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chum； and a moment later the aged colored man； who had evidently
started on the chase with Koku； but who had been left far behind； swung
totteringly around the corner of the house。
〃Did ye cotch him； Massa Tom？〃 asked Eradicate。 〃Did ye cotch de
raskil？〃
〃Not yet； Rad。 But Koku is after him。 Who was he； and what did he
do？〃
〃Didn't do nuffin yit； Massa Tom； 'case as how he didn't git no
chance；〃 replied the colored man； as he hurried along as rapidly as he
could beside the two youths。 〃Koku and I was too quick for him。 Koku an'
me was a…sittin' in my shack； sort of talkin' togedder； when we hears a
racket neah de chicken house。 I'se mighty partial t' de chickens； an' I didn't
want nobody t' 'sturb 'em。 Koku was jes' de same； an' when we hears dat
noise； up we jumps； an' gits t' chasm。' He runned dis way； an' us was arter
him； but land lub yo'； ole Eradicate ain't so spry as he uster be an' Koku an'
de chicken thief got ahead ob me。 Leastwise he ain't no chicken thief yit；
'case as how he didn't git in de coop； but he meant t' be one； jes' de same。〃
〃Are you sure he was after the chickens？〃 asked Tom； with quick
suspicion in his mind； for； several times of late； unscrupulous persons had
tried to enter his shop； to get knowledge of his valuable inventions before
they were patented。
〃Course he were arter de chickens；〃 replied Eradicate。 〃But he didn't
git none。〃
〃Come on； Ned！〃 cried Tom； breaking into a run。 〃I want to catch
whoever this was。 Did you see him； Rad？〃
〃Only jes' had a glimpse ob his back。〃
〃Well； you go back to the house and tell father and Mr。 Period about it。
Ned and I will go on with Koku。 I hope to get the fellow。〃
〃Why； Tom？〃 asked his chum。
〃Because I think he was after bigger game than chickens。 My noiseless
motor； for the new airship； is nearly complete； and it may have been some
one trying to get that。 I received an offer from a concern the other day；
who wished to purchase it； and； when I refused to sell； they seemed rather
put out。〃
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The two lads raced on； while Eradicate tottered back to the house；
where he found Mr。 Swift and the picture man awaiting him。
〃I guess he got away；〃 remarked Ned； after he and his chum had
covered nearly the length of the big garden。
〃I'm afraid so；〃 agreed Tom。 〃I can't hear Koku any more。 Still； I'm not
going to give up。〃
Pantingly they ran on； and； a little later； they met the big man coming
back。
〃Did he get away？〃 asked Tom。 〃Yes； Mr。 Tom； he scaped me all
right。〃
〃Escaped you mean； Koku。 Well； never mind。 You did your best。〃
〃I would like to have hold of him；〃 spoke the giant； as he stretched out
his big arms。
〃Did you know who he was？〃 inquired Ned。
〃No； I couldn't see his face；〃 and he gave the same description of the
affair as had Eradicate。
〃Was it a full grown man； or some one about my size？〃 Tom wanted to
know。
〃A man；〃 replied the giant。
〃Why do you ask that？〃 inquired Ned； as the big fellow went on to
resume his talk with Eradicate； and the two chums turned to go into the
house； after the fruitless chase。
〃Because； I thought it might be Andy Foger；〃 was Tom's reply。 〃It
would be just like him； but if it was a man； it couldn't be him。 Andy's
rather short。〃
〃Besides； he doesn't live here any more；〃 said Ned。
〃I know； but I heard Sam Snedecker； who used to be pretty thick with
him； saying the other day that he expected a visit from Andy。 I hope he
doesn't come back to Shopton； even for a day； for he always tries to make
trouble for me。 Well； let's go in； and tell 'em all about our chase after a
chicken thief。〃
〃And so he got away？〃 remarked Mr。 Swift； when Tom had completed
his story。
〃Yes；〃 answered the young inventor； as he closed； and locked； the low
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library window； for there was a chilly breeze blowing。 〃I think I will have
to rig up the burglar alarm on my shop again。 I don't want to take any
chances。〃
〃Do you remember what we were talking about； when that interruption
came？〃 asked Mr。 Period； after a pause。 〃You were saying； Tom； that you
had made up your mind； and that was as far as you got。 What is your
answer to my offer？〃
〃Well；〃 spoke the lad slowly； and with a smile； 〃I think I will〃
〃Now don't say 'no'〃； interrupted the picture man。 〃If you are going to
say 'no' take five minutes more； or even ten； and think it over carefully。 I
want you〃
〃I wasn't going to say 'no；'〃 replied Tom。 〃I have decided to accept
your offer； and I'll get right at work on the electrical camera； and see what
I can do in the way of getting moving pictures for you。〃
〃You will？ Say； that's great！ That's fine！ I knew you would accept； but
I was the least bit afraid you might not； without more urging。〃
〃Of course；〃 began Tom； 〃it will take〃
〃Not another word。 Just wait a minute；〃 interrupted Mr。 Period in his
breezy fashion。 〃Take this。〃
He quickly filled out a check and handed it to Tom。
〃Now sign this contract； which merely says that you will do your best
to get pictures for me； and that you won't do it for any other concern； and
everything will be all right。 Sign there；〃 he added； pointing to a dotted line；
and thrusting a fountain pen into Tom's hand。 The lad read over the
agreement； which was fair enough； and signed it； and Ned affixed his
name as a witness。
〃Now when can you go？〃 asked Mr。 Period eagerly。
〃Not before Spring； I'm afraid；〃 replied Torn。 〃I have first to make the
camera； and then my airship needs overhauling if I am to go on such long
trips as will be necessary in case I am to get views of wild beasts in the
jungle。〃
〃Well； make it as soon as you can；〃 begged Mr。 Period。 〃I can have the
films early next Fall then； and they will be in season for the Winter runs at
the theatres。 Now； I'm the busiest man in the world； and I believe I have
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
lost five hundred dollars by coming here to…