Turning with a confidential¹ air and addressing Dick, for whom he seemed to have the greater liking², Mr. “Everdail” spoke³.

“I’ve just thought of a good scheme. Has Jeff—er—taken you into his confidence any?”

Sandy, helpless to interfere⁵, heard Dick give the substance of what they had learned from the superstitious⁶ pilot. The man continued:

“That lets me snap right down to my plan. Now we don’t know where those emeralds are. We don’t know which people used the seaplane, or whether the man who jumped has them and has gotten away or not. But if I should fade out of sight, and no one but my dependable Sky Patrol knows I’m around——”

“Your dependable Sky Patrol!” Sandy thought. “Going to try to use us now. Well——”
74

“If no one else knows I’m around—I can watch and see a lot that others might miss. I’m going to have that seaplane brought here—and then I’ll be around, watching to see who comes snooping—if anybody does. As I live and breathe, I think that’s a great idea, don’t you?”

Dick agreed readily.

“All right, then. You can tell your other comrade—Larry, you said you call him, Dick. I’ll leave a note for Jeff. Now I’ll go on up to the house and write it and make a couple of telephone calls—and then I’ll drop out of things—but you’ll hear from me off and on till we get those emeralds safe in our hands. Then—even while we’re waiting—if you can get your parents’ consent to stay, which I think can be arranged by Jeff—Larry can take some flying navigation—you, Dick, can study engines and construction, or navigation—whatever you like.”

He put a hand on Sandy’s shoulder and the latter managed not to wince⁷ or draw away.

“Sandy can have the run of my library, full of books on engineering and mechanics—and you’ll be learning while you help me get those emeralds and find out who flew the seaplane and who helped them on the yacht.”

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