Tom Swift and his wizard camera; or, Thrilling adventures while taking moving pictures

Front matter

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Contents

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Chapter I A Strange Offer

“SOME one to see you, Mr. Tom.”

It was Koku, or August, as he was sometimes called, the new giant servant of Tom Swift, who made this announcement to the young inventor.

“Who is it, Koku?” inquired Tom, looking up from his work-bench in the machine shop, where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new noiseless airship. “Any one I know? Is it the ‘Blessing Man?’ ” for so Koku had come to call Mr. Damon, an eccentric friend of Tom’s.

“No, not him. A strange man. I never seé before. He say he got quick business.”

“Quick business; eh? I guess you mean important, Koku,” for this gigantic man, one of a pair that Tom had brought with him after his captivity in “Giant Land,” as he called it, could I not speak English very well, as yet. “Important business; eh, Koku? Did he send in his card?”

“No, Mr. Tom. Him say he have no card. You not know him, but he very much what you call—recited.”

“Excited I guess you mean, Koku. Well, tell him to wait a few minutes, and I’ll see him. You can show him in then. But I say, Koku,” and Tom paused as he looked at the big man, who had attached himself to our hero, as a sort of personal helper and bodyguard.

“Ves, Mr.’Tom: what is itt]

“Don’t let him go poking around the shop. He might look at some of my machines that I haven’t got fufty patented yet. Is he in the front office ?”

“That’s where him am. He be lookin’ at pictures on the walls.”

“Oh, that’s all right then. Just keep him there. And, Koku, don’t let him come back in the shop here, until I get ready to see him. I'll ring the bell when I am.”

“All right, Mr.°Tom.”

Koku, very proud of his mission of keeping guard over the strange visitor, marched from the room with his big strides, his long arms and powerful hands swinging at his sides, for Koku, or August, as Tom had rechristened him, and as

A STRANGE OFFER 2 he often called him (for it was in the month of August that he had located the giants) was a very powerful man. A veritable giant, being extremely tall, and big in proportion.

“Be sure. Don’t let him in here, Koku!” called! ‘fom, in an additional warning, as his new servant left the main shop.

“Sure not!” exclaimed Koku, very earnestly.

“T don’t know who he may be,” mused Tom, as he began putting away the parts to his new noiseless motor, so that the stranger could not see them, and profit thereby. “It looks rather funny, not sending in his name. It may be some one who thinks he can spring a trick on me, and get some points about my inventions, or dad’s.

“It may even be somebody sent on by Andy Foger, or his father. I can’t be too careful. Tl just put everything away that isn’t fully covered by patents, and then if he wants to infringe on any of the machines I can sue him.”

Tom looked about the shop, which was filled with strange machinery, most of which had been made by himself, or his father, or under their combined directions. There was a big biplane in one corner, a small monoplane in another, parts of a submarine boat hanging up overhead, and a small, but very powerful, electric auto waiting to have some repairs made to it, for on his last trip in it Tom Swift had suffered a slight accident.

“There, I guess he can’t see anything but what I want him to,” mused Tom, as he put away the last part of a new kind of motor, from which he hoped great things. “Let’s see, yes, it’s out of sight now. I wish Ned Newton, or Mr. Damon were here to be a witness in case he starts anything. But then I have Koku, even if he doesn’t speak much English yet. If it comes to blows—well, I wouldn’t want that giant to hit me,” finished Tom with a laugh, as he rang the bell to announce to his servant that the visitor might be shown in.

There was a sound outside the door that separated the business office from the main shop, and Tom heard Koku exclaim:

“Hold on! Wait! I go first. You wait!”

“What’s the matter with me going ahead?” demanded a quick, snappy voice. “I’m in a hurry, 3? an

“You wait! I go first,” was the giant’s reply, “and then came the sound of a scuffle.

“Ouch! Say! Hold on there, my man! Take your hand off my shoulder! You’re crushing me with those big fingers of yours!”

This was evidently the visitor remonstrating with the giant.

A STRANGE OFFER 5

“Humph! I guess Koku must have grabbed him,” said Tom softly. “I don’t like that sort of a visitor. What’s his hurry getting in here?” and our hero looked about, to see if he had a Weapon at hand in case of an attack. Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed. Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.

“You come after me!” exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased. “Do you stand under me?”

“Oh, yes, I understand all right. Ill keep back. But I didn’t mean anything. I’m just in a hurry to see Tom Swift, that is all. I’m always in a hurry in fact. IDve lost nearly a thousand dollars this morning, just by tis delay. I want to see Mr. Swift at once; and have a talk with him.”

“Another crank, I guess,” mused Tom. “Well, I’m not going to waste much time on him.”

A moment later the door opened, and into the shop stepped Koku, followed by a short, stout, fussy little man, wearing a flaming red tie, but ~therwise his clothes were not remarkable.

“Is this Mr. Tom Swift?” asked the stranger, as he advanced and held out his hand to the young man.

