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called on Tom。 There were many big drifts outside the building。
Tom had fitted up a well…equipped shop； where he and his father
worked on their inventions。 Occasionally Ned Newton； or Mr。 Damon；
would come over to help them； but of late Tom had been so busy on his
noiseless motor that he had not had time to even see his friends。
〃'Well； I guess the five minutes have passed； and my mind is made
up；〃 thought Tom； as he looked at his watch。 〃I might as well tell Mr。
Period that I can't undertake his commission。 In the first place it isn't going
to be an easy matter to make an electric moving picture camera。 I'd have to
spend a lot of time studying up the subject； and then I might not be able to
get it to work right。
〃And； again； I can't spare the time to go to all sorts of wild and
impossible places to get the pictures。 It's all well enough to talk about
getting moving pictures of natives in battle； or wild beasts fighting； or
volcanoes in action； but it isn't so easy to do it。 Then； too； I'd have to make
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
some changes in my airship if I went on that trip。 No； I can't go。 I'll tell
him he'll have to find some one else。〃
Mr。 Period pulled out his watch； opened it quickly； snapped it shut
again； and exclaimed：
〃Well； how about it； Tom Swift？ When can you start！ The sooner the
better for me！ You'll want some money for expenses I think。 I brought my
check book along； also a fountain pen。 I'll give you a thousand dollars now；
for I know making an electric moving picture camera isn't going to be
cheap work。 Then； when you get ready to start off in your airship； you'll
need more money。 I'll be Johnny…on…the…spot all right； and have it ready
for you。 Now when do you think you can start？〃
He sat down at a bench； and began filling out a check。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Tom； amused in spite of himself。 〃Don't sign that
check； Mr。 Period。 I'm not going。〃
〃Not going？〃 The man's face showed blank amazement。
〃No；〃 went on Tom。 〃I can't spare the time。 I'm sorry； but you'll have to
get some one else。〃
〃Some one else？ But who can I get？〃
〃Why； there are plenty who would be glad of the chance。〃
〃But they can't invent an electric moving picture camera； and； if they
could； they wouldn't know enough to take pictures with it。 It's got to be
you or no one； Tom Swift。 Look here； I'll make it fifteen thousand dollars
above expenses。〃
〃No； I'm sorry； but I can't go。 My work here keeps me too busy。
〃Oh； pshaw！ Now； look here； Tom Swift！ Do you know who sent me to
see you？〃
〃It was Mr。 Nestor； who has a daughter named Mary； I believe。 Mr。
Nestor is one of the directors in our company； and one day； when he told
me about you sending a wireless message from Earthquake Island； I knew
you would be the very man for me。 So now you see you'll be doing Mr。
Nestor a favor； as well as me； if you go on this trip。〃
Tom was somewhat surprised； yet he realized that Mr。 Period was
speaking the truth。 Mr。 Nestor was identified with many new enterprises。
Yet the youth was firm。
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〃I really can't go；〃 said our hero。 〃I'd like to； but I can't。 I'd like to
oblige Mr。 Nestor； forwell； for more reasons than one；〃 and Tom blushed
slightly。 〃But it is out of the question。 I really can't go。〃
〃But you must！〃 insisted the camera man。 〃I won't take 'no' for an
answer。 You've got to go； Tom Swift； do you hear that？ You've go to go？〃
Mr。 Period was apparently very much excited。 He strode over to Tom
and smote his hands together to emphasize what he said。 Then he shook
his finger at Tom； to impress the importance of the matter on our hero。
〃You've just got to go！〃 he cried。 〃You're the only one who can help
me； Tom。 Do go！ I'll pay you well； andoh； well； I know you don't need
the money； exactly； butsay； you've got to go！〃
In his earnestness Mr。 Period laid his hand on Tom's arm。 The next
instant something happened。
With a few big strides Koku was beside the picture man。 With great
quickness he grasped Mr。 Period by the coat collar； lifted him off his feet
with one hand； and walked over to a window with him； easily lifting him
above the floor。
With one fling the giant tossed the short； stout gentleman out into a
snow bank； while Tom looked on； too surprised to do anything； even if he
had had the chance。
〃There。 You touch Tom Swift again； and I sit on you and keep you
under snow！〃 cried the giant； while Mr。 Period kicked and squirmed about
in the drift； as Tom made a leap forward to help him out。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER III
TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND
〃Great Scott！〃 yelled the picture man。 〃What in the world happened
to me？ Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate's； that I've
heard so much about？ Or was it an earthquake； such as I want to get a
picture of？ What happened？〃
He was still floundering about in the deep bank of snow that was just
outside the window。 Fortunately the sash had been up； and Koku had
tossed Mr。 Period through the open window。 Otherwise； had there been
glass； the well…meaning； but unreasoning giant would probably have
thrown his victim through that； and he might have been badly cut。 Tom
had the window open for fresh air； as it was rather close in the shop。
〃Why； Koku！〃 exclaimed the young inventor； as he leaned out of the
window； and extended his hand to the moving picture man to help him out
of the drift。 〃What do von mean by that？〃 Have you gone crazy？〃
〃No； but no one shall lay hands on my master！〃 declared the giant half
savagely。 〃I have vowed to always protect you from danger； in return for
what you did for me。 I saw this man lay his hand on you。 In another
moment he might have killed you； had not Koku been here。 There is no
danger when I am by；〃 and he stretched out his huge arms； and looked
ferocious。 〃I have turned over that man； your enemy