g over the accounts. But if it is something of
importance--"

Again Tom paused, for distinctly now in addition to the ever-increasing
sounds in the streets could be heard a shuffling and talking in the
hall just outside the door.

"G'wan 'way from heah now!" cried the voice of a colored man.

"It is Rad!" exclaimed Tom, meaning thereby Eradicate Sampson, an aged
but faithful colored servant. And then the voice of Rad, as he was most
often called, went on with:

"G'wan 'way! I'll tell Massa Tom!"

"Me tell! Big thing! Best for big man tell!" broke in another voice; a
deep, booming voice that could only proceed from a powerfully built man.

"Koku!" exclaimed Tom, with a half comical look at Ned. "He and Rad are
at it again!"

Koku was a giant, literally, and he had attached himself to Tom when
the latter had made one of many perilous trips. So eager were Eradicate
and Koku to serve the young inventor that frequently there were more or
less good-natured clashes between them to see who would have the honor.

The discussion and scuffle in the hall at length grew so insistent that
Tom, fearing the aged colored man might accidentally be hurt by the
giant Koku, opened the door. There stood the two, each endeavoring to
push away the other that the victor might, it appeared, knock on the
door. Of course Rad was no match for Koku, but the giant, mindful of
his great strength, was not using all of it.

"Here! what does this mean?" cried Tom, rather more sternly than he
really meant. He had to pretend to be stern at times with his old
colored helper and the impulsive and powerful giant. "What are you
cutting up for outside my door when I told you I must be quiet with Mr.
Newton?"

"No can be quiet!" declared the giant. "Too much noise in street--big
crowds--much big!"

He spoke an English of his own, did Koku.

"What are the crowds doing?" asked Ned. "I thought we'd been hearing an
ever increasing tumult, Tom," he said to the young inventor.

"Big crowds--'um go to see big--"

"Heah! Let me tell Massa Tom!" pleaded Rad. Poor Rad! He was getting
old and could not perform the services that once he had so readily and
efficiently done. Now he was eager to help Tom in such small measure as
carrying him a message. So it was with a feeling of sadness that Tom
heard the old man say again, pleadingly:

"Let me tell him, Koku! I know all 'bout it! Let me tell Massa Tom whut
it am, an'--"

"Well, go ahead and tell me!" bu