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to be dangerous； he had no weapon； and； Tom was relieved to note that he
did not carry some absurd machine； or appliance； that he had made；
hoping to get help in completing it。 The youth was trying to remember if
he had ever seen the stranger before； but came to the conclusion that he
had not。
〃Sorry to take up your time；〃 went on the man； 〃but I just had to see
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you。 No one else will do。 I've heard lots about you。 That was a great stunt
you pulled off； getting those giants for the circus。 This is one； isn't he？〃
and he nodded toward Koku。
〃Yes；〃 replied Tom； wondering if the little man was in such a hurry
why he did not get down to business。
〃I thought so；〃 the caller went on； as he shook hands with Tom。 〃Once
you felt his grip you'd know he was a giant； even if you didn't see him。 Yes；
that was a great stunt。 And going to the caves of ice； too； and that
diamond…making affair。 All of 'em great。 I〃
〃How did you know about them？〃 interrupted Tom； wishing the man
would tell his errand。
〃Oh； you're better known than you have any idea of； Tom Swift。 As
soon as I got this idea of mine I said right away； to some of the others in
my business； I says； says I； 'Tom Swift is the boy for us。 I'll get him to
undertake this work； and then it will be done to the Queen's taste。 Tom's
the boy who can do it；' I says； and they all agreed with me。 So I came here
to…day； and I'm sorry I had to wait to see you； for I'm the busiest man in
the world； I believe； and； as I said； I've lost about a thousand dollars
waiting to have a talk with you。 I〃
〃I am sorry；〃 interrupted Tom； and he was not very cordial。 〃But I was
busy； and〃
〃All right！ All right！ Don't apologize！〃 broke in the man in rapid tones；
while both Tom； and his servant； Koku； looked in surprise at the quick
flow of language that came from him。 〃Don't apologize for the world。 It's
my fault for bothering you。 And I'll lose several thousand dollars； willingly；
if you'll undertake this job。 I'll make money from it as it is。 It's worth ten
thousand dollars to you； I should say； and I'm willing to pay that。〃
He looked about； as though for a seat； and Tom； apologizing for his
neglect in offering one； shoved a box forward。
〃We don't have chairs in here；〃 said the young inventor with a smile。
〃Now if you will tell me what you〃
〃I'm coming right to it。 I'll get down to business in a moment；〃
interrupted the man as he sat down on the box； not without a grunt or two；
I for he was very stout。 〃I'm going to introduce myself in just a second；
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and then I'm going to tell you who I am。 And I hope you'll take up my
offer； though it may seem a strange one。〃
The man took out a pocketbook； and began searching through it；
evidently for some card or paper。
〃He's as odd as Mr。 Damon is； when he's blessing everything；〃 mused
Tom； as he watched the man。
〃I thought I had a card with me； but I haven't；〃 the visitor went on。 〃No
matter。 I'm James Periodpromoter of all kinds of amusement enterprises；
from a merry…go…'round to a theatrical performance。 I want you to〃
〃No more going after giants；〃 interrupted。 Tom。 〃It's too dangerous；
and I haven't time〃
〃No； it has nothing to do with giants；〃 spoke Mr。 Period； as he glanced
up at Koku； who towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom。
〃Well？〃 returned Tom。
〃This is something entirely new。 It has never been done before； though
if you should happen to be able to get a picture of giants don't miss the
opportunity。〃
〃Get a picture？〃 exclaimed Tom； wondering if； after all； his visitor
might not be a little insane。
〃Pictures； yes。 Listen。 I'm James Period。 Jim； if you like it better； or
just plain 'Spotty。' That's what most of my friends call me。 Get the idea？ A
period is a spot。 I'm a Period； therefor I'm a spot。 But that isn't the real
reason。 It's because I'm always Johnny on the Spot when anything is
happening。 If it's a big boxing exhibition； I'm there。 If it's a coronation； I'm
there； or some of my men are。 If it's a Durbar in India； you'll find Spotty
on the spot。 That's me。 If there's going to be a building blown up with
dynamiteI'm on hand； or some of my men。 If there's a fire I get there as
soon as the engines doif it's a big one。 Always on the spotthat's me
James PeriodSpotty for short。 Do you get me？〃 and he drew a long
breath and looked at Tom； his head on one side。
〃I understand that you are〃
〃In the moving picture business；〃 interrupted Mr。 Period； who never
seemed to let Tom finish a sentence。 〃I'm the biggest moving picture man
in the worldnot in size； but in business。 I make all the best films。 You've
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seen some of 'em I guess。 Every one of 'em has my picture on the end of
the film。 Shows up great。 Advertising schemeget me？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Tom； as he recalled that he had seen some of the films in
question； and good ones they were too。 〃I see your point； but〃
〃You want to know why I come to you； don't you？〃 again interrupted
〃Spotty；〃 with a laugh。 〃Well； I'll tell you。 I need you in my business。 I
want you to invent a new kind of moving picture camera。 A small light
oneworked by electricitya regular wizard camera。 I want you to take it
up in an airship with you； and then go to all sorts of wild and strange
countries； Africa； Indiathe junglesget pictures of wild animals at peace
and fightingherds of elephantsget scenes of native wars earthquakes
eruptions of volcanoesall the newest and most wonderful pictures you
can。 You'll have to make a new kind of camera to do it。 The kind we use
won't do the trick。
〃Now do you get me？ I'm going to give you ten thousand dollars；
above all your expenses； for some films such as I've been speaking of。 I
want novelty。 Got to have it in my business！ You can do it。 Now will
you？〃
〃I hardly think〃 began Tom。
〃Don't answer me now；〃 broke in Mr。 Period。 〃Take four minutes to
think it over。