Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera | Page 5

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 lost about a
thousand dollars waiting to have a talk with you. I--"
"I am sorry," interrupted Tom, and he was not very cordial. "But I was
busy, and--"
"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, 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 Period--promoter 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 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.
"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 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--"
"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