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Fantasy Football Challenge presents
Tom Swift Among the Diamond Makers

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"You don't mean it! Well, they are getting desperate! We must be on our guard. What sort of a man was he?" Tom described the fellow, and Mr. Jenks stated that this tallied with the appearance of the person who had been shadowing him. "But we'll fool them yet!" cried Tom, who had now fully entered into the spirit of the affair. "If they can follow us in the Red Cloud they're welcome to. I think we'll get ahead of them." He then told of Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Jenks agreed that it would add to the strength of the party to take these two gentlemen along. "Though I can't say I care so much for Mr. Parker," he added. "But now as to ways and means. When can we start?" Thereupon he and Tom talked over details in the seclusion of the little office, and arranged to leave Shopton in about a week. In the meanwhile the airship would be overhauled, stocked with supplies and provisions, and be made ready for a swift dash to the mountains. "And now I must be going," said Mr. Jenks. "I have a great deal to do before I can start on this trip, and I hope I am not prevented by any of those men who seem to be trailing me." "How could they prevent you?" Tom wanted to know. "Oh, there are any number of ways," was the answer. "But I'm glad you found that my diamonds were real. We'll soon have plenty, if all goes well." As Mr. Jenks left the shop, he started back, in some alarm. "What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Over there--I thought I saw a figure sneaking along under the trees--that man--perhaps--" "That's Eradicate, our colored helper," replied Tom, with a laugh. "I posted him there to see that no strangers came into the orchard. Everything all right, Rad?" he asked, raising his voice. "Yais, sah, Massa Tom. Nobody been around yeah this night." "That's good. You can go to bed now," and Eradicate, yawning loudly, went to his shack. A little later Tom sought his own room, Mr. Jenks having hurried off to town, where he was boarding. The next few days saw Tom busily engaged on the airship, making some changes and a few repairs that were needed. His father, Eradicate and Mr. Jackson helped him. As for Mr. Parker, the scientist, he went about the place, being much interested in the various machines which Tom or Mr. Swift had patented. At other times the scientist would stroll about the extensive grounds, making what he said were "observations." One afternoon Tom saw him, apparently much excited, kneeling down back of a shed, with his ear to the ground. "What is the matter?" asked the lad, thinking perhaps Mr. Parker might be ill. "Have you ever had any earthquakes here, Tom Swift?" asked the scientist, quietly. "Earthquakes? No. We had enough of them on the island." "And you are going to have one here, in about two minutes!" cried Mr. Parker. "I predict that this place will be shaken by a tremendous shock very soon. We had all better get away from the vicinity of buildings." "What makes you think there will be an earthquake?" asked Tom. "Because I can hear the rumbling beneath the ground at this very minute. It is increasing in volume, showing that the tremors are working this way. There will soon be a great subterranean upheaval! Listen for yourself." Tom cast himself down on the grass. Placing his ear close to the ground he did hear a series of dull thuds. He arose, not a little alarmed. There had never been any earthquakes in Shopton, yet he had great respect for Mr. Parker's scientific attainments. Just then Eradicate Sampson came along. He saw Tom and Mr. Parker lying flat on the ground, and surprise showed on his honest, black face. "Fo' de land sakes!" cried Eradicate. "What am de mattah now, Massa Tom?" "Earthquake coming," answered Tom, briefly. "Better get away from the buildings, Rad. They might fall!" Tom's face showed the alarm he felt. What would happen to all of his valuable machinesto the Red Cloud? "Earthquake?" murmured Eradicate, and he, too, cast himself down to listen. A moment later he arose with a laugh. "What's the matter?" cried Tom. "Why, dat ain't no earthquake!" declared the colored man. "No. Then perhaps you know what it is," said Mr. Parker, somewhat sharply. "Course I knows what it am," answered Eradicate, with dignity. "Dat noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on account oh me not feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine right now t' gib him his oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop. Boomerang allers kick dat way when he's hungry. I show yo'!" And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable, which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds, they immediately ceased. "Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here," said the colored man as he came out. Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make any comments--just then. CHAPTER VIII - OFF FOR THE WEST It was a great relief to Tom, to find that there was no danger from an earth tremor. Now that he had made up his mind to go in search of the diamond makers, he wanted nothing to interfere with it. Lest the feelings of Mr. Parker might be hurt by the mistake he had made, the young inventor cautioned Eradicate not to say anything more about the matter. "'Deed an' I won't," the colored man promised. "I'se only too glad dere wa'n't no earthquake, dat's what I is." As for Mr. Parker, he did not appear much put out by his error in predicting. "I am sure that what I heard was a tremor, due to some distant earthquake shock," he said. "The mule's kicking was only a coincidence." And Tom let him have his way about it. The week was drawing to a close, and the Red Cloud was nearly in shape for the voyage. At almost the last minute Tom found that he needed some electrical apparatus for the airship, and as he had to go to Chester for it, he decided he would make the trip in his monoplane, and, while in the city, would also get the diamond pin he was having made for Mary Nestor. He started off early one morning, in the swift little craft Butterfly, and soon had reached Chester. The diamond brooch was ready for him. "It is one of the most beautiful stones we have ever set," the diamond merchant told him. "Don't forget, if you find any more, Mr. Swift, to let us have a chance to bid on them." "I may," Tom promised, rather indefinitely. Then, having

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