ed, and the secret
discovered?" inquired the other.

"I don't know; but I'm not going to give any one the chance to try,"
declared the boy, firmly.

The old gentleman picked up his magazine without another word, and
resumed his reading.

For amusement Rob took the Record of Events from his pocket and began
looking at the scenes reflected from its polished plate.

Presently he became aware that the old gentleman was peering over his
shoulder with intense interest. General Funston was just then engaged
in capturing the rebel chief, Aguinaldo, and for a few moments both man
and boy observed the occurrence with rapt attention. As the scene was
replaced by one showing a secret tunnel of the Russian Nihilists, with
the conspirators carrying dynamite to a recess underneath the palace of
the Czar, the gentleman uttered a long sigh and asked:

"Will you sell that box?"

"No," answered Rob, shortly, and put it back into his pocket.

"I'll give you a million dollars to control the sale in Chicago alone,"
continued the gentleman, with an eager inflection in his smooth voice.

"You seem quite anxious to get rid of money," remarked Rob, carelessly.
"How much are you worth?"

"Personally?"

"Yes."

"Nothing at all, young man. I am not offering you my own money. But
with such inventions as you have exhibited I could easily secure
millions of capital. Suppose we form a trust, and place them upon the
market. We'll capitalize it for a hundred millions, and you can have a
quarter of the stock--twenty-five millions. That would keep you from
worrying about grocery bills."

"But I wouldn't need groceries if I had the tablets," said Rob,
laughing.

"True enough! But you could take life easily and read your newspaper
in comfort, without being in any hurry to get down town to business.
Twenty-five millions would bring you a cozy little income, if properly
invested."

"I don't see why one should read newspapers when the Record of Events
shows all that is going on in the world," objected Rob.

"True, true! But what do you say to the proposition?"

"I must decline, with thanks. These inventions are not for sale."

The gentleman sighed and resumed his magazine, in which he became much
absorbed.

Rob put on the Character Marking Spectacles and looked at him. The
letters "E," "W" and "C" were plainly visible upon the composed,
respectable looking brow of his companion.

"Evil, wise and cruel," reflected Rob, as he