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rendering telephonic conversation admissible evidence in a law court was
done away with； for by this invention a person was able to see； as well as
to hear； over the telephone wire。 One practically stood face to face with
the person； miles away； to whom one was talking。
The volume immediately preceding this present one is called： 〃Tom
Swift and His Aerial Warship。〃 The young inventor perfected a marvelous
aircraft that was the naval terror of the seas； and many governments；
recognizing what an important part aircraft were going to play in all future
conflicts； were anxious to secure Tom's machine。 But he was true to his
own country； though his rivals were nearly successful in their plots against
him。
The Mars； which was the name of Tom's latest craft； proved to be a
great success； and the United States government purchased it。 It was not
long after the completion of this transaction that the events narrated in the
first chapter of this book took place。
Mr。 Damon and Tom had been firm friends ever since the episode of
the motor cycle； and the eccentric gentleman （who blessed so many things）
often went with Tom on his trips。 Besides Mary Nestor； Tom had other
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friends。 The one； after Miss Nestor； for whom he cared most （if we except
Mr。 Damon） was Ned Newton； who was employed in a Shopton bank。 Ned
also had often gone with Tom； though lately； having a better position； he
had less time to spare。
〃Well； do you feel better； Mr。 Damon？〃 asked Tom； after a bit。
〃Yes； very much； thank you。 Bless my pen wiper！ but I thought I was
done for when I saw my horse bolt for your front stoop。 He rushed up it；
fell down； but； fortunately； I managed to get out of his way； though the
saddle girth slipped。 And all I could think of was that my wife would say：
'I told you so！' for she warned me not to ride this animal。
〃But he never ran away with me before； and I was in a hurry to get
over to see you； Tom。 Now then； let's get down to business。 Will you go to
South America with me？〃
〃Whereabout in South America are you going； Mr。 Damon； and why？〃
Tom asked。
〃To Peru； Tom。〃
〃What a coincidence！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Titus。
〃I beg your pardon？〃 said Mr。 Damon； interrogatively。
〃I said what a coincidence。 I am going there myself。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 interposed Tom； 〃I don't believe； in the excitement of the
moment； I introduced you gentlemen。 Allow meMr。 DamonMr。 Titus。〃
The presentation over； Mr。 Damon went on：
〃You see； Tom； I have lately invested considerable money in a
wholesale drug concern。 We deal largely in Peruvian remedies； principally
the bark of the cinchona tree； from which quinine is made。 Of late there
has been some trouble over our concession from the Peruvian government；
and the company has decided to send me down there to investigate。
〃Of course； as soon as I made up my mind to go I thought of you。 So I
came over to see if you would not accompany me。 All went well until I
reached your front gate。 Then my horse became frightened by a yellow toy
balloon some boy was blowing up in the street and bolted with me。 I
suppose if it had been a red or green balloon the effect would have been
the same。 However； here I am； somewhat the worse for wear。 Now Tom；
what do you say？ Will you go to South Americato Peruwith me； and
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help look up this Quinine business？〃
Once more Mr。 Titus and Tom looked at each other。
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CHAPTER III
A Face at the Window
〃What is the matter？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； catching the glance between
Tom and the contractor。 〃Is there anything wrong with South America
Peru？ I know they have lots of revolutions in those countries； but I don't
believe Peru is what they call a 'banana republic'； is it？〃
〃No；〃 and Mr。 Titus shook his head。 〃It isn't a question of revolutions。〃
〃But it's something！〃 insisted Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my ink bottle！ but it's
something。 As soon as I mention Peru； Tom； you and Mr。 Titus eye each
other as if I'd said something dreadful。 Out with it！ What is it？〃
〃It's justjust a coincidence；〃 Tom said。 〃But go on； Mr。 Damon。
Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain。〃 〃Well； I guess I've
told you all you need to know for the present。 I went into this wholesale
drug concern； hoping to make some money； but now； on account of the
trouble down in Peru； we stand to lose considerable unless I can get back
the cinchona concession。〃
〃What does that mean？〃 Tom asked。
〃Well； it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian
government the right to take this quinine…producing bark from the trees in
a certain tropical section。 But there has been a change in the government
in the district where our men were working； and now the privilege； or
concession； has been withdrawn。 I'm going down to see if I can't get it
back。 And I want you to go with me。〃
〃And I came here for very nearly the same thing；〃 went on Mr。 Titus。
〃That is where the coincidence comes in。 It is strange that we should both
appeal to Mr。 Swift at the same time。〃
〃Well； Tom's a valuable helper！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃I know him
of old； for I've been on many a trip with him。〃
〃This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting him；〃
resumed the tunnel contractor； 〃but I have heard of him。 I did not ask him
to go to South America for us。 I only wanted to get some superior
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explosive for my brother； who is in charge of driving the railroad tunnel
through a spur of the Andes。 I look after matters up North here； but I may
have to go to Peru myself。
〃As I told Mr。 Swift； I had read of his invention of the giant cannon
and the special powder he used in it to send a projectile such a distance。
The cannon is now mounted as one of the pieces of ordnance for the
defense of the Panama Canal； is it not？〃 he asked Tom。
The young inventor nodded in assent。
〃Having heard of you； and the wonderful explosive used