had attempted to push him to his death was a confederate of the
innocent appearing old gentleman, it seemed, and the latter had calmly
awaited his fall to the pavement to seize the coveted treasures from
his dead body. It was an awful idea, and Rob was more frightened than
he had ever been before in his life--or ever has been since.

But now the shouts of a vast concourse of amazed spectators reached the
boy's ears. He remembered that he was suspended in mid-air over the
crowded street of a great city, while thousands of wondering eyes were
fixed upon him.

So he quickly set the indicator to the word "up," and mounted sky-ward
until the watchers below could scarcely see him. Then he fled away
into the east, even yet shuddering with the horror of his recent escape
from death and filled with disgust at the knowledge that there were
people who held human life so lightly that they were willing to destroy
it to further their own selfish ends.

"And the Demon wants such people as these to possess his electrical
devices, which are as powerful to accomplish evil when in wrong hands
as they are good!" thought the boy, resentfully. "This would be a fine
world if Electric Tubes and Records of Events and Traveling Machines
could be acquired by selfish and unprincipled persons!"

So unnerved was Rob by his recent experiences that he determined to
make no more stops. However, he alighted at nightfall in the country,
and slept upon the sweet hay in a farmer's barn.

But, early the next morning, before any one else was astir, he resumed
his journey, and at precisely ten o'clock of this day, which was
Saturday, he completed his flying trip around the world by alighting
unobserved upon the well-trimmed lawn of his own home.

19. Rob Makes a Resolution

When Rob opened the front door he came face to face with Nell, who gave
an exclamation of joy and threw herself into his arms.

"Oh, Rob!" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come. We have all been
dreadfully worried about you, and mother--"

"Well, what about mother?" inquired the boy, anxiously, as she paused.

"She's been very ill, Rob; and the doctor said to-day that unless we
heard from you soon he would not be able to save her life. The
uncertainty about you is killing her."

Rob stood stock still, all the eager joy of his return frozen into
horror at the thought that he had caused his dear mother so much
suffering.

"Where is she, Nell?" he asked, brokenly.