and I apologize for entering here, but I am interested
in airships, and I thought you might want to hire a pilot. I am
in need of employment, and I have had considerable to do with
balloons and aeroplanes, but never with an airship like this,
which combines the two features. Do you wish to hire any one."
"No, I don't!" replied Tom, sharply, for he did not like the
looks of the man.
"I was told that you did," was the rather surprising answer.
"Who told you?"
The man looked all around the shed, before replying, as if
fearful of being overheard. Then, stepping close to Tom, he
whispered:
"Mr. Jenks told me!"
"Mr. Jenks?" Tom could not conceal his astonishment.
"Yes. Mr. Barcoe Jenks. But I did not come here to merely ask
you for employment. I would like to hire out to you, but the real
object of my visit was to say this to you."
The man approached still closer to Tom, and, in a lower voice,
and one that could scarcely be heard, he fairly hissed:
"Don't go with Barcoe Jenks to seek the diamond makers!"
Then, before Tom could put out a hand to detain him, had the
lad so wished, the man turned suddenly, and fairly ran from the
shed.
CHAPTER VI-MR. DAMON IS ON HAND
The young inventor stood almost spellbound for a few moments.
Then recovering himself he made a dash for the door through which
the mysterious man had disappeared. Tom saw him sprinting down
the road, and was half-minded to take after him, but a cooler
thought warned him that he had better not.
"He may be one of those men who are on Mr. Jenks' trail,"
reasoned Tom, in which case it might not be altogether safe to
attempt to stop him, and make him explain. Or he may be a
lunatic, and in that case it wouldn't be altogether healthy to
interfere with him.
"I'll just let him go, and tell Mr. Jenks about him when he
comes to-night. But I must warn Rad never to let him in here
again. He might damage the airship."
Calling to the colored man, Tom pointed to the stranger, who
was almost out of sight down the road, and said earnestly:
"Rad, do you see that fellow?"
"I sho do, Massa Tom, but I sorter has t' strain my eyes t' do
it. He's goin' laik my mule Boomerang does when he's comm' home
t' dinnah."
"That's right, Rad. Well, never let that man set foot inside
our fence again! If he comes, and I'm home, call me. If I'm away,
call dad or Mr. Jackson, and if you're here alone, drive him
away, somehow."
"I will, Massa Tom!" exclaimed the colored man, earnestly, "an'
if I can't do it alone, I'll get Boomerang t' help. Once let dat
ar' mule git his heels on a pusson, an' dat pusson ain't goin' t'
come bodderin' around any mo'--that is, not right away."
"I believe you, Rad. Well, keep a lookout for him, and don't
let him in," and with that Tom entered the house to think over
matters. They were beginning to assume an aspect he did not
altogether like. Not that Tom was afraid of danger, but he
preferred to meet it in the open, and the warning, or threat, of
the mysterious man disquieted him.
When Mr. Swift came home, a little later, his son told him of
the midnight interview with Mr. Jenks, for, up to this time, the
aged inventor was unaware of it, and Tom also gave an account of
the diamonds, speaking of their value.
"And do you propose to go to Phantom Mountain, in search of the
makers of these gems, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift.
"I had about decided to do so, dad."
"And you're going in the Red Cloud?'
"Yes."
"Who are going with you?"
"Well, Mr. Jenks will go, of course, and I've no doubt but that
if I mention the prospective trip to Mr. Damon, that he'll bless
his skating cap, or something like that, and come along."
"I suppose so, Tom, and I'd like to have you take him. But I
think you'll need some one else."
"Because, from what you have told me, you are going out to a
dangerous part of the country, and you may have to deal with
unscrupulous men. Three of you are hardly enough to cope with
them. You ought to have at least another member of your party. If
I was not busy on my invention of a new wireless motor I would go
along, but I can't leave. You might take Mr. Jackson."
"No, you need him here to help you, dad."
"How about Eradicate?"
Tom smiled.
"Rad would get homesick for his mule Boomerang, and I'd have to
bring him back just when we'd found the diamonds," replied the
young inventor. "No, we'll have to think of some one else. I'll
ask Mr. Damon, and then I'll consider matters further. I expect
to see Mr. Jenks to-night, and he may have some one in mind."
"Perhaps that will be a good plan. Well, Tom, I trust you will
take good care of yourself, and not run into unnecessary danger.
Is the Red Cloud in good shape for the voyage?"
