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and； as the man reached that door； he began working to get it open。 Of
course it had all taken place in a few seconds； for； as soon as the
flashlights went off； the intruders had run away。 But they had been there
long enough to have their pictures taken。
The man at the chicken coop turned around as the lights flashed； and
he was looking squarely at the camera。 Of course this made his face very
plain to the audience； as Tom turned the crank of the reproducing machine。
〃Why； it's a colored man！〃 cried Ned in surprise。
〃Yes； I guess it's only an ordinary chicken thief； after all；〃 remarked
Tom。
There was a gasp from Eradicate。
〃Fo' de land sakes！〃 he cried。 〃De raskil！ Ef dat ain't mah own second
cousin； what libs down by de ribber！ An' to t'ink dat Samuel 'Rastus
Washington Jackson Johnson； mah own second cousin； should try t' rob
mah chicken coop！ Oh； won't I gib it t' him！〃
〃Are you sure； Rad？〃 asked Tom。
〃Suah？ Sartin I'se suah； Massa Tom；〃 was the answer as the startled
colored man on the screen stared at the small audience。 〃I'd know。 dat face
ob his'n anywhere。〃
〃Well； I guess he's the only one we caught last night；〃 said Tom； as the
disappointed chicken thief ran away； and so out of focus But the next
instant there came another series of flashlight explosions on the screen；
and there； almost as plainly as if our friends were looking at them； they
saw two men stealthily approaching the shop。 They； too； as the chicken
thief had done； tried the door； and then； they also； startled by the flashes；
turned around。
〃Look！〃 cried Ned。
〃Great Scott ！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃Those are the two rivals of Mr。 Period！
They are Mr。 Turbot and Mr。 Eckert！〃
〃Same men I pushed out！〃 cried Koku； much excited。
There was no doubt of it； and； as the images faded from the screen；
caused by the men running away； Tom and Ned realized that their rivals
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
had tried to put their threat into executionthe threat of making Tom wish
he had taken their offer。
〃I guess they came to take my camera；but； instead the camera took
them；〃 said the young inventor grimly。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER VIII
PHOTOS FROM THE AIRSHIP
〃Well； Tom； how is it going？〃 asked a voice at the door of the shop
where the young inventor was working。 He looked up quickly to behold
Mr。 Nestor； father of Mary； in which young lady； as I have said； Tom was
much interested。 〃How is the moving picture camera coming on？〃
〃Pretty good； Mr。 Nestor。 Come in。 I guess Koku knew you all right。 I
told him to let in any of my friends； but I have to keep him there on
guard。〃
〃So I understand。 They nearly got in the other night； but I hear that
your camera caught them。〃
〃Yes； that proved that the machine is a success； even if we didn't
succeed in arresting the men。〃
〃Did you try？〃
〃Yes； I sent copies of the film； showing Turbot and Eckert trying to
break into my shop； to Mr。 Period； and he had enlarged photographs made；
and went to the police。 They said it was rather flimsy evidence on which
to arrest anybody； and so they didn't act。 However； we sent copies of the
pictures to Turbot and Eckert themselves； so they know that we know they
were here； and I guess they'll steer clear of me after this。〃
〃I guess so； Tom；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor with a laugh。 〃But what about
the chicken thief？〃
〃Oh； Eradicate attended to his second cousin。 He went to see him；
showed him a print from the film； and gave him to understand that he'd be
blown up with dynamite； or kicked by Boomerang； if he ever came around
here again； and so Samuel 'Rastus Washington Jackson Johnson will be
careful about visiting strange chicken coops； after this。〃
〃I believe you； Tom。 But how is the camera coming on？〃
〃Very well。 I am making a few changes in it； and I expect to get my
biggest airship in readiness for the trip in about a week； and then I'll try
taking pictures from her。 But I understand that you are interested in Mr。
Period's business； Mr。 Nestor？〃
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〃Yes； I own some stock in the company； and； Tom； that's what I came
over to see you about。 I need a vacation。 Mary and her mother are going
away this Spring for a long visit； and I was wondering if you couldn't take
me with you on the trips you will make to get moving pictures for our
concern。〃
〃Of。 course I can； Mr。 Nestor。 〃I'll be glad to do it。〃
〃And there is another thing； Tom；〃 went on Mr。 Nestor； soberly。 〃I've
got a good deal of my fortune tied up in this moving picture affair。 I want
to see you win outI don't want our rivals to get ahead of us。〃
〃They shan't get ahead of us。〃
〃You see； Tom； it's this way。 There is a bitter fight on between our
concern and that controlled by our rivals。 Each is trying to get the business
of a large chain of moving picture theatres throughout the United States。
These theatre men are watching us both； and the contracts for next season
will go to the concern showing the best line of films。 If our rivals get
ahead of uswell； it will just about ruin our company；and about ruin me
too； I guess。〃
〃I shall do my very best；〃 answered our hero。
〃Is Mr。 Damon going along？〃
〃Well； I have just written to ask him。 I sent the letter yesterday。
〃Doesn't he know what you contemplate？〃
〃Not exactly。 You see when he came； that time I was overcome by the
fumes from the acids； everything was so upset that I didn't get a chance to
tell him。 He's been away on business ever since； but returned yesterday。 I
certainly hope that he goes with us。 Ned Newton is coming； and with you；
and Koku and myself； it will be a nicer party。〃
〃Then you are going to take Koku？〃
〃I think I will。 I'm a little worried about what these rival moving
picture men might do； and if I get into trouble with them； my giant helper
would come in very useful； to pick one up and throw him over a tree top；
for instance。〃
〃Indeed； yes；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor； with a laugh。 〃But I