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neutralized； so that they were now harmless。
〃Now I'm going to see what made that shaft fall；〃 said Tom to Ned； as
the two chums walked over to the bench where the young inventor had
been working。 〃The tap I gave it never ought to have brought it down。〃
Together they examined the thin； but strong； cords that had been
passed around the shaft； having been fastened to two nails； driven into the
wall。
〃Look！〃 cried Tom； pointing to one of the cords。
〃What is it？〃 asked Ned。
〃The strands were partly cut through； so that only a little jar was
enough to break the remaining ones；〃 went on Tom。 〃They've been cut
with a knife； too； and not frayed by vibration against the nail； as might be
the case。 Ned； someone has been in my shop； meddling； and he wanted
this shaft to fall。 This is a trick！〃
〃Great Scott； Tom！ You don't suppose any one wanted that shaft to fall
on you； do you？〃
〃No； I don't believe that。 Probably some one wanted to damage the
shaft； or he might have thought it would topple over against the bench； and
break some of my tools； instruments or machinery。 I do delicate
experiments here； and it wouldn't take much of a blow to spoil them。
That's why those cords were cut。〃
〃Who did it？ Do you think Andy Foger〃
〃No； I think it was the man Koku thought was a chicken thief； and
whom we chased the other night。 I've got to be on my guard。 I wonder if〃
Tom was interrupted by the appearance of Koku； who came out of the
shop with a letter the postman had just left。
〃I don't know that writing very well； and yet it looks familiar；〃 said
Tom； as he tore open the missive。 〃Hello； here's more trouble！〃 he
exclaimed as he hastily read it。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃What's up now？〃 asked Ned。
〃This is from Mr。 Period； the picture man；〃 went on the young inventor。
It's a warning。〃
〃A warning？〃
〃Yes。 He says：
〃'Dear Tom。 Be on your guard。 I understand that a rival moving
picture concern is after you。 They want to make you an offer； and get you
away from me。 But I trust you。 Don't have anything to do with these other
fellows。 And； at the same time； don't give them a hint as to our plans。
Don't tell them anything about your new camera。 There is a lot of jealousy
and rivalry in this business and they are all after me。 They'll probably
come to see you； but be on your guard。 They know that I have been
negotiating with you。 Remember the alarm the other night。'〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER VI
TRYING THE CAMERA
〃Well； what do you think of that？〃 cried Ned； as his chum finished。
〃It certainly isn't very pleasant；〃 replied Tom。 〃I wonder why those
chaps can't let me alone？ Why don't they invent cameras of their own？
Why are they always trying to get my secret inventions？〃
〃I suppose they can't do things for themselves；〃 answered Ned。 〃And
then； again； your machinery always works； Tom； and some that your rivals
make； doesn't。〃
〃Well； maybe that's it；〃 admitted our hero； as he put away the letter。 〃I
will be on the watch； just as I have been before。 I've got the burglar alarm
wires adjusted on the shop now； and when these rival moving picture men
come after me they'll get a short answer。〃
For several days nothing happened； and Tom and Ned worked hard on
the Wizard Camera。 It was nearing completion； and they were planning；
soon； to give it a test； when； one afternoon； two strangers； in a powerful
automobile； came to the Swift homestead。 They inquired for Tom； and； as
he was out in the shop； with Ned and Koku； and as he often received
visitors out there； Mrs。 Baggert sent out the two men； who left their car in
front of the house。
As usual； Tom had the inner door to his shop locked； and when Koku
brought in a message that two strangers would like to see the young
inventor； Tom remarked：
〃I guess it's the rival picture men； Ned。 We'll see what they have to
say。〃
〃Which of you is Tom Swift？〃 asked the elder of the two men； as Tom
and Ned entered the front office； for our hero knew better than to admit the
strangers to the shop。
〃I am；〃 replied Tom。
〃Well； we're men of business；〃 went on the speaker； 〃and there is no
use beating about the bush。 I am Mr。 Wilson Turbot； and this is my partner；
Mr。 William Eckert。 We are in the business of making moving picture
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
films； and I understand that you are associated with Mr。 Period in this line。
'Spotty' we call him。〃
〃Yes； I am doing some work for Mr。 Period；〃 admitted Tom；
cautiously。
〃Have you done any yet？〃
〃No； but I expect to。〃
〃What kind of a camera are you going to use？〃 asked Mr。 Eckert
eagerly。
〃I must decline to answer that；〃 replied Tom； a bit stiffly。
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 spoke Mr。 Turbot； good naturedly。 〃Only 'Spotty'
was bragging that you were making a new kind of film for him； and we
wondered if it was on the market。〃
〃We are always looking for improvements；〃 added Mr。 Eckert。
〃This camera isn't on the market；〃 replied Tom； on his guard as to how
he answered。
The two men whispered together for a moment； and then Mr。 Turbot
said：
〃Well； as I remarked； we're men of business； and there's no use beating
about the bush。 We've heard of you； Tom Swift； and we know you can do
things。 Usually； in this world； every man has his price； and we're willing to
pay big to get what we want。 I don't know what offer Mr。 Period made to
you； but I'll say this： We'll give you double what he offered； for the
exclusive rights to your camera； whenever it's on the market； and we'll pay
you a handsome salary to work for us。〃
〃I'm sorry； but I can't consider the offer；〃 replied Tom firmly。 〃I have
given my word to Mr。 Period。 I have a contract with him； and I cannot
break it。〃
〃Offer him three times wha