Part 22 (1/2)
It was about a week later when Tom was ready to try the new apparatus. Meanwhile he had prepared different plates, and had changed his wiring system. In the days that had pa.s.sed nothing new had been learned concerning the whereabouts of Mr. Damon, nor of the men who had so mysteriously taken away Tom's airs.h.i.+p.
All was in readiness for the trial. Tom sent Ned to the booth that he had constructed in the airs.h.i.+p hangar, some distance away from the house. The other booth Tom had placed in his library, an entirely new system of wires being used.
”Now Ned,” explained Tom, ”the idea is this! You go into that booth, just as if it were a public one, and ring me up in the regular way. Of course we haven't a central here, but that doesn't matter. Now while I'm talking to you I want to see you. You don't know that, of course.”
”The point is to see if I can get your picture while you're talking to me, and not let you know a thing about it.”
”Think you can do it, Tom?”
”I'm going to try. We'll soon know. Go ahead.”
A little later Ned was calling up his chum, as casually as he could, under the circ.u.mstances.
”All right!” called Tom to his chum. ”Start in and talk. Say anything you like--it doesn't matter. I want to see if I can get your picture. Is the light burning in your booth?”
”Yes, Tom.”
”All right then. Go ahead.”
Ned talked of the weather--of anything. Meanwhile Tom was busy.
Concealed in the booth occupied by Ned was a sending plate. It could not be seen unless one knew just where to look for it. In Tom's booth was a receiving plate.
The experiment did not take long. Presently Tom called to Ned that he need stay there no longer.
”Come on to the house,” invited the young inventor, ”and we'll develope this plate.” For in this system it was necessary to develope the receiving plate, as is done with an ordinary photographic one. Tom wanted a permanent record.
Eagerly the chums in the dark room looked down into the tray containing the plate and the developing solution.
”Something's coming out!” cried Ned, eagerly.
”Yes! And it's you!” exclaimed Tom. ”See, Ned, I got your picture over the telephone. Success! I've struck it! This is the best yet!”
At that moment, as the picture came out more and more plainly, someone knocked on the door of the dark room.
”Who is it?” asked Tom.
”Gen'man t' see you,” said Eradicate. ”He say he come from Mistah Peters!”
”Mr. Peters--that rascally promoter!” whispered Tom to his chum.
”What does this mean?”
CHAPTER XVII
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
Tom Swift and his chum looked at one another strangely for a moment in the dim, red light of the dark room. Then the young inventor spoke:
”I'm not going to see him. Tell him so, Rad!”