A BRIGHT FUTURE
THERE was a hissing, buzzing sound in the studio where, on an improvised
stage, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mary Nestor and Helen Morton were going through a
hastily sketched act.
Tom Swift had so improved his lighting arrangements, by using screen
filters, that there was no restriction as to the color of the garments
worn by the performers. The girls’ dresses were particularly gay and of
many hues, for Tom wanted a bright picture on the screen. Mr. Damon had
attired himself as a clown while Ned was a pirate with a red
handkerchief on his head.
“Oh, a pirate’s life for me!” sang Ned, and so on with the rest of the
song while the girls and Mr. Damon joined in.
On his part, in the laboratory room, Tom had adjusted the switches and
stood near his machine. Ranged in a semicircle in front of him was the
audience.
“Everything is ready, gentlemen,” said the young inventor in a low
voice. “You will now see and hear what I have to offer.”
Suddenly, through the loud speaker, came the voices of the performers,
as clear and distinct as though they were in the same room. There was no
blasting effect, no tinny, horn-like element in the music.
A moment later the metallic glass screen attached to the apparatus
glowed with a white light and before the eyes of the astonished
gathering there appeared, in reduced form, but plainly and clearly, the
images of the performers in a room several hundred feet away. Just as on
a moving picture screen, only not as large, but beautifully colored and
clearer than ever moving pictures had been, the images of Mary, Helen,
Mr. Damon and Ned were observed. They smiled, gestured and went through
various motions, not one of which was obscured and not one but
synchronized exactly with the words they used.
“That’s my invention,” said Tom Swift simply. “If you think it is a
success we can complete the deal.”
“I guess there’s no question of it,” said Mr. X. “I, for one, am
satisfied and as soon as——”
He ceased speaking, for suddenly, in the midst of a song by the
performers in the studio, the voices died away and the images faded from
the screen.
“Don’t cut it off!” begged Mr. B. “I was just beginning to enjoy it.”
“I didn’t cut it off!” Tom answered quickly. “There’s something wrong!”
Then, from the corridor without, the voice of Koku was heard crying:
“I cotch him! I got him! Now I make him like jelly!”
Like an echo came a frightened voice begging:
“Let me go! Oh, let me go!”
“Greenbaum!” shouted Tom, springing to the door in time to see the giant
holding the plotting man in a grasp that made him helpless.
“I cotch him!” cried Koku. “I be on watch out here like Mr. Tom always
tell me. I see him sneak along and cut wire. He have big ball in his
hand, too, but I knock it down. Over there in corner!”
Garret Jackson made a jump for the corner indicated and picked up
something which made him utter an exclamation of dismay.
“It’s a bomb!” the superintendent shouted.
There was a pail of water near by and into that the infernal machine was
dropped just in time, for the fuse was spluttering and burning down.
Greenbaum, choked into senselessness by Koku’s powerful grip, sank to
the floor. Tom turned to the assembled moving picture and theater men.
There was an implied accusation in his glance.
“I hope you will believe us when I say we had absolutely nothing to do
with this,” said Mr. X. “We have not seen Greenbaum since his former
unauthorized attack on you. This is a terrible surprise to us.”
“And to me, also,” said Tom. “I don’t know what damage he has done,
but——”
“He not do much!” chuckled Koku. “Me cotch him in time.”
And so it proved. Greenbaum had managed to sneak into the laboratory
because vigilance was somewhat relaxed, now that all danger seemed over.
He had cut one of the electrical wires that carried power to Tom’s
machine, hoping, in the confusion he knew would follow, to be able to
plant his infernal machine and get away. But the giant was too quick for
him.
“Is the machine ruined?” asked Ned, coming from the broadcasting studio,
followed by the other performers.
“Bless my apple pie! And just when I was going to sing my song!”
complained Mr. Damon.
But a quick examination showed nothing more wrong than a severed wire,
which was soon spliced, so that the machine could work again, and after
Greenbaum had been handed over to the police, first needing the
attention of a doctor, however, the interrupted performance went on to a
successful conclusion.
When the little playlet was ended, and the men engaged by Mr. X and his
colleagues had made their report, the leader of the theatrical interests
announced:
“We are satisfied, Mr. Swift. The deal can go through. You will be paid
the three million to-morrow and we will at once form a company for
manufacturing these machines and put them on the market. But I am afraid
you still feel that we sent Greenbaum here.”
“No,” Tom answered, “I have good reasons for knowing you did not.”
“What reasons?” asked Mr. X in surprise.
“Because the man is insane. The doctor told me so just before he was
taken away. You told me his losses in a moving picture deal had so
turned his brain that he did more than you wanted him to when you first
set him to spy on me. Well, his insanity is of a progressive form, and
he is much worse now. He probably imagined that I was the cause of all
his troubles, and so came to be revenged on me. I know you had nothing
to do with it.”
