nk of that?" cried Ned

ose chaps can't let me alone? Why don't they invent cameras of th

wered Ned. "And then, again, your machinery always w

watch, just as I have been before. I've got the burglar alarm wires adjusted on the sho

it a test, when, one afternoon, two strangers, in a powerful automobile, came to the Swift homestead. They inquired for Tom, and, as he was out in t

and when Koku brought in a message that two strange

icture men, Ned. We'll se

men, as Tom and Ned entered the front office, for our

" repl

. Wilson Turbot, and this is my partner, Mr. William Eckert. We are in the business of making moving pic

ork for Mr. Period," ad

u done a

t I exp

are you going to use?"

nswer that," replied

"Only 'Spotty' was bragging that you were making a new kin

ing for improvement

arket," replied Tom, on his

ogether for a moment, a

in this world, every man has his price, and we're willing to pay big to get what we want. I don't know what offer Mr. Period made to you, but I'll say this: We

d Tom firmly. "I have given my word to Mr. Period.

iod did," said Mr. Eckert, in a

my word for a hundred times the price I am to get. I am not in thi

ugly looks on their faces. They looked sh

biggest firm of moving picture promoters

my camera," rep

e toward Tom, who stood in front of the door leading to the shop-the shop

uddenly c

n shop. Mr. Turbot who had stretched forth his hand, as though to seize Tom, and his compan

men to the front door-and lock it after them," he added sig

and brawny fist, he gently turned the two men toward the outer

"You'll regret not having taken our offer. This Period chat i

oor of his shop, leaving Koku to escort the baffled plotters to th

s Mr. Period said they w

d with a laugh. "They had their trip for noth

r worth having, in

o Mr. Period. He received in reply a few words, thanking hi

d put in his best work on this wonderful machine. As I have said, it could be worked by a storage battery, by ordinary electric current from a dynamo, or by hand. On top was a new kind of electric light. This was small and compact, but

familiar to all who have been in a moving picture theatre. With the reproducing machines Tom had nothing to d

r one film had been made, showing any particular scene any number of films could be made from this "master" one. Just as is done

rd. Both house and shop were fitted with burglar alarms, but they did not ring. E

it's about finished. Of course it needs polishing, and there may be some adjusting to

the rolls

em And I'm going to try

one i

Then you and I, and some of the others, will go out, pass in front of it, do v

g to leave the cam

o give it the hard

to stay up all night to d

r we get through making some special early ones. You see my camera will be a sort of watch dog

, and then he helped Tom f