"but I will be frank with you, Mr. Jenks. I hardly can believe what
you have stated to me several times--that you know how diamonds
can be made."

"I can prove it to you," was the quiet answer.

"Yes, I know. For centuries men have tried to discover the
secret of transmuting base metals into gold, and how to make
diamonds by chemical means. But they have all been failures."

"All except this process--the process used at Phantom
Mountain," insisted the queer man. "Do you want to hear my
story?"

"I have no objections."

"Then let me warn you," went on Mr. Jenks, "that if you do hear
it, you will be so fascinated by it that I am sure you will want
to cast your lot in with mine, and aid me to get my rights, and
solve the mystery. And I also want to warn you that if you do,
there is a certain amount of danger connected with it."

"I'm used to danger," answered Tom, quietly. "Let me hear your
story. But first explain how you came to come here, and why you
acted so strangely at the jewelry store."

"Willingly. I tried to attract your attention at the store,
because I saw that you were going to buy a diamond, and I didn't
want you to."