"It needs looking over. I'm going to get right at it."
"It's a pretty indefinite sort of a quest you're going on, Tom,
my son. How do you expect to find Phantom Mountain?"
"Well, it's going to be quite a task. In the first place we'll
head for Leadville, Colorado, and then we'll go to Indian Ridge
and make some inquiries. We may get on the track of the place
that way. If we don't, why I'll take the airship up as high as is
necessary and sort of prospect until we see that big cliff that's
shaped like a head. That will give us something to go by."
"Well, do the best you can. If you can discover the secret of
making diamonds it will be a valuable one."
"I guess it will, dad; and Mr. Jenks is entitled to know it,
for he paid his good money to that end. He has promised to go
halves with me, as payment for the use of the airship, and I must
say the two diamonds he gave me last night have proved very
valuable."
"Two diamonds, Tom? You only showed me one, an uncut gem"; and
Mr. Swift looked at his son.
"Oh, the other--er--the other is--I left it with a jeweler,"
and Tom blushed a trifle, as he thought of the present he
contemplated making to Mary Nestor.
That afternoon, as Tom was out in the shed of the Red Cloud
looking over the airship, to see what would be necessary to do to
it in order to get it in shape for a long trip, he heard voices
outside.
"Yes--yes, I know the way in perfectly well," he caught. "You
needn't bother to come, my good fellow. Just step this way, and
I'll show you something worth seeing."
"I wonder if it's that mysterious man coming back?" thought
Tom. He dropped the tool he was using, and hurried to the door.
As he approached it he heard the voice continue.
"Why bless my shoe laces, Mr. Parker! You'll see a wonderful
airship, I promise you. Wonderful! Bless my hatband, but I hope
Tom is here!"
"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed our hero, as he recognized the tones of
his eccentric friend. "But who is with him?"
A moment later he caught sight of the gentleman who was always
blessing himself, or something. Behind him stood another man,
whose features Tom could not see plainly.
"Hello, Tom Swift!" called Mr. Damon. "Looking over the Red
Cloud, eh? Does that mean you're off on another trip?"
"I guess it does," answered the lad.
"Where to this time? if I may ask."
"I'm thinking of going off to the mountains to find a band of
men engaged in making diamonds," replied Tom.
"Making diamonds! Bless my finger ring! Making diamonds! A trip
to the mountains! Bless my disposition! but do you know I'd like
to go with you!"
"I was thinking of asking you, Mr. Damon."
"Were you? Bless my heart, I'm glad you thought of me. You
don't by any possible chance want another person; do you?"
"We were thinking of having four in the party, Mr. Damon," and
Tom wondered who was with his eccentric friend.
"Then bless my election ticket! This is the very chance for
you, Mr. Parker!" cried Mr. Damon. "Will you go with us? It will
be just what you need," and Mr. Damon stepped aside, revealing to
Tom the features of Mr. Ralph Parker, the scientist who had
correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island.
CHAPTER VII--MR. PARKER PREDICTS
Tom Swift was a most generous lad, but when he saw that Mr.
Damon had with him Mr. Parker, the gloomy scientist, who seemed
to take delight in predicting disasters, our hero's spirits were
not exactly of the best. He would have much preferred not to take
Mr. Parker on the quest for the diamond makers, but, since Mr.
Damon had mentioned it, he did not see how he could very well
refuse.
"But perhaps he won't care to go," thought Tom.
He was undeceived a moment later, however, for the scientist
remarked:
I am very glad to meet you once more, Mr. Swift. I have
scarcely thanked you enough for what you did for us in erecting
your wireless station on Earthquake Island, which, as you recall,
I predicted would sink into the sea. It did, I am glad to say,
not because I like to see islands destroyed, but because science
has been vindicated. Now I have just heard you remark that you
are about to set off to the mountains in search of some men who
are making diamonds. I need hardly state that this is utterly
useless, for no diamonds, commercially valuable, can be made by
men. But the trip may be valuable in that it will permit me to
demonstrate some scientific facts.
"Therefore, if you will permit me, I will be very glad to
accompany you and Mr. Damon. I shall be delighted, in short, and
I can start as soon as you are ready."
"There's no hope for it!" thought Tom, dismally. "I suppose
he'll wake up every morning, and predict that before night the
world will come to an end, or he'll prophesy that the airship
will blow up, and vanish, when about seven miles above the
clouds. Well, there's no way out of it, so here goes."
