“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: