ust a common boy, and I don't want to be anything
else."

"But, your duty--" began the Demon.

"My duty I owe to myself and to my family," interrupted Rob. "I have
never cultivated science, more than to fool with some simple electrical
experiments, so I owe nothing to either science or the Demon of
Electricity, so far as I can see."

"But consider," remonstrated the Demon, rising to his feet and speaking
in a pleading voice, "consider the years that must elapse before any
one else is likely to strike the Master Key! And, in the meanwhile,
consider my helpless position, cut off from all interest in the world
while I have such wonderful inventions on my hands for the benefit of
mankind. If you have no love for science or for the advancement of
civilization, DO have some consideration for your fellow-creatures, and
for me!"

"If my fellow-creatures would have as much trouble with your electrical
inventions as I had, I am doing them a service by depriving them of
your devices," said the boy. "As for yourself, I've no fault to find
with you, personally. You're a very decent sort of Demon, and I've no
doubt you mean well; but there's something wrong about our present
combination, I'm sure. It isn't natural."

The Demon made a gesture of despair.

"Why, oh why did not some intelligent person strike the Master Key!" he
moaned.

"That's it!" exclaimed Rob. "I believe that's the root of the whole
evil."

"What is?" inquired the Demon, stupidly.

"The fact that an intelligent person did not strike the Master Key.
You don't seem to understand. Well, I'll explain. You're the Demon of
Electricity, aren't you?"

"I am," said the other, drawing himself up proudly.

"Your mission is to obey the commands of whoever is able to strike the
Master Key of Electricity."

"That is true."

"I once read in a book that all things are regulated by exact laws of
nature. If that is so you probably owe your existence to those laws."
The Demon nodded. "Doubtless it was intended that when mankind became
intelligent enough and advanced enough to strike the Master Key, you
and all your devices would not only be necessary and acceptable to
them, but the world would be prepared for their general use. That
seems reasonable, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps so. Yes; it seems reasonable," answered the Demon,
thoughtfully.

"Accidents are always liable to happen," continued the boy. "By
accident the Master Key was struck long before th