Thereupon Tom welcomed the scientist as cordially as he could,
and invited him to form one of the party that would set off in
the airship to search for Phantom Mountain.
"Bless my jewelry box!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, when this
formality was over. "Tell me more about it, Tom."
Which our hero did, stating the need of maintaining secrecy on
account of the danger to Mr. Jenks. Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker both
agreed to say nothing about the matter, and then the scientist
became much interested in the Red Cloud, which he closely
examined. He even complimented Tom on the skill shown in making
it, and, contrary to our hero's expectation, did not predict that
it would blow up the next time it was used.
"How did you happen to arrive just at this time, Mr. Damon?"
asked Tom.
"It was partly due to Mr. Parker," was the answer. "I had not
seen him since we were rescued from the island, until a few days
ago he called on me at my home. I happened to mention that you
lived near here, and suggested that he might like to see some of
your inventions. He agreed, and we came over in my auto. And now,
bless my liver-pin! I find you about to start off on another
trip."
"And have you fully decided to go with me?" asked Tom. "There
may be danger, and I don't like the way that mysterious man
behaved."
"Oh, bless my revolver!" cried Mr. Damon. "I'm used to danger
by this time. Of course I'm going, and so is Mr. Parker. Do you
know," and the man, who was always blessing something, came
closer to the lad, and whispered: "Do you know, Tom, Mr. Parker
is a very peculiar individual."
"I'm sure of it," answered the young inventor, looking at the
gentleman in question, who was then inside the airship cabin.
"But he's all right, even if he is predicting unpleasant
things," went on Mr. Damon. "I think we'll get better acquainted
with him after a bit."
"I hope so," agreed Tom, but he did not realize then how close
his companionship with Mr. Parker was to be, nor what dangers
they were to share later.
The friends talked at considerable length of the prospective
trip, and Tom, by this time, had ascertained what needed to be
done to the airship to get it in shape to travel. It would take
about a week, and, in the meanwhile, Mr. Damon would go home and
get his affairs in order for the voyage. Tom's father was
introduced to Mr. Parker, and, the former, finding that the
scientist held some views in common with him, invited the gloomy
predictor to remain at the Swift home until the Red Cloud was
ready to sail. Tom could not repress a groan at this, but he
decided he would have to make the best of it.
Mr. Damon left for home that afternoon, promising to be on hand
at the time set to start for Phantom Mountain.
Tom was up waiting for Mr. Jenks at twelve o'clock that night.
Shortly after the hour he saw a dark figure steal into the
orchard. At first he feared lest it might be one of the spies who
were, he was now convinced, on the trail of the man who was
seeking to discover the secret of the diamond makers. But a
whistle, which came to the lad's ear a moment later (that being a
signal Mr. Jenks had agreed to sound), told Tom that it was none
other than the visitor he expected.
"All right, Mr. Jenks, I'm here," called Tom, cautiously. "Come
over this way," and he went out from the shadow of the house,
where he had been waiting, and met the men. "We'll go into my
private work-shop," the youth added, leading the way.
"Have you decided to go with me?" asked Mr. Jenks, in an
anxious whisper. "Did you find the diamonds to be real ones?"
"I did; and I'm going," spoke Tom.
"Good! That relieves my mind. But we are still in danger. I was
followed by my shadower to-day, and only succeeded in shaking him
off just before coming here. I don't believe he knows what I am
about to do."
"Oh, yes he does," said Tom.
"He does? How?"
"Because he was here, and warned me against you!"
"You don't mean it! Well, they are getting desperate! We must
be on our guard. What sort of a man was he?"
Tom described the fellow, and Mr. Jenks stated that this
tallied with the appearance of the person who had been shadowing
him.
"But we'll fool them yet!" cried Tom, who had now fully entered
into the spirit of the affair. "If they can follow us in the Red
Cloud they're welcome to. I think we'll get ahead of them."
He then told of Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Jenks agreed
that it would add to the strength of the party to take these two
gentlemen along.
"Though I can't say I care so much for Mr. Parker," he added.
"But now as to ways and means. When can we start?"
Thereupon he and Tom talked over details in the seclusion of
the little office, and arranged to leave Shopton in about a week.
In the meanwhile the airship would be overhauled, stocked with
supplies and provisions, and be made ready for a swift dash to
the mountains.
