The Master Key | Page 3

was the solemn answer.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Rob, "a demon!"
"Certainly. I am, in truth, the Slave of the Master Key, and am forced to
obey the commands of any one who is wise and brave enough--or, as in
your own case, fortunate and fool-hardy enough--to touch it."
"I--I've never guessed there was such a thing as a Master Key, or--or a
Demon of Electricity, and--and I'm awfully sorry I--I called you up!"
stammered the boy, abashed by the imposing appearance of his
companion.
The Demon actually smiled at this speech,--a smile that was almost
reassuring.
"I am not sorry," he said, in kindlier tone, "for it is not much pleasure
waiting century after century for some one to command my services. I
have often thought my existence uncalled for, since you Earth people
are so stupid and ignorant that you seem unlikely ever to master the
secret of electrical power."
"Oh, we have some great masters among us!" cried Rob, rather nettled
at this statement. "Now, there's Edison--"
"Edison!" exclaimed the Demon, with a faint sneer; "what does he
know?"
"Lots of things," declared the boy. "He's invented no end of wonderful
electrical things."
"You are wrong to call them wonderful," replied the Demon, lightly.
"He really knows little more than yourself about the laws that control
electricity. His inventions are trifling things in comparison with the
really wonderful results to be obtained by one who would actually

know how to direct the electric powers instead of groping blindly after
insignificant effects. Why, I've stood for months by Edison's elbow,
hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key; but I can see
plainly he will never accomplish it."
"Then there's Tesla," said the boy.
The Demon laughed.
"There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. "But what of him?"
"Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon gave an amused
chuckle, "and he's in communication with the people in Mars."
"What people?"
"Why, the people who live there."
"There are none."
This great statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to
stare hard at his visitor.
"It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed tone, "that Mars has
inhabitants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization. Many
scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal us
for years, only we don't understand their signals. And great novelists
have written about the Martians and their wonderful civilization, and--"
"And they all know as much about that little planet as you do yourself,"
interrupted the Demon, impatiently. "The trouble with you Earth people
is that you delight in guessing about what you can not know. Now I
happen to know all about Mars, because I can traverse all space and
have had ample leisure to investigate the different planets. Mars is not
peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you recognize in the
heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to be sure, but Earth alone
has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning population, and your scientists
and novelists would do better trying to comprehend their own planet

than in groping through space to unravel the mysteries of barren and
unimportant worlds."
Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but he reflected
that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so he did not
venture to contradict him.
"It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, "how little you
people have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that has
existed since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but understood its
proper use humanity would be marvelously benefited in many ways."
"We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries in electricity have
enabled us to live much more conveniently."
"Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great
element," replied the other, gravely. "The weaknesses and privations of
mankind would be converted into power and luxury."
"That's true, Mr.--Mr.--Demon," said the boy. "Excuse me if I don't get
your name right, but I understood you to say you are a demon."
"Certainly. The Demon of Electricity."
"But electricity is a good thing, you know, and--and--"
"Well?"
"I've always understood that demons were bad things," added Rob,
boldly.
"Not necessarily," returned his visitor. "If you will take the trouble to
consult your dictionary, you will find that demons may be either good
or bad, like any other class of beings. Originally all demons were good,
yet of late years people have come to consider all demons evil. I do not
know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find he says:
'Soon was a world of holy demons made, Aerial spirits, by great Jove
designed To be on earth the guardians of mankind.'"

"But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been studying
mythology.