ght
escape the earthquakes. Mr. Jenks said there was a certain secret in
connection with the manufactured diamonds that he had to solve--that he
had been defrauded of his rights--and that a certain Phantom Mountain
figured in it. But Tom, at that time, paid little attention to Mr.
Jenks' talk. The time was to come, however, when he would attach much
importance to it.

When this story opens, Tom was more interested in Mr. Barcoe Jenks than
in any one else, and was wondering what he wanted to see him about. The
young inventor could not quite understand how Mr. Track, the jeweler,
could come back with a lad he suspected of being a thief, when the
person who had acted so suspiciously, and who had knocked on the glass,
was the queer man, Mr. Jenks.

"Yes, Tom I caught him," the jeweler went on. "I chased after him, and
nabbed him. It was hard work, too, for I'm not a good runner. Now, you
little rascal, tell me why you tried to rob my store?" and the diamond
merchant shook the lad roughly.

"I--I didn't try to rob your store," was the timid answer.

"Well, perhaps you didn't, exactly, but your confederates did. Why did
you rap on the glass, and why were you staring in so intently?"

"I wasn't lookin' in."

"Well, if it wasn't you, it was some one just like you. But why did you
run when I raced down the street?"

"I--I don't know," and the lad began to snivel. "I--I jest ran--that's
all--'cause I see everybody else runnin', an' I thought there was a
fire."

"Ha! That's a likely story! You ran because you are guilty! I'm going to
hand you over to the police."

"Did he get anything, Mr. Track?" asked one of the men who had joined
the jeweler in the chase.

"No, I can't say that he did. He didn't get a chance. Tom Swift was
in here at the time. But this fellow was only waiting for a chance to
steal, or else to aid his confederates."

"But, if he didn't take anything, I don't see how you can have him
arrested," went on the man.

"On suspicion; that's how!" asserted Mr. Track. "Will some one get me a
constable?"

"I wouldn't call a constable," said Tom, quietly.

"Why not?"

"Because that isn't the person who looked in your window."

"How do you know, Tom?"

"Because that person came back while you were out. I saw him."

"You saw him? Did he try to steal any of my diamonds, Tom?"

"No, I guess he doesn't need any."

"Why not?" There was wonder in the jeweler's tone.

"Why, he claims he can make all he