"And now I must be going," said Mr. Jenks. "I have a great deal
to do before I can start on this trip, and I hope I am not
prevented by any of those men who seem to be trailing me."
"How could they prevent you?" Tom wanted to know.
"Oh, there are any number of ways," was the answer. "But I'm
glad you found that my diamonds were real. We'll soon have
plenty, if all goes well."
As Mr. Jenks left the shop, he started back, in some alarm.
"What's the matter?" asked Tom.
"Over there--I thought I saw a figure sneaking along under the
trees--that man--perhaps--"
"That's Eradicate, our colored helper," replied Tom, with a
laugh. "I posted him there to see that no strangers came into the
orchard. Everything all right, Rad?" he asked, raising his voice.
"Yais, sah, Massa Tom. Nobody been around yeah this night."
"That's good. You can go to bed now," and Eradicate, yawning
loudly, went to his shack. A little later Tom sought his own
room, Mr. Jenks having hurried off to town, where he was
boarding.
The next few days saw Tom busily engaged on the airship, making
some changes and a few repairs that were needed. His father,
Eradicate and Mr. Jackson helped him. As for Mr. Parker, the
scientist, he went about the place, being much interested in the
various machines which Tom or Mr. Swift had patented.
At other times the scientist would stroll about the extensive
grounds, making what he said were "observations." One afternoon
Tom saw him, apparently much excited, kneeling down back of a
shed, with his ear to the ground.
"What is the matter?" asked the lad, thinking perhaps Mr.
Parker might be ill.
"Have you ever had any earthquakes here, Tom Swift?" asked the
scientist, quietly.
"Earthquakes? No. We had enough of them on the island."
"And you are going to have one here, in about two minutes!"
cried Mr. Parker. "I predict that this place will be shaken by a
tremendous shock very soon. We had all better get away from the
vicinity of buildings."
"What makes you think there will be an earthquake?" asked Tom.
"Because I can hear the rumbling beneath the ground at this
very minute. It is increasing in volume, showing that the tremors
are working this way. There will soon be a great subterranean
upheaval! Listen for yourself."
Tom cast himself down on the grass. Placing his ear close to
the ground he did hear a series of dull thuds. He arose, not a
little alarmed. There had never been any earthquakes in Shopton,
yet he had great respect for Mr. Parker's scientific attainments.
Just then Eradicate Sampson came along. He saw Tom and Mr.
Parker lying flat on the ground, and surprise showed on his
honest, black face.
"Fo' de land sakes!" cried Eradicate. "What am de mattah now,
Massa Tom?"
"Earthquake coming," answered Tom, briefly. "Better get away
from the buildings, Rad. They might fall!" Tom's face showed the
alarm he felt. What would happen to all of his valuable
machines--to the Red Cloud?
"Earthquake?" murmured Eradicate, and he, too, cast himself
down to listen. A moment later he arose with a laugh.
"What's the matter?" cried Tom.
"Why, dat ain't no earthquake!" declared the colored man.
"No. Then perhaps you know what it is," said Mr. Parker,
somewhat sharply.
"Course I knows what it am," answered Eradicate, with dignity.
"Dat noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on
account oh me not feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine
right now t' gib him his oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop.
Boomerang allers kick dat way when he's hungry. I show yo'!"
And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable,
which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds,
they immediately ceased.
"Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here," said the
colored man as he came out.
Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make
any comments--just then.
CHAPTER VIII--OFF FOR THE WEST
It was a great relief to Tom, to find that there was no danger
from an earth tremor. Now that he had made up his mind to go in
search of the diamond makers, he wanted nothing to interfere with
it. Lest the feelings of Mr. Parker might be hurt by the mistake
he had made, the young inventor cautioned Eradicate not to say
anything more about the matter.
"'Deed an' I won't," the colored man promised. "I'se only too
glad dere wa'n't no earthquake, dat's what I is."
As for Mr. Parker, he did not appear much put out by his error
in predicting.
"I am sure that what I heard was a tremor, due to some distant
earthquake shock," he said. "The mule's kicking was only a
coincidence."
And Tom let him have his way about it. The week was drawing to
a close, and the Red Cloud was nearly in shape for the voyage. At
almost the last minute Tom found that he needed some electrical
apparatus for the airship, and as he had to go to Chester for it,
he decided he would make the trip in his monoplane, and, while in
the city, would also get the diamond pin he was having made for
Mary Nestor.
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