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given my word to Mr。 Period。 I have a contract with him； and I cannot
break it。〃
〃Offer him three times what Period did；〃 said Mr。 Eckert； in a hoarse
whisper that Tom heard。
〃It would be useless！〃 exclaimed our hero。 〃I wouldn't go back on my
word for a hundred times the price I am to get。 I am not in this business so
much for the money； as I am for the pleasure of it。〃
The men were silent a moment。 There were ugly looks on their faces。
They looked sharply at Tom and Ned。 Then Mr。 Eckert said：
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〃You'll regret this； Tom Swift。 We are the biggest firm of moving
picture promoters in the world。 We always get what we want。〃
〃You won't get my camera；〃 replied Tom calmly。
〃I don't know about that！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Turbot； as he made a hasty
stride toward Tom； who stood in front of the door leading to the shopthe
shop where his camera； almost ready for use； was on a bench。 〃I guess if
we〃
〃Koku！〃 suddenly called Tom。
The giant stepped into the front office。 He had been standing near the
door； inside the main shop。 Mr。 Turbot who had stretched forth his hand；
as though to seize Tom； and his companion； who had advanced toward
Ned； fairly jumped back in fright at the sight of the big man。
〃Koku；〃 went on Tom； in even tones； 〃just show these gentlemen to
the front doorand lock it after them；〃 he added significantly； as he turned
back into the shop； followed by Ned。
〃Yes； Mr。 Tom；〃 answered the giant； and then； with his big hand； and
brawny fist； he gently turned the two men toward the outer door。 They
were gasping in surprise as they looked at the giant。
〃You'll be sorry for this； Tom Swift！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Turbot。 〃You'll
regret not having taken our offer。 This Period chat is only a small dealer。
We can do better by you。 You'll regret〃
〃You'll regret coming here again；〃 snapped Tom； as he closed the door
of his shop； leaving Koku to escort the baffled plotters to their auto。
Shortly afterward Tom and Ned heard the car puffing away。
〃Well； they came； just as Mr。 Period said they would；〃 spoke Tom；
slowly。
〃Yes； and they went away again！〃 exclaimed Ned with a laugh。 〃They
had their trip for nothing。 Say； did you see how they stared at Koku？〃
〃Yes； he's a helper worth having； in cases like these。〃
Tom wrote a full account of what had happened and sent it to Mr。
Period。 He received in reply a few words； thanking him for his loyalty； and
again warning him to be on his guard。
In the meanwhile； work went on rapidly on the Wizard Camera。
Briefly described it was a small square box； with a lens projecting from it。
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Inside； however； was complicated machinery； much too complicated for
me to describe。 Tom Swift had put in his best work on this wonderful
machine。 As I have said； it could be worked by a storage battery； by
ordinary electric current from a dynamo； or by hand。 On top was a new
kind of electric light。 This was small and compact； but it threw out
powerful beams。 With the automatic arrangement set； and the light turned
on； the camera could be left at a certain place after dark； and whatever
went on in front of it would be reproduced on the moving roll of film
inside。
In the morning the film could be taken out； developed； and the pictures
thrown on a screen in the usual way； familiar to all who have been in a
moving picture theatre。 With the reproducing machines Tom had nothing
to do； as they were already perfected。 His task had been to make the new…
style camera； and it was nearly completed。
A number of rolls of films could be packed into the camera； and they
could be taken out； or inserted； in daylight。 Of course after one film had
been made； showing any particular scene any number of films could be
made from this 〃master〃 one。 Just as is done with the ordinary moving
picture camera。 Tom had an attachment to show when one roll was used；
and when another needed inserting。
For some time after the visit of the rival moving picture men； Tom was
on his guard。 Both house and shop were fitted with burglar alarms； but
they did not ring。 Eradicate and Koku were told to be on watch； but there
was nothing for them to do。
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to Ned； one afternoon； when they had both
worked hard； 〃I think it's about finished。 Of course it needs polishing； and
there may be some adjusting to do； but my camera is now ready to take
picturesat least I'm going to give it a test。〃
〃Have you the rolls of films？〃
〃Yes； half a dozen of 'em And I'm going to try the hardest test first。〃
〃Which one is that？〃
〃The night test。 I'm going to place the camera out in the yard； facing
my shop。 Then you and I； and some of the others； will go out； pass in front
of it； do various stunts； and； in the morning we'll develop the films and see
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
what we have。〃
〃Why； are you going to leave the camera out； all night？〃
〃Sure。 I'm going to give it the hardest kind of a test。〃
〃But are you and I going to stay up all night to do stunts in front of it？〃
〃No； indeed。 I'm going to let it take what ever pictures happen to come
along to be taken after we get through making some special early ones。
You see my camera will be a sort of watch dog； only of course it won't
catch any onethat is； only their images will be caught on the film。
〃Oh； I see；〃 exclaimed Ned； and then he helped Tom fix the machine
for the test。
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CHAPTER VII
WHAT THE CAMERA CAUGHT
〃Well； is she working； Tom？〃 asked our hero's chum； a little later；
when they had set the camera up on a box in the garden。 It pointed toward
the main shop door； and from the machine came a clicking sound。 The
electric light was glowing。
〃Yes； it's all ready；〃 replied Tom。 〃Now just act as if it wasn't