“I don’t blame you,” agreed Tom.  “I never knew him to act that way before.  But I’ll go to the gate with you, and Koku will behave him self.  I am sorry—­”

“Don’t mention it !” broke in the picture man.  “It was worth all I suffered, if you go, and I know you will.  Don’t trouble yourself to come out.  I can find my way, and if your giant comes after me, I’ll call for help.”

He hurried out before Tom could follow, and, hearing the gate click a little later, and no call for help coming, our hero concluded that his visitor had gotten safely away.

“Well, what am I going to do about it?” mused Tom, as he resumed work on his silent motor.  He had not been long engaged in readjusting some of the valves, when he was again interrupted.

This time it was his chum, Ned Newton, who entered, and, as Ned was well known to the giant, nothing happened.

“Well, what’s up, Tom?” asked Ned.

“Why, did you notice anything unusual?” asked Tom.

“I saw Koku standing at the gate a while ago, looking down the road at a short stout man, with a red tie.  Your giant seemed rather excited about something.”

“Oh, yes.  I’ll tell you about it,” and Tom related the details of Mr. Period’s visit.

“Are you going to take his offer?” asked Ned.

“I’ve got until tomorrow to make up my mind.  What would you do, Ned?”

“Why, I’d take it in a minute, if I knew how to make an electric camera.  I suppose it has to be a very speedy one, to take the kind of pictures he wants.  Wait, hold on, I’ve just thought of a joke.  It must be a swift camera—­catch on—­you’re Swift, and you make a swift camera; see the point?”

“I do,” confessed Tom, with a laugh.  “Well, Ned, I’ve been thinking it over, but I can’t decide right away.  I will tomorrow night, though.”

“Then I’m coming over, and hear what it is.  If you decide to go, maybe you’ll take me along.”

“I certainly will, and Mr. Damon, too.”

“How about the giant?”

“Well, I guess there’ll be room for him.  But I haven’t decided yet.  Hand me that wrench over there; will you,” and then Tom and Ned began talking about the new apparatus on which the young inventor was working.

True to his promise Mr. Period called the next evening.  He found Tom, Ned and Mr. Swift in the library, talking over various matters.

“Well, Tom, have you made up your mind?” asked the caller, when Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, had shown him into the room.  “I hope you have, and I hope it is favorable to me.”

“Yes,” said Tom slowly, “I’ve thought it all over, and I have decided that I will—­”

At that moment there was a loud shouting outside the house, and the sound of some one running rapidly through the garden that was just outside the low library window—­a garden now buried deep under snow.

“What’s that?” cried Ned, jumping to his feet.