“I am glad you are convinced of that,” said Mr. X. “And we have to thank
you for treating us even better than, perhaps, we deserved. But from now
on we will work in harmony.”
This promise was faithfully kept. Much to Ned Newton’s relief the sum of
three millions was placed to the credit of the Swift concern the next
day, and certain maturing notes were taken up. There was a goodly
capital left, however, to start the manufacture of the talking-picture
machines and they were soon put on the market, meeting with a big
success. The radio and moving picture people, as well as several big
theatrical interests, bought stock in the new company that was formed,
and because of Tom’s invention, by means of which only authorized
purchasers of his machine could view the broadcast scenes and listen to
the music, there was no “bootlegging,” which meant that all the revenues
would come to those entitled to them.
Tom was glad to learn, later, that Greenbaum’s insanity was not
permanent, and that after the man was assured of a chance to make
another fortune in the new business, his mind became calm and he was
himself again. He was totally unaware of the outrages he had committed,
though when told of them asked Tom’s forgiveness.
Snogg, Janner and Torpy were not heard of again, and the house on
Rattlesnake Island, which was the property of the moving picture men,
was made over to Tom as a sort of bonus. He and Ned spent many hours
there, relaxing from their hard work.
It was after Greenbaum’s recovery, when certain things were recalled to
him, that he explained what for a time had puzzled Ned and Tom. The man,
who was an expert electrician, had found a means of neutralizing certain
parts of the electrified fence. Hence he was able to get over, after the
discovery of the planted bombs, to commit petty depredations that so
annoyed Tom.
It was Greenbaum, also, who provided the fash melon that had thrown Koku
off his guard. As Tom had guessed, the fruit was discovered in South
America by a party of travelogue movie men who brought some back with
them. Greenbaum, learning of Koku’s fondness for fash, used it to play
what was nearly a fatal trick on the giant. Greenbaum had also been
responsible for the “warning” Eradicate brought to Tom. That was just a
bluff—intended to scare Tom, but it worked the other way.
The secret passage in the house on Rattlesnake Island was easily
accounted for. The place had been built some years before to be used in
making a certain moving picture, where a secret staircase played a part.
Later the house was acquired by Mr. X and his colleagues to use as a
prison and also as a meeting place for Tom.
Tom suitably rewarded Bill Tagg, the tramp, and that individual had his
long ardent wish fulfilled. He rode in one of Tom’s aeroplanes and
received the thrill of his life.
“Well, everything came out all right, didn’t it?” asked Ned of his chum
as they sat in the house on Rattlesnake Island one evening after a
successful day’s fishing. “Your talking pictures are making a hit.”
“They seem to be,” admitted Tom modestly. “Though when Greenbaum cut the
wire that night of the final test I thought everything had gone bad.
But, as you say, everything came out all right, and the future looks
rosy to me. I’ve got another scheme in my mind.”
“Aren’t you ever going to stop?” chuckled Ned as he leaned lazily back
in his chair.
“Not as long as I feel as well as I do now,” replied Tom Swift.
Whether he carried out his new idea or not remains to be seen.
THE END
=This Isn’t All!=
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have
made in this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures
and experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the
same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book,
you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at
the same store where you got this book.
Don’t throw away the Wrapper
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to
have. But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for
a complete catalog._
T H E T O M S W I F T S E R I E S
By VICTOR APPLETON
Author of “The Don Sturdy Series.”
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the
most interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORCYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORBOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY TRAIN
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT MAGNET
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS
By JAMES CODY FERRIS
Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by
WALTER S. ROGERS
Each Volume Complete in Itself.
Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but
which will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and
adventures in the great open spaces.
The Manly Boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the
owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to
ride, how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any
and all circumstances.
The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when
required, but full of fun and daring—a bunch any reader will be
delighted to know.
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS
THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES
THE X BAR X BOYS RIDING FOR LIFE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
=Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young
America as aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring
feats of the air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin
and other heroes of the skies.
OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight._
RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air._
OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness._
FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific._
THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies._
SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission._
ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia._
THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers.
FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record._
OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers._
LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land._
THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley._
FLYING TO THE RESCUE;
_or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible._
DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY;
_or, Ted Scott’s Great Mountain Climb._
FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW;
_or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse._
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
TRANSCRIBER NOTES
Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple
spellings occur, majority use has been employed.
Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors
occur.
[The end of _Tom Swift and his Talking Pictures, or, The Greatest
Invention on Record_ by Howard Roger Garis (as Victor Appleton)]