tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第10节
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and Ned； the latter staying at his chum's house that week； were beginning
to think they would have their trouble for their pains。 But one night
something happened。
It was very dark； but the snow on the ground made a sort of glow that
relieved the blackness。 The camera had been set as usual； and Tom and
Ned went to bed。
It must have been about midnight when they were both awakened by
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hearing the burglar alarm go off。 At the same time there were several
flashes of fire from the garden。
〃There she goes！〃 cried Ned。
〃Yes； they're trying to get into the shed；〃 added Tom； as a glance at the
burglar…alarm indicator on the wall of the room； showed that the shop door
was being tried。 〃Come on！〃
〃I'm with you！〃 yelled Ned。
They lost little time getting into their clothes； for they had laid them
out in readiness for putting on quickly。 Down the stairs they raced； but ere
they reached the garden they heard footsteps running along the wall
toward the road。
〃Who's there？〃 cried Tom； but there was no answer。
〃Koku！ Eradicate！〃 yelled Ned。
〃Yais； sah； I'se comm'！〃 answered the colored man； and the voice of
the giant was also heard。 The flashlights had ceased popping before this；
and when the two lads and their helpers had reached the shop； there was
no one in sight。
〃The camera's there all right！〃 cried Tom in relief as he picked it up
from the box。 〃Now to see what it caught。 Did you see anything of the
fellows； Koku； or Eradicate？〃 Both said they had not； but Eradicate； after
examining the chicken house door by the aid of a lighted match； cried out：
〃Somebody's been tryin' t' git in heah； Massa Tom。 I kin see where de
do's been scratched。〃
〃Well； maybe we'll have the picture for you to look at in the morning；〃
said Tom。
The films were developed in the usual way in the morning； but the
pictures were so small that Tom could not make out the features or forms
of the men。 And it was plain that at least three men had been around the
coop and shop。
By the use of alcohol and an electric fan Tom soon had the films dry
enough to use。 Then the moving picture machine was set up in a dark
room； and all gathered to see what would be thrown on the screen； greatly
enlarged。
First came several brilliant flashes of light； and then； as the entrance to
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the shop loomed into view； a dark figure seemed to walk across the canvas。
But it did not stop at the shop door。 Instead it went to the chicken coop；
and； as the man reached that door； he began working to get it open。 Of
course it had all taken place in a few seconds； for； as soon as the
flashlights went off； the intruders had run away。 But they had been there
long enough to have their pictures taken。
The man at the chicken coop turned around as the lights flashed； and
he was looking squarely at the camera。 Of course this made his face very
plain to the audience； as Tom turned the crank of the reproducing machine。
〃Why； it's a colored man！〃 cried Ned in surprise。
〃Yes； I guess it's only an ordinary chicken thief； after all；〃 remarked
Tom。
There was a gasp from Eradicate。
〃Fo' de land sakes！〃 he cried。 〃De raskil！ Ef dat ain't mah own second
cousin； what libs down by de ribber！ An' to t'ink dat Samuel 'Rastus
Washington Jackson Johnson； mah own second cousin； should try t' rob
mah chicken coop！ Oh； won't I gib it t' him！〃
〃Are you sure； Rad？〃 asked Tom。
〃Suah？ Sartin I'se suah； Massa Tom；〃 was the answer as the startled
colored man on the screen stared at the small audience。 〃I'd know。 dat face
ob his'n anywhere。〃
〃Well； I guess he's the only one we caught last night；〃 said Tom； as the
disappointed chicken thief ran away； and so out of focus But the next
instant there came another series of flashlight explosions on the screen；
and there； almost as plainly as if our friends were looking at them； they
saw two men stealthily approaching the shop。 They； too； as the chicken
thief had done； tried the door； and then； they also； startled by the flashes；
turned around。
〃Look！〃 cried Ned。
〃Great Scott ！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃Those are the two rivals of Mr。 Period！
They are Mr。 Turbot and Mr。 Eckert！〃
〃Same men I pushed out！〃 cried Koku； much excited。
There was no doubt of it； and； as the images faded from the screen；
caused by the men running away； Tom and Ned realized that their rivals
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had tried to put their threat into executionthe threat of making Tom wish
he had taken their offer。
〃I guess they came to take my camera；but； instead the camera took
them；〃 said the young inventor grimly。
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CHAPTER VIII
PHOTOS FROM THE AIRSHIP
〃Well； Tom； how is it going？〃 asked a voice at the door of the shop
where the young inventor was working。 He looked up quickly to behold
Mr。 Nestor； father of Mary； in which young lady； as I have said； Tom was
much interested。 〃How is the moving picture camera coming on？〃
〃Pretty good； Mr。 Nestor。 Come in。 I guess Koku knew you all right。 I
told him to let in any of my friends； but I have to keep him there on
guard。〃
〃So I understand。 They nearly got in the other night； but I hear that
your camera caught them。〃
〃Yes； that proved that the machine is a success； even if we didn't
succeed in arresting the men。〃
〃Did you try？〃
〃Yes； I sent copies of the film； showing Turbot and Eckert trying to
break into my shop； to Mr。 Period； and he had enlarged photographs made；
and went to the police。 They said it was rather flimsy evidence on which
to arrest anybody； and so they didn't act。 However； we sent copies of the
pictures to Turbot and Eckert themselves； so they know that we know they
were here； and I guess they'll steer clear of me after this。〃
〃I guess so； Tom；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor with a laugh。 〃But what about
the chicken thief？〃
〃Oh； Eradicate attended to his second cousin。 He went to see him；
showed him a print from the film； and gave him to understand that he'd be
blown up with dynamite； or kicked by Boomerang； if he ever came around
here again； and so Samuel 'Rastus Washington Jackson Johnson will be
careful about visiting strange chicken coops； after this。〃
〃I believe you； Tom。 But how is the camera coming on？〃
〃Very well。 I am making a few changes in it； and I expect to get my
biggest airship in readiness for the trip in about a week； and then I'll try
taking pictures from her。 But I understand that you are interested in Mr。
Period's business； Mr。 Nestor？〃
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〃Yes； I own some stock in the company； and； Tom； that's what I came
over to see you about。 I need a vacation。 Mary and her mother are going
away this Spring for a long visit； and I was wondering if you couldn't take
me with you on the trips you will make to get moving pictures for our
concern。〃
〃Of。 course I can； Mr。 Nestor。 〃I'll be glad to do it。〃
〃And there is another thing； Tom；〃 went on Mr。 Nestor； soberly。 〃I've
got a good deal of my fortune tied up in this moving picture affair。 I want
to see you win outI don't want our rivals to get ahead of us。〃
〃They shan't get ahead of us。〃
〃You see； Tom； it's this way。 There is a bitter fight on between our
concern and that controlled by our rivals。 Each is trying to get the business
of a large chain of moving picture theatres throughout the United States。
These theatre men are watching us both； and the contracts for next season
will go to the concern showing the best line of films。 If our rivals get
ahead of uswell； it w
