第39章 The Unhappy Fate of the Demon(1)

Again the atmosphere quickened and pulsed with accumulatin. vibrations. Again the boy found himself aroused to eager expectancy.

There was a whirl in the air; a crackling like distant musketry;a flash of dazzling light--and the Demon stood before hi. for the third time.

"I give you greetings!" said he, in a voice not unkindly.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Demon," answered the boy, bowing gravely.

"I see you have returned safely from your trip," continued th. Apparition, cheerfully, "although at one time I thought you would b. unable to escape. Indeed, unless I had knocked that tube from th. rascally Turk's hand as he clambered to the top of the wall, I believ. you would have been at the Yarkand oasis yet--either dead or alive, a. chance might determine.""Were you there?" asked Rob.

"To be sure. And I recovered the tube for you, without which yo. would have been helpless. But that is the only time I saw fit t. interfere in any way.""I'm afraid I did not get a chance to give many hints to inventors o. scientists," said Rob.

"True, and I have deeply regretted it," replied the Demon. "But you. unusual powers caused more astonishment and consternation than you. perhaps, imagined; for many saw you whom you were too busy to notice.

As a result several able electricians are now thinking new thought. along new lines, and some of them may soon give these or simila. inventions to the world.""You are satisfied, then?" asked Rob.

"As to that," returned the Demon, composedly, "I am not. But I hav. hopes that with the addition of the three marvelous devices I shal. present you with to-day you will succeed in arousing so much popula. interest in electrical inventions as to render me wholly satisfie. with the result of this experiment."Rob regarded the brilliant apparition with a solemn face. but made no answer.

"No living person," continued the Demon, "has ever before been favore. with such comforting devices for the preservation and extension o. human life as yourself. You seem quite unappreciative, it is true;but since our connection I have come to realize that you are but a. ordinary boy, with many boyish limitations; so I do not condemn you. foolish actions too harshly.""That is kind of you," said Rob.

"To prove my friendliness," pursued the Demon, "I have brought, as th. first of to-day's offerings this Electro-Magnetic Restorer. You se. it is shaped like a thin metal band, and is to be worn upon th. brow, clasping at the back of the head. Its virtues surpass those o. either the fabulous 'Fountain of Youth,' or the 'Elixir of Life,' s. vainly sought for in past ages. For its wearer will instantly becom. free from any bodily disease or pain and will enjoy perfect health an. vigor. In truth, so great are its powers that even the dead may b. restored to life, provided the blood has not yet chilled.

In presenting you with this appliance, I feel I am bestowin. upon you the greatest blessing and most longed-for boon eve. bequeathed of suffering humanity."Here he held the slender, dull-colored metallic band toward the boy.

"Keep it," said Rob.

The Demon started, and gave him an odd look.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"I told you to keep it," answered Rob. "I don't want it."The Demon staggered back as if he had been struck.

"Don't want it!" he gasped.

"No; I've had enough of your infernal inventions!" cried the boy, wit. sudden anger.

He unclasped the traveling machine from his wrist and laid it on th. table beside the Demon.

"There's the thing that's responsible for most of my troubles," sai. he, bitterly. "What right has one person to fly through the air whil. all his fellow-creatures crawl over the earth's surface. And wh. should I be cut off from all the rest of the world because you hav. given me this confounded traveling machine. I didn't ask for it, an. I won't keep it a moment longer. Give it to some one you hate mor. than you do me!"The Demon stared aghast and turned his glittering eyes wonderingl. from Rob to the traveling machine and back again, as if to be sure h. had heard and seen aright.

"And here are your food tablets," continued the boy, placing the bo. upon the table. "I've only enjoyed one square meal since you gav. them to me. They're all right to preserve life, of course, and answe. the purpose for which they were made; but I don't believe nature eve. intended us to exist upon such things, or we wouldn't have the sens. of taste, which enables us to enjoy natural food. As long as I'm . human being I'm going to eat like a human being, so I've consumed m. last Electrical Concentrated Food Tablet--and don't you forget it!"The Demon sank into a chair, nerveless and limp, but still starin. fearfully at the boy.

"And there's another of your unnatural devices," said Rob, putting th. Automatic Record of Events upon the table beside the other things.

"What right have you to capture vibrations that radiate from privat. and secret actions and discover them to others who have no business t. know them. This would be a fine world if every body could peep int. every one else's affairs, wouldn't it. And here is your Characte. Marker. Nice thing for a decent person to own, isn't it. Any one wh. would take advantage of such a sneaking invention as that would b. worse than a thief. Oh, I've used them, of course, and I ought to b. spanked for having been so mean and underhanded; but I'll never b. guilty of looking through them again."The Demon's face was frowning and indignant. He made a motion t. 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 ba. things in themselves, but I'll have none of your magical contrivances.