“My idea is that he learned—there was an accomplice on the yacht——”
“Mimi?”
“Perhaps! He must have learned that the real gems were not ruined at all,” Mr. Whiteside explained.
“Do you think his confederate threw the real ones overboard, in the life preserver, with the ruined imitations tied to it?”
Turning to answer Larry, the detective hesitated.
“That doesn’t check up,” he said. “The confederate—Mimi—knew the imitations! She wouldn’t throw them at all. If she knew the real ones were hidden in that life belt she’d have flung that. But we know that the imitations went overside and were in the gum—as Sandy cleverly discovered. So—that makes it all muddled up again!”
“I don’t understand how the haunted hangar comes in,” protested Larry.
“That’s what I want to discover. It does come in—I’m sure of that! You, and Dick and Sandy, can help, I believe. Two to watch the hangar, taking turns, and with my aid whenever I can manage it. You, Larry, to perfect your flying technique and be ready if I need you.”
“It sounds good to me!” urged Larry, turning to his chums.
“Well, I say, let’s reorganize,” Dick had a twinkle in his eye. “You, Larry, will be the sole member of the Sky Patrol—and Sandy and I will be—er—the ‘ground crew’!”