"It IS knowing everything," returning the Demon; "and this mighty gift
I have decided to entrust to your care. Be very careful as to whom you
permit to gaze upon these pictures of passing events, for knowledge may
often cause great misery to the human race."

"I'll be careful," promised the boy, as he took the box reverently
within his own hands.

"The third and last gift of the present series," resumed the Demon, "is
one no less curious than the Record of Events, although it has an
entirely different value. It is a Character Marker."

"What's that?" inquired Rob.

"I will explain. Perhaps you know that your fellow-creatures are more
or less hypocritical. That is, they try to appear good when they are
not, and wise when in reality they are foolish. They tell you they are
friendly when they positively hate you, and try to make you believe
they are kind when their natures are cruel. This hypocrisy seems to be
a human failing. One of your writers has said, with truth, that among
civilized people things are seldom what they seem."

"I've heard that," remarked Rob.

"On the other hand," continued the Demon, "some people with fierce
countenances are kindly by nature, and many who appear to be evil are
in reality honorable and trustworthy. Therefore, that you may judge
all your fellow-creatures truly, and know upon whom to depend, I give
you the Character Marker. It consists of this pair of spectacles.
While you wear them every one you meet will be marked upon the forehead
with a letter indicating his or her character. The good will bear the
letter 'G,' the evil the letter 'E.' The wise will be marked with a
'W' and the foolish with an 'F.' The kind will show a 'K' upon their
foreheads and the cruel a letter 'C.' Thus you may determine by a
single look the true natures of all those you encounter."

"And are these, also, electrical in their construction?" asked the boy,
as he took the spectacles.

"Certainly. Goodness, wisdom and kindness are natural forces, creating
character. For this reason men are not always to blame for bad
character, as they acquire it unconsciously. All character sends out
certain electrical vibrations, which these spectacles concentrate in
their lenses and exhibit to the gaze of their wearer, as I have
explained."

"It's a fine idea," said the boy; "who discovered it?"

"It is a fact that has always existed, but is now utilized for the
first time."

"Oh!" said Rob.

"Wi