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here some time。〃
〃Why did he go out so quickly？〃 Ned wanted to know。
〃Why； I can not tell。 He is an Englishman。 They do strange things。〃
〃My telegram？ Is it here？〃 asked Tom impatiently。 He wanted to get
whatever word there was from Mr。 Period； and be on his way to whatever
destination the picture man might select。 Perhaps； after all； his suspicions；
against the man who had so suddenly left； were unfounded。
〃Yes； there is a cablegram here for you； Monsieur Swift；〃 said the man；
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who was French。 〃There are charges on it； however。〃
〃Pay 'em； Ned； while I see what this is；〃 directed the young inventor；
as he tore open the envelope。
〃Whew！〃 he whistled a moment later。 〃This is going some。〃
〃Where to now？〃 asked Ned。 〃The North Pole？〃
〃No； just the opposite。 Mr。 Period wants me to go to Africa the
Congo Free State。 There's an uprising among the natives there； and he
wants some war pictures。 Well； I guess I'll have to go。〃
As Tom spoke he looked toward the door of the telegraph office； and
he saw the man； who had so hurriedly gone out a few moments before；
looking in at him。
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CHAPTER XVII
SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS
〃Off to Africa； eh？〃 remarked Ned； as Tom put the envelope in his
pocket。 〃That's another long jump。 But I guess the Flyer can do it；
〃Yes； I think so。 I say Ned； not so loud；〃 said Tom； who had hurried to
the side of his chum； whispered the last words。
〃What's up？〃 inquired Ned quickly。 〃Anything wrong？〃
〃I don't know。 But I think we are being watched。 Did you notice that
fellow who was in here a minute ago； when I asked for a telegram？〃
〃Yes； what about him？〃
〃Well； he's looking in the door now I think。 Don't turn round。 Just look
up into that mirror on the wall； and you can see his reflection。〃
〃I understand；〃 whispered Ned； as he turned his gaze toward the mirror
in question； a large one； with advertisements around the frame。 〃I see
him；〃 he went on。 〃There's some one with him。〃
〃That's what I thought；〃 replied Tom。 〃Take a good look。 Whom do
you think the other chap is？〃
Ned looked long and earnestly。 By means of the mirror； he could see；
perfectly plain； two men standing just outside the door of the telegraph
office。 The portal was only partly open。 Ned drew an old letter from his
pocket； and pretended to be showing it to Tom。 But； all the while he was
gazing earnestly at the two men。 Suddenly one of them moved； giving
Tom's chum a better view of his face。
〃By Jove； Tom！〃 the lad exclaimed in a tense whisper。 〃If it isn't that
Eckert fellow I'm a cow。〃
〃That's what I thought；〃 spoke Tom coolly。 〃Not that you're a cow； Ned；
but I believe that this man is one of the moving picture partners； who are
rivals of Mr。 Period。 I wasn't quite sure myself after the first glance I had
of him； so I wanted you to take a look。 Do you know the other chapthe
one who ran out when I asked for my telegram？〃
〃No； I've never seen him before as far as I know。〃
〃Same here。 Come on。〃
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〃What are you going to do？〃
〃Go back to the airship； and tell Mr。 Nestor。 As one of the directors in
the concern I'm working for。 I want his advice。〃
〃Good idea；〃 replied Ned； and they turned to leave the office。 The
spying stranger； and William Eckert； were not in sight when the two lads
came out。
〃They got away mighty quick；〃 remarked Tom； as he looked up and
down the street。
〃Yes； they probably saw us turn to come out； and made a quick get…
away。 They might be in any one of these places along here；〃 for the street；
on either side of the telegraph office； contained a number of hotels； with
doors opening on the sidewalk。
〃They must be on your trail yet；〃 decided Mr。 Nestor when Tom；
reaching the anchored airship； told what had happened。 〃Well； my advice
is to go to Africa as soon as we can。 In that way we'll leave them behind；
and they won't have any chance to get your camera。〃
〃But what I can't understand；〃 said Tom； 〃is how they knew I was
coming here。 It was just as if that one man had been waiting in the
telegraph office for me to appear。 I'm sorry； now； that I mentioned to Ned
where we were ordered to。 But I didn't think。〃
〃They probably knew； anyway；〃 was Mr。 Nestor's opinion。 〃I think this
may explain it。 The rival concern in New York has been keeping track of
Mr。 Period's movements。 Probably they have a paid spy who may be in his
employ。 They knew when he sent you a telegram； what it contained； and
where it was directed to。 Then； of course； they knew you would call here
for it。 What they did not know was when you would come； and so they
had to wait。 That one spy was on guard； and； as soon as you came； he went
and summoned Eckert； who was waiting somewhere in the neighborhood。〃
〃Bless my detective story！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃What a state of affairs！
They ought to be arrested； Tom。〃
〃It would be useless；〃 said Mr。 Nestor。 〃They are probably far enough
away by this time。 Or else they have put others on Tom's track。〃
〃I'll fight my own battles！〃 exclaimed the young inventor。 〃I don't go
much on the police in a case like this； especially foreign police。 Well； my
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camera is all right； so far；〃 he went on； as he took a look at it； in the
compartment where he kept it。 〃Some one must always remain near it；
after this。 But we'll soon start for Africa； to get some pictures of a native
battle。 I hope it isn't the red pygmies we have to photograph。〃
〃Bless my shoe laces！ Don't suggest such a thing；〃 begged Mr。 Damon；
as he recalled the strenuous times when the dwarfs held the missionaries
captive。
It was necessary to lay in some stores and provisions； and for this
reason Tom could not at once head the airship for the African jungles。 As
she remained at anchor； just outside the city； crowds of Swiss people came
out to look at the wonderful craft。 But Tom and his companions took care
that no one