The Master Key | Page 2

delighted. For not only was it the center of all his numerous "lines"
throughout the house, but he had rigged up therein a wonderful array of
devices for his own amusement. A trolley-car moved around a circular
track and stopped regularly at all stations; an engine and train of cars
moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through a tunnel; a
windmill was busily pumping water from the dishpan into the copper
skillet; a sawmill was in full operation and a host of mechanical
blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, carpenters, wood-choppers and millers
were connected with a motor which kept them working away at their
trades in awkward but persevering fashion.
The room was crossed and recrossed with wires. They crept up the
walls, lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling and would catch an
unwary visitor under the chin or above the ankle just when he least

expected it. Yet visitors were forbidden in so crowded a room, and
even his father declined to go farther than the doorway. As for Rob, he
thought he knew all about the wires, and what each one was for; but
they puzzled even him, at times, and he was often perplexed to know
how to utilize them all.
One day when he had locked himself in to avoid interruption while he
planned the electrical illumination of a gorgeous pasteboard palace, he
really became confused over the network of wires. He had a
"switchboard," to be sure, where he could make and break connections
as he chose; but the wires had somehow become mixed, and he could
not tell what combinations to use to throw the power on to his
miniature electric lights.
So he experimented in a rather haphazard fashion, connecting this and
that wire blindly and by guesswork, in the hope that he would strike the
right combination. Then he thought the combination might be right and
there was a lack of power; so he added other lines of wire to his
connections, and still others, until he had employed almost every wire
in the room.
Yet it would not work; and after pausing a moment to try to think what
was wrong he went at it again, putting this and that line into connection,
adding another here and another there, until suddenly, as he made a last
change, a quick flash of light almost blinded him, and the switch-board
crackled ominously, as if struggling to carry a powerful current.
Rob covered his face at the flash, but finding himself unhurt he took
away his hands and with blinking eyes attempted to look at a wonderful
radiance which seemed to fill the room, making it many times brighter
than the brightest day.
Although at first completely dazzled, he peered before him until he
discovered that the light was concentrated near one spot, from which all
the glorious rays seemed to scintillate.
He closed his eyes a moment to rest them; then re-opening them and
shading them somewhat with his hands, he made out the form of a

curious Being standing with majesty and composure in the center of the
magnificent radiance and looking down upon him!

2. The Demon of Electricity
Rob was a courageous boy, but a thrill of fear passed over him in spite
of his bravest endeavor as he gazed upon the wondrous apparition that
confronted him. For several moments he sat as if turned to stone, so
motionless was he; but his eyes were nevertheless fastened upon the
Being and devouring every detail of his appearance.
And how strange an appearance he presented!
His jacket was a wavering mass of white light, edged with braid of red
flames that shot little tongues in all directions. The buttons blazed in
golden fire. His trousers had a bluish, incandescent color, with glowing
stripes of crimson braid. His vest was gorgeous with all the colors of
the rainbow blended into a flashing, resplendent mass. In feature he
was most majestic, and his eyes held the soft but penetrating brilliance
of electric lights.
It was hard to meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but Rob did it, and
at once the splendid apparition bowed and said in a low, clear voice:
"I am here."
"I know that," answered the boy, trembling, "but WHY are you here?"
"Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity, and I must
obey the laws of nature that compel me to respond to your summons."
"I--I didn't know I touched the Master Key," faltered the boy.
"I understand that. You did it unconsciously. No one in the world has
ever done it before, for Nature has hitherto kept the secret safe locked
within her bosom."

Rob took time to wonder at this statement.
"Then who are you?" he inquired, at length.
"The Demon of Electricity,"