“Yes,” answered Tom, looking carefully at thé visitor. He did not seem 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 you. No one else will do. Tve 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.

“T 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,

A STRANGE OFFER 74 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 fost about a thousand dollars waiting to have a talk with you. I 2

“Tam sorry,” interrupted Tom, and he was not very cordial. “But I was busy, and y

“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 negleet 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: #

“T’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, for he was very stout. “I’m going to introduce myself in just a second, and then I’m going to tell you who Tam. 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. )\»

“T thought I had a card with me, but I haven’t,” the visitor went on. “No matter. [Tm James Period—promoter of all kinds of amusement enterprises, from a merry-go-round to a theatrical performance. I want you to s

“No more going after giants,” interrupted Tom. “It’s too dangerous, and I haven’t time to 39 ;

“No, it has nothing to do with giants,” spoke Mr. Period, as he glanced up at Koku, wha towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom,

“Well?” returned Tom.

A STRANGE OFFER 9

“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 4n India, you’ll find Spotty on the spot. That’s me. If there’s going to be a building blown up with dynamite—I’m on hand; or some of my men. If there’s a fire I get there as soon as the engines do—if it’s a big one. Always on the spot—that’s me—James Period—Spotty for short. Do you get me?” and he drew a long breath and looked at Tom, his head on one side.

“TI 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 world—not in size, but in business. I make all the best films. You’ve seen some of ’em I guess. Every one of ’em has my picture on the end of the film. Shows up great. Advertising scheme—get 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 ig

“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 one—worked by electricity—a 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, India—the jungles—get pictures of wild animals at peace and fighting—herds of elephants—get scenes of native wars—earthquakes—eruptions of volcanoes—all 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?”

“T hardly think ” began Tom.

A STRANGE OFFER xr

“Don’t answer me now,” broke in Mr. Period. “Take four minutes to think it over. Or even five. I guess I can wait that long. Take five minutes. I'll wait while you make up your mind, ‘but I know you'll do it. Five minutes—no more,” and hastily getting up off the box Mr. Period began impatiently pacing up and down the shop,

Chapter II A Man In The Snow Bank

Tom Swirt looked somewhat in surprise at his strange visitor. It had all happened so suddenly, the offer had been such a strange one, the man himselfi—Mr. Period—was so odd, that our hero hardly knew what to think. The moving picture agent continued pacing up and down the room, now and then looking at his watch as if to note when the five minutes had passed.

“No,” said Tom to himself. “I’m not going to take this offer. There’s too much work and risk attached to it. I want to stay at home and work on my noiseless motor for the airship. After that—well—I don’t know what Pll do. Il tell Mr. Period that he needn‘t wait the five minutes. My mind is made up now!”

But as Tom was about to make this announce. ment, and dismiss his caller, he looked again at the visitor. There was something attractive about him—about his hasty way of talking, about his manner of interrupting, about the way he pro- I2

A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK 13 posed matters. Tom was interested in spite of himself.

“Well,” he reflected, “I may as well wait until the five minutes are up, anyhow.”

Koku, the giant servant, glanced at his young master, as if to ask if there was anything that he could do. Tom shook his head, and then the big man strolled over to the other side of the machine shop, at the same time keeping a careful eye on Mr. Period.

While Tom is waiting for the time to expire, I will take a few minutes to tell you something more about him. Those of my friends who have read the previous books in this series need no introduction to my hero, but those who may chance upon this as their first book in the Tom Swift series, will like to be more formally introduced.

Tom, whose mother had been dead some years, lived with his father, Barton Swift, in the town of Shopton. Mr. Swift was an inventor of prominence, and his son was fast following in his footsteps. A Mrs. Baggert kept house for the Swifts, and another member of the household was Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored man, who said he used to “eradicate” the dirt. He had been with Tom on many trips, but of late was getting old and feeble. Then there was Garret

14. YOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

Jackson, an engineer employed by ‘the Swifts. These were all the immediate members of the household.

Tom had a chum, Ned Newton, who used to work in a bank, and there was a girl, Mary Nestor, a daughter of Amos Nestor, in which young lady Tom was much interested.

Eradicate Sampson had a mule, Boomerang, of whom he thought almost as much as he did of Tom. Eradicate was a faithful friend and servant, but, of late, Koku, or August, the giant, had rather supplanted him. I must not forget Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield, a village near Shopton. Mr. Damon was an odd man, always blessing everything. He and Tom were good friends, and had been on many trips together.

The first book of the series was called “Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle,” and related how Tom bought the cycle from Mr. Damon, after the latter had met with an accident on it, and it was in this way that our hero became acquainted with the odd man.

Tom had many adventures on his motor-cycle, and, later. on he secured a motor-boat, in which he beat his enemy, Andy Foger, in a race. Next Tom built an airship, and in this he went on a wonderful trip. Returning from this he and his

A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK 15 father heard about a treasure sunken under the ocean. In his submarine boat Tom secured the valuables, and made a large sum for himself.

