“What for?”
“Tom Swift, I've something very important to tell you,” was the answer in a low voice, yet which carried to Tom's ears perfectly. “Do you want to make a fortune for yourself—and for me?”
“How?” Tom was beginning to think more and more that Mr. Jenks was crazy.
“How? By helping me to discover the secret of Phantom Mountain, where the diamonds are made! Will you?”
“Wait a minute—I'll come down,” answered Tom, and he began to grope for his clothes in the dim light of the little electric lamp.
What was the secret of Phantom Mountain? What did Mr. Jenks really want? Could he make diamonds? Tom asked himself these questions as he hastily dressed to go down to his midnight visitor.
CHAPTER III—A STRANGE STORY
“Well, Mr. 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.”