Tom Swift made up his mind quickly. After all it would be easy enough to find out if the diamonds were real. If they were, he could then decide whether or not to go with Mr. Jenks on the mysterious quest. So he answered:
“I'll consider the matter, Mr. Jenks. I'll meet you here to-morrow night. In the meanwhile, for my own satisfaction, I'll let an expert look at these stones.”
“Get the greatest diamond expert in the world, and he'll pronounce them perfect!” predicted the odd man. “Now I'll bid you goodnight, and be going. I'll be here at this time to-morrow.”
As Mr. Jenks turned aside there was a movement among the trees in the orchard, and a shadowy figure was seen hurrying away.
“Who's that?” asked the diamond man, in a hoarse whisper. “Did you see that, Tom Swift? Some one was here—listening to what I said! Perhaps it was the man who has been shadowing me!”
“I think not. I guess it was Eradicate Sampson, a colored man who does work for us,” said Tom. “Is that you, Rad?” he called.
“Yais, sah, Massa Tom, heah I is!” answered the voice of the negro, but it came from an entirely different direction than that in which the shadowy figure had been seen.
“Where are you, Rad?” called the young inventor.
“Right heah,” was the reply, and the colored man came from the direction of the stable. “I were jest out seein' if mah mule Boomerang were all right. Sometimes he's restless, an' don't sleep laik he oughter.”
“Then that wasn't you over in the orchard?” asked Tom, in some uneasiness.