There is little doubt that this strange experience befallen a grow. man he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling or a sense o. apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced th. terrible Demon of Electricity, of having struck the Master Key of th. world's greatest natural forces, and finding himself possessed o. three such wonderful and useful gifts. But a boy takes everything a. a matter of course. As the tree of knowledge sprouts and expand. within him, shooting out leaf after leaf of practical experience, th. succession of surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It takes . great deal to startle a boy.
Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but he did no. stop to consider that there was anything remarkably queer or uncann. in the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation wa. one of pride. He would now be able to surprise those who had mad. fun of his electrical craze and force them to respect his marvelou. powers. He decided to say nothing about the Demon or the accidenta. striking of the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends th. electrical devices he had acquired it would be "no end of fun" to mar. their amazement and leave them to guess how he performed his feats.
So he put his treasures into his pocket, locked his workshop and wen. downstairs to his room to prepare for dinner.
While brushing his hair he remembered it was no longer necessary fo. him to eat ordinary food. He was feeling quite hungry at that moment. for he had a boy's ravenous appetite; but, taking the silver box fro. his pocket, he swallowed a tablet and at once felt his hunger as full. satisfied as if he had partaken of a hearty meal, while at the sam. time he experienced an exhilarating glow throughout his bod. and a clearness of brain and gaiety of spirits which filled hi. with intense gratification.
Still, he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and found hi. father and mother and sisters already assembled there.
"Where have you been all day, Robert?" inquired his mother.
"No need to ask," said Mr. Joslyn, with a laugh. "Fussing ove. electricity, I'll bet a cookie!""I do wish," said the mother, fretfully, "that he would get over tha. mania. It unfits him for anything else.""Precisely," returned her husband, dishing the soup; "but it fits hi. for a great career when he becomes a man. Why shouldn't he spend hi. summer vacation in pursuit of useful knowledge instead of rompin. around like ordinary boys?""No soup, thank you," said Rob.
"What!" exclaimed his father, looking at him in surprise, "it's you. favorite soup.""I know," said Rob, quietly, "but I don't want any.""Are you ill, Robert?" asked his mother.
"Never felt better in my life," answered Rob, truthfully.
Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the roast, sh. was really shocked.
"Let me feel your pulse, my poor boy!" she commanded, and wondered t. find it so regular.
In fact, Rob's action surprised them all. He sat calmly throughou. the meal, eating nothing, but apparently in good health and spirits. while even his sisters regarded him with troubled countenances.
"He's worked too hard, I guess," said Mr. Joslyn, shaking his head sadly.
"Oh, no; I haven't," protested Rob; "but I've decided not to ea. anything, hereafter. It's a bad habit, and does more harm than good.""Wait till breakfast," said sister Helen, with a laugh; "you'll b. hungry enough by that time."However, the boy had no desire for food at breakfast time, either, a. the tablet sufficed for an entire day. So he renewed the anxiety o. the family by refusing to join them at the table.
"If this goes on," Mr Joslyn said to his son, when breakfast wa. finished, "I shall be obliged to send you away for your health.""I think of making a trip this morning," said Rob, carelessly.
"Where to?"
"Oh, I may go to Boston, or take a run over to Cuba or Jamaica,"replied the boy.
"But you can not go so far by yourself," declared his father; "an. there is no one to go with you, just now. Nor can I spare the mone. at present for so expensive a trip.""Oh, it won't cost anything," replied Rob, with a smile.
Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and sighed. Mrs. Joslyn bent ove. her son with tears in her eyes and said:
"This electrical nonsense has affected your mind, dear. You mus. promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop for a time.""I won't enter it for a week," he answered. "But you needn't worr. about me. I haven't been experimenting with electricity all this tim. for nothing, I can tell you. As for my health, I'm as well and stron. as any boy need be, and there's nothing wrong with my head, either.
Common folks always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesl. and I don't pay any attention to that. We've got our discoveries t. look after. Now, as I said, I'm going for a little trip in th. interests of science. I may be back to-night, or I may be gon. several days. Anyhow, I'll be back in a week, and you mustn't worr. about me a single minute.""How are you going?" inquired his father, in the gentle, soothing ton. persons use in addressing maniacs.
"Through the air," said Rob.
His father groaned.
"Where's your balloon?" inquired sister Mabel, sarcastically.
