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around here？〃 he asked of his father。
〃No； Tom。 I have been busy in the house。 So has Mrs。 Baggert。
Suddenly she called my attention to the smoke coming from the door； and
we ran out。〃
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〃I seen it； too；〃 added Eradicate。 〃I was doin' some whitewashin'； an' I
run up as soon as I could。〃
〃We saw the tramp all right； but he got away；〃 said Tom； and he told
how he had taken pictures of him。 〃I don't believe it would be much use to
look for him now； though。〃
〃Me look；〃 spoke Koku significantly； as he hurried off in the direction
taken by the tramp。 He came back later； not having found him。
〃What do you think of it； Tom？〃 asked Ned； when the excitement had
calmed down； and the pile of burned rags had been removed。 It was found
that oil and chemicals had been put on them to cause a dense smoke。
〃I think it was the work of those fellows who are after my camera；〃
replied the young inventor。 〃They are evidently watching me； and when
they saw us all go off in the airship they thought probably that the coast
was clear。〃
〃But why should they start a fire？〃
〃I don't know； but probably to create a lot of smoke； and excitement；
so that they could search； and not be detected。 Maybe the fellow after he
found that the camera was gone； wanted to draw those in the house out to
the shop； so he could have a clear field to search in my room for any
drawings that would give him a dew as to how my machine works。 They
certainly did not want to burn the shop； for that pile of rags could have
smoldered all day on the concrete floor； without doing any harm。 Robbery
was the motive； I think。〃
〃The police ought to be notified；〃 declared Mr。 Nestor。 〃Develop those
pictures； Tom； and I'll take the matter up with the police。 Maybe they can
identify the tramp from the photographs。〃
But this proved impossible。 Tom had secured several good films； not
only in the first views he took； giving the spectators the impression that
they were going up in an airship； but also those showing the shop on fire；
and the tramp running away； were very plain。
The police made a search for the incendiary； but of course did not find
him。 Mr。 Period came to Shopton； and declared it was his belief that his
rivals； Turbot and Eckert； had had a hand in the matter。 But it was only a
suspicion； though Tom himself believed the same thing。 Still nothing
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could be accomplished。
〃The thing to do； now that the camera works all right； is for you to hit
the trail for India at once；〃 suggested the picture man。 〃They won't follow
you there。 Get me some pictures of the Durbar； of elephants being
captured； of tiger fights； anything exciting。〃
〃I'll do my〃 began Tom。
〃Wait； I'm not through；〃 interrupted the excitable man。 〃Then go get
some volcanoes； earthquakesanything that you think would be
interesting。 I'll keep in touch with you； and cable occasionally。 Get all the
films you can。 When will you start？〃
〃I can leave inside of two weeks；〃 replied Tom。
〃Then do it； and； meanwhile； be on your guard。〃
It was found that a few changes were needed on the camera。 And some
adjustments to the airship。 Another trial flight was made； and some
excellent pictures taken。 Then Tom and his friends prepared to take the
airship apart。 and pack it for shipment to Calcutta。 It was to go on the
same steamer as themselves； and of course the Wizard Camera would
accompany Tom。 He took along many rolls of films； enough； he thought；
for many views。 He was also to send back to Mr。 Period from time to time；
the exposed rolls of film； so they could be developed； and printed in the
United States； as Tom would not have very good facilities for this on the
airship； and to reproduce them there was almost out of the question。 Still
he did fit up a small dark room aboard the Flyer； where he could develop
pictures if he wished。
There was much to be done； but hard work accomplished it； and
finally the party was ready to start for India。 Tom said good…bye to Mary
Nestor； of course； and her father accompanied our hero from the Nestor
house to the Swift homestead； where the start was to take place。
Eradicate bade his master a tearful good…bye； and there was moisture
in the eyes of Mr。 Swift； as he shook hands with his son。
〃Take care of yourself； Tom；〃 he said。 〃Don't run too many risks。 This
moving picture taking isn't as easy as it sounds。 It's more than just pointing
your camera at things。 Write if you get a chance； or send me a message。〃
Tom promised； and then bade farewell to Mrs。 Baggert。 All were
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assembled； Koku； Mr。 Damon； who blessed everything he saw； and some
things he did not； Ned； Mr。 Nestor and Tom。 The five were to go by train
to New York； there to go aboard the steamer。
Their journey to the metropolis was uneventful。 Mr。 Period met them
at the steamship dock； after Tom had seen to it that the baggage； and the
parts of the airship were safely aboard。
〃I wish I were going along！〃 exclaimed the picture man。 〃It's going to
be a great trip。 But I can't spare the time。 I'm the busiest man in the world。
I lose about a thousand dollars just coming down to see you off； but it's a
good investment。 I don't mind it。 Now； Tom； good luck； and don't forget； I
want exciting views。〃
〃I'll try〃 began our here；。
〃Wait； I know what you're going to say！〃 interrupted Mr。 Period。
〃You'll do it； of course。 Well； I must be going。 I will Great Scott！〃 and
Mr。 Period interrupted himself。 〃He has the nerve to come here！〃
〃Who？〃 asked Tom。
〃Wilson Turbot； the rascal！ He's trying to balk me at the last minute； I
believe。 I'm going to see what he means！〃 and with this； the excited Mr。
Period rushed down the gangplank； toward the man at whom he had
pointedone of the men who had tried to buy Tom's picture taking camera。
A moment later the steamer's whistle blew； the last belated passenger
rushed up the gangplank； it was drawn in； and the vessel began to move
away from the dock。 Tom and his friends were on their way to India； and
the last glimpse they had of Mr。 Period was as he was chasing along the
pier； aft