CHAPTER IX
"BEWARE OF THE COMET!"
"Well, Tom, what are you up to now?"
Ned Newton peered in the window of the shop at his chum, who was busy over a bench.
"This is my latest invention, Ned. Come on in."
"Looks as though you were going to give a magic lantern show. Or is it for some new kinds of moving pictures? Say, do you remember the time we gave a show in the barn, and charged a nickel to come in? You were the clown, and"
"I was not! You were the clown. I was part of the elephant. The front end, I think."
"Oh, so you were. I'm thinking of another one. But what are you up to now? Is it a big magic lantern?"
Ned came over toward the bench, in front of which Tom stood, fitting together sheets of heavy brass in the form of a big square box. In one side there was a circular opening, and there were
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