tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第2节
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〃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
neglect 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〃
〃I'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；
I for he was very stout。 〃I'm going to introduce myself in just a second；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
and then I'm going to tell you who I am。 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。
〃I thought I had a card with me； but I haven't；〃 the visitor went on。 〃No
matter。 I'm James Periodpromoter of all kinds of amusement enterprises；
from a merry…go…'round to a theatrical performance。 I want you to〃
〃No more going after giants；〃 interrupted。 Tom。 〃It's too dangerous；
and I haven't time〃
〃No； it has nothing to do with giants；〃 spoke Mr。 Period； as he glanced
up at Koku； who towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom。
〃Well？〃 returned Tom。
〃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 in India； you'll find Spotty
on the spot。 That's me。 If there's going to be a building blown up with
dynamiteI'm on hand； or some of my men。 If there's a fire I get there as
soon as the engines doif it's a big one。 Always on the spotthat's me
James PeriodSpotty for short。 Do you get me？〃 and he drew a long
breath and looked at Tom； his head on one side。
〃I 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 worldnot in size； but in business。 I make all the best films。 You've
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
seen some of 'em I guess。 Every one of 'em has my picture on the end of
the film。 Shows up great。 Advertising schemeget 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〃
〃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
oneworked by electricitya 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； Indiathe junglesget pictures of wild animals at peace
and fightingherds of elephantsget scenes of native wars earthquakes
eruptions of volcanoesall 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？〃
〃I hardly think〃 began Tom。
〃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
minutesno more；' and hastily getting up off the box Mr。 Period began
impatiently pacing up and down the shop。
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CHAPTER II
A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK
Tom Swift looked somewhat in surprise at his strange visitor。 It had
all happened so suddenly； the offer had been such a strange one； the man
himselfMr。 Periodwas 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 wellI don't know what I'll do。
I'll 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 announcement； and dismiss his
caller； he looked again at the visitor。 There was something attractive about
himabout his hasty way of talking； about his manner of interrupting；
about the way he proposed 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
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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 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 M
