Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera | Page 4

his father. I can't
be too careful. I'll 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, and--"
"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.
"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. I'll 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. I've lost nearly a thousand dollars this morning, just by
this 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 otherwise 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 the 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. I've 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.
"I 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 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