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The President did not reply. He was anxiously watching the Record and

scribbling notes on a paper beside him. His face was pale and his lips

tightly compressed.

Finally he leaned back in his chair and asked:

Can you reproduce this scene again?"

Certainly, sir," answered the boy; "as often as you like."

Will you remain here while I send for my minister of police? It will

require but a short time."

Call him up, then. I'm in something of a hurry myself, but now I've

mixed up with this thing I'll see it through."

The President touched a bell and gave an order to his servant. Then he

turned to Rob and said, wonderingly:

You are a boy!"

That's true, Mr. President," was the answer; "but an American boy, you

must remember. That makes a big difference, I assure you."

The President bowed gravely.

This is your invention?" he asked.

No; I'm hardly equal to that. But the inventor has made me a present of

the Record, and it's the only one in the world."

It is a marvel," remarked the President, thoughtfully. "More! It is a real

miracle. We are living in an age of wonders, my young friend."

No one knows that better than myself, sir," replied Rob. "But, tell me,

can you trust your chief of police?"

I think so," said the President, slowly; "yet since your invention has

shown me that many men I have considered honest are criminally

implicated in this royalist plot, I hardly know whom to depend upon."

Then please wear these spectacles during your interview with the

minister of police," said the boy. "You must say nothing, while he is with

us, about certain marks that will appear upon his forehead; but when he

has gone I will explain those marks so you will understand them."

The Master Key