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electric light was glowing。
〃Yes； it's all ready；〃 replied Tom。 〃Now just act as if it wasn't there。
You walk toward the shop。 Do anything you please。 Pretend you are
coming in to see me on business。 Act as if it was daytime。 I'll stand here
and receive you。 Later； I'll get dad out here； Koku and Eradicate。 I wish
Mr。 Period was here to see the test； but perhaps it's just as well for me to
make sure it works before be sees it。〃
〃All right； Tom； here I come。〃
Ned advanced toward the shop。 He tried to act as though the camera
was not taking pictures of him； at the rate of several a second； but he
forgot himself； and turned to look at the staring lens。 Then Tom； with a
laugh； advanced to meet him； shaking hands with him。 Then the lads
indulged in a little skylarking。 They threw snowballs at each other； taking
care； however to keep within range of the lens。 Of course when Tom
worked the camera himself； he could point it wherever he wanted to； but it
was now automatic。
Then the lads went to the shop； and came out again。 They did several
other things。 Later Koku； and Eradicate did some 〃stunts；〃 as Tom called
them。 Mr。 Swift； too； was snapped； but Mrs。 Baggert refused to come out。
〃Well； I guess that will do for now；〃 said Tom； as he stopped the
mechanism。 〃I've just thought of something；〃 he added。 〃If I leave the light
burning； it will scare away； before they got in front of the lens； any one
who might come along。 I'll have to change that part of it。〃
〃How can you fix it？〃 asked Ned。
〃Easily。 I'll rig up some flash lights； just ordinary photographing
flashlights； you know。 I'll time them to go off one after the other； and
connect them with an electric wire to the door of my shop。〃
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〃Then your idea is〃 began Ned。
〃That some rascals may try to enter my shop at night。 Not this
particular night； but any night。 If they come to…night we'll be ready for
them。〃
〃An' can't yo'…all take a picture ob de chicken coop？〃 asked Eradicate。
〃Dat feller may come back t' rob mah hens。〃
〃With the lens pointing toward the shop；〃 spoke Tom； 〃it will also take
snap shots of any one who tries to enter the coop。 So； if the chicken thief
does come； Rad； we'll have a picture of him。〃
Tom and Ned soon had the flashlights in place； and then they went to
bed； listening； at times； for the puff that would indicate that the camera
was working。 But the night passed without incident； rather to Tom's
disappointment。 However； in the morning； he developed the film of the
first pictures taken in the evening。 Soon they were dry enough to be used
in the moving picture machine； which Tom had bought； and set up in a
dark room。
〃There we are！〃 he cried； as the first images were thrown on the white
screen。 〃As natural as life； Ned！ My camera works all right！〃
〃That's so。 Look！ There's where I hit you with a snowball！〃 cried his
chum； as the skylarking scene was reached。
〃Mah goodness！〃 cried Eradicate； when he saw himself walking about
on the screen； as large as life。 〃Dat shorely am wonderful。〃
〃It is spirits！〃 cried Koku； as he saw himself depicted。
〃I wish we had some of the other pictures to show；〃 spoke Tom。 〃I
mean some unexpected midnight visitors。〃
For several nights in succession the camera was set to 〃snap〃 any one
who might try to enter the shop。 The flashlights were also in place。 Tom
and Ned； the latter staying at his chum's house that week； were beginning
to think they would have their trouble for their pains。 But one night
something happened。
It was very dark； but the snow on the ground made a sort of glow that
relieved the blackness。 The camera had been set as usual； and Tom and
Ned went to bed。
It must have been about midnight when they were both awakened by
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
hearing the burglar alarm go off。 At the same time there were several
flashes of fire from the garden。
〃There she goes！〃 cried Ned。
〃Yes； they're trying to get into the shed；〃 added Tom； as a glance at the
burglar…alarm indicator on the wall of the room； showed that the shop door
was being tried。 〃Come on！〃
〃I'm with you！〃 yelled Ned。
They lost little time getting into their clothes； for they had laid them
out in readiness for putting on quickly。 Down the stairs they raced； but ere
they reached the garden they heard footsteps running along the wall
toward the road。
〃Who's there？〃 cried Tom； but there was no answer。
〃Koku！ Eradicate！〃 yelled Ned。
〃Yais； sah； I'se comm'！〃 answered the colored man； and the voice of
the giant was also heard。 The flashlights had ceased popping before this；
and when the two lads and their helpers had reached the shop； there was
no one in sight。
〃The camera's there all right！〃 cried Tom in relief as he picked it up
from the box。 〃Now to see what it caught。 Did you see anything of the
fellows； Koku； or Eradicate？〃 Both said they had not； but Eradicate； after
examining the chicken house door by the aid of a lighted match； cried out：
〃Somebody's been tryin' t' git in heah； Massa Tom。 I kin see where de
do's been scratched。〃
〃Well； maybe we'll have the picture for you to look at in the morning；〃
said Tom。
The films were developed in the usual way in the morning； but the
pictures were so small that Tom could not make out the features or forms
of the men。 And it was plain that at least three men had been around the
coop and shop。
By the use of alcohol and an electric fan Tom soon had the films dry
enough to use。 Then the moving picture machine was set up in a dark
room； and all gathered to see what would be thrown on the screen； greatly
enlarged。
First came several brilliant flashes of light； and then； as the entrance to
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the shop loomed into view； a dark figure seemed to walk across the canvas。
But it did not stop at the shop door。 Instead it went to the chicken coop；
and； as the man reached that door； he beg