“Duck! She’s going to explode again!” cried Mr. Allen, dropping his end of the tube, and crawling under a table. Larry lost no time in following his example. The next instant there was a loud report, and pieces of the tube and rubber hose were flying in all directions. “It’s all over, you can come out now,” remarked the scientist, in a quiet voice, a few seconds later. “Does it often act that way?” inquired Larry, earnestly. “That’s the twenty-seventh time it has blown up,” replied the professor. “I guess the glass is not strong enough for the steam.” “Isn’t it dangerous?” ventured Larry. “Dangerous? Of course it is! That’s what I expect in this business. But I have another tube here, and we’ll try it again. Just take your coat off, and help me.” “I’m afraid I haven’t time,” replied the reporter. “I’m from the New York _Daily Leader_. I came to get a copy of your speech.” “What’s that?” inquired Mr. Allen, sharply. Larry repeated his statement more fully. “Bless my soul!” exclaimed the professor. “I took you for my assistant’s son. He often helps me. I didn’t get a good look at you, I was so busy thinking about this steam problem. I hope you were not hurt when the explosion came.” “Not a bit,” replied Larry. “Father! Father! Are you injured?” cried a voice, and a woman, much excited, hurried into the laboratory. “Not a bit, my dear, not a bit,” replied the professor, as he brushed the dust from his clothes. “Another tube blew up, that’s all,” and he seemed as cheerful as though the experiment had succeeded. “Oh, those horrible, dangerous steam tubes!” exclaimed the lady. Then she saw Larry, and, observing he was a stranger, was about to withdraw. “This is a reporter from the New York _Leader_,” explained the scientist. “He has come for a copy of my speech, and it’s a good thing he did. I had forgotten all about delivering it to-night. I guess I’ll go in the house, and get ready. Come with me,” he added to Larry, “and I’ll get the copy for you.” “Thank goodness something happened to make him come back to civilization,” remarked the lady to Larry, as they walked toward the house. “He has slept in that laboratory, and taken his meals there ever since he started on this latest idea. It’s a good thing you came along, and awakened him to some realization that there’s something in this world besides those terrible steam tubes.” “Perhaps the explosion did,” ventured Larry. “That? It would take more than an explosion,” the lady, who was Mr. Allen’s daughter, replied. “He’s used to them.” Larry went into the house, where, after some search, Mr. Allen found a copy of his remarks, which he gave to the young reporter. “Come out and see me again some day,” the scientist invited Larry. “We’ll try that experiment again.” “I’m afraid once is enough for me,” said Larry, with a smile.