Part 31 (1/2)
”What has Lemly been smuggling in the 'Black Betty' all this time?”
”Diamonds,” admitted Jasper, sullenly.
Tom Halstead felt like giving a great start, but controlled himself.
”Smuggling diamonds under Anson Dalton's orders, eh?” insisted the young skipper.
”Yes; I reckon so.”
”How did you come into our matter--as a guard and a traitor?”
”I was on hand when Mr. Seaton was getting his guards together,”
replied Jasper. ”So was Dave Lemly's mate. The mate told me to jump in and get my chance with the guard.”
”What other orders did you have?”
”I was to watch my chance to do anything nasty that I could,”
confessed the fellow, hanging his head.
”That was why you tried to ruin our aerials?”
”Yes.”
”You also listened to Mr. Seaton and myself, the night we were going over to Lonely Island?”
Jasper squirmed, his face growing more ashen.
”You heard what was said about papers hidden in a cupboard at the bungalow. Did you? Answer me, confound you!”
With an appearance of utter rage Tom bounded at the fellow, as though about to attack him. Hank closed in, to be ready in case the attack turned out to be a genuine one.
”Yes, I stole an envelope full of papers,” admitted Jasper.
”What did you do with them?”
”I turned them over to Dave Lemly.”
”Where? On Lonely Island?”
”Yes; Lemly visited the island twice, at night, while I was on duty there,” confessed the fellow, whining and letting his head fall lower.
”What else have you done against us?”
”Nothing, except trying to disable your wireless.”
”Are you telling the whole, full truth?” demanded Captain Tom Halstead, surveying the fellow suspiciously. ”As much of the truth as you want to lay bare before going to the bottom in this wild storm?”
”Yes! Oh, yes, yes!” insisted Jasper, easily. ”Now, I've cleared my conscience of its load!”