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7. The Demon Becomes Angry

When Rob had been hugged and kissed by his mother and sisters, and

even Mr. Joslyn had embraced him warmly, he gave them a brief account

of his adventures. The story was received with many doubtful looks and

much grave shaking of heads, as was quite natural under the

circumstances.

I hope, my dear son," said the father, "that you have now passed

through enough dangers to last you a lifetime, so that hereafter you will

be contented to remain at home."

Oh, Robert!" cried his mother, with tears in her loving eyes, "you don't

know how we've all worried about you for the past week!"

A week?" asked Rob, with surprise.

Yes; it's a week to-morrow morning since you flew into the air and

disappeared."

Then," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've reached home just in time."

In time for what?" she asked.

But he did not answer that question. He was thinking of the Demon,

and that on the afternoon of this very day he might expect the wise and

splendid genius to visit him a second time.

At luncheon, although he did not feel hungry, he joined the family at the

table and pleased his mother by eating as heartily as of old. He was

surprised to find how good the food tasted, and to realize what a pleasure

it is to gratify one's sense of taste. The tablets were all right for a

journey, he thought, but if he always ate them he would be sure to miss

a great deal of enjoyment, since there was no taste to them at all.

At four o'clock he went to his workshop and unlocked the door.

Everything was exactly as he had left it, and he looked at his simple

electrical devices with some amusement. They seemed tame beside the

wonders now in his possession; yet he recollected that his numerous

wires had enabled him to strike the Master Key, and therefore should not

be despised.

The Master Key