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There's the thing that's responsible for most of my troubles," said he,

bitterly. "What right has one person to fly through the air while all his

fellow-creatures crawl over the earth's surface? And why should I be cut

off from all the rest of the world because you have given me this

confounded traveling machine? I didn't ask for it, and I won't keep it a

moment longer. Give it to some one you hate more than you do me!"

The Demon stared aghast and turned his glittering eyes wonderingly

from Rob to the traveling machine and back again, as if to be sure he

had heard and seen aright.

And here are your food tablets," continued the boy, placing the box upon

the table. "I've only enjoyed one square meal since you gave them to me.

They're all right to preserve life, of course, and answer the purpose for

which they were made; but I don't believe nature ever intended us to

exist upon such things, or we wouldn't have the sense of taste, which

enables us to enjoy natural food. As long as I'm a human being I'm going

to eat like a human being, so I've consumed my last Electrical

Concentrated Food Tablet--and don't you forget it!"

The Demon sank into a chair, nerveless and limp, but still staring

fearfully at the boy.

And there's another of your unnatural devices," said Rob, putting the

Automatic Record of Events upon the table beside the other things.

What right have you to capture vibrations that radiate from private and

secret actions and discover them to others who have no business to

know them? This would be a fine world if every body could peep into

every one else's affairs, wouldn't it? And here is your Character Marker.

Nice thing for a decent person to own, isn't it? Any one who would take

advantage of such a sneaking invention as that would be worse than a

thief! Oh, I've used them, of course, and I ought to be spanked for

having been so mean and underhanded; but I'll never be guilty of looking

through them again."

The Demon's face was frowning and indignant. He made a motion to

rise, but thought better of it and sank back in his chair.

As for the Garment of Protection," resumed the boy, after a pause, "I've

worn it for the last time, and here it is, at your service. I'll put the

Electric Tube with it. Not that these are such very bad things in

themselves, but I'll have none of your magical contrivances. I'll say this,

The Master Key