In his electric runabout, which was the swiftest car on the road, Tom was able to save from ruin a bank in which his father was interested, and, a'short time after that, he went on a trip in an airship, with a man who had invented a new kind. The airship was smashed, and fell to Earthquake Island, where there were some refugees from a shipwreck, among them being the parents of Mary Nestor. In the volume called “Tom Swift and His Wireless Message,” I told how he saved these people.

When Tom went among the diamond makers he had more strange adventures, on that trip discovering the secret of phantom mountain. He had bad luck when he went to the caves of’ ice, for there his airship was wrecked.

When Tom made the trip in his sky racer he broke all records for an aerial flight, incidentally saving his father’s life. It was some time after this when he invented an electric rifle, and went to elephant land, to rescue some missionariesi from the red pygmies.

The eleventh volume of the series is called “Tom Swift in the Land of Gold,” and relates his adventures underground, while the next one tells of a new machine he invented—an air-glider -—which he used to save the exiles of Siberia, incidentally, on that trip, finding a valuable deposit of platinum.

As I have said, it was on his trip to giant land that Tom got his big servant. This book, the thirteenth of the series, is called “Tom Swift in Captivity,” for the giants captured him and his friends, and it was only by means of their airship that they made their daring escape.

Tom had been back from the strange land some time now. One giant he had turned over to the circus representative for whom he had undertaken the mission, and the other he retained to work around his shop, as Eradicate was getting too old. It was now winter, and there had been quite a fall of snow the day before Mr. Period, the odd moving picture man, 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, ae ke

A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK 17 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 some changes in my airship if I went on that trip. No, I can’t go. Ill 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 ex-

penses.”

“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 fo see you?”

“Tt 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

‘A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK 19 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.

“TI really can’t go,” said our hero. “I'd like to, but I can’t. I'd like to oblige Mr. Nestor, for —well, 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 got to gor”

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, and—oh, well, I know you don’t need the money, exactly, but—say, 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.

CHAPTER IiIl TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND

“GrEAT Scotr!” yelled the picture man. “What in the world happened to me? Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate’s, that Pve 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 vou 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!” he added.

“Yes, you overturned me all right,” admitted Mr. Period, as he got to his feet, and crawled in through the window to the shop again. “I went head over heels. I’m glad it was clean snow, and not a mud bank, Tom. What in the world is the matter with him?”

“IT guess he thought you were going to harm me,” said Tom in a low voice, as the picture man came in the shop. ‘“Koku is very devoted to me, and sometimes he makes trouble,” the youth went on. “But he means it all for the best. I am very sorry for what happened,” and Tom aided Mr. Period in brushing the snow off his garments. “Koku, you must beg the pas of this gentleman,” Tom directed.

“What for?” the giant wanted to know.

“For throwing him into the snow. It is not allowed to do such things in this country, even though it is in Giant Land. Beg his pardon.”

TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND 23

“T shall not,” said the giant calmly, for Tom had taught him to speak fairly good English, though sometimes he got his words backwards. The man was about to kill you, and I stopped him—I will stop him once more, though if he does not like the snow, I can throw him somewhere else.”

“No! No! You must not do it!” cried Tom. “He meant no harm. He is my friend.”

“T am glad to hear you say that,” exclaimed the picture man. “I have hopes that you will do what I want.”

“He your friend?” asked Koku wonderingly.

“Certainly; and you must beg his pardon for what you did,” insisted Tom.

“Very well. I am glad you did not hurt yourself,” said the giant, and with that “apology” he stalked out of the room, his feelings evidently very much disturbed.

“Ha! Ha!” laughed Mr. Period. “I guess he can’t see any one but you, Tom. But never mind. I know he didn’t mean anything, and, as I’m none the worse I’ll forgive him. My necktie isn’t spotted ; is it?”

“No, the snow didn’t seem to do that any harm,” replied the young inventor, as he looked at the brilliant piece of red silk around Mr. Period’s collar.

“T am very particular about my neckties,” went on the picture man. “I always wear one color. My friends never forget me then.”

Tom wondered how they could ever forget him, even though he wore no tie, for his figure and face were such as to not easily be forgotten.

“Tm glad it’s not soiled,” went on “Spotty” as he liked to be called. “Now, Tom, you said you were my friend. Prove it by accepting my offer, Build that wizard camera, and get me some mov: ing pictures that will be a sensation. Say you will!”

He looked appealingly at Tom, and, remembering the rather rude and unexpected treatment to which Koku had submitted the gentleman, Tom felt his mind changing. Still he was not yet ready to give in. He rather liked the idea the more he thought of it, but he felt that he had other duties, and much to occupy him at home, especially if he perfected his silent motor.

“Will you gor” asked Mr. Period, picking up his fountain pen and check book, that he had laid aside when he walked over to Tom, just before the giant grasped him. “Say you will.”

The young inventor was silent a moment. He thought over the many adventures he had gone through—in the caves of ice, in the city of gold, escaping from the giants, and the red pygmies—