PETER, POLLY AND WALLABY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 30 March 1929, Page 10

PETER, POLLY AND WALLABY

"Richard iihcl Gwendoline had a bit of a job getting Adolphus out ot the pond, because'he had stuck, in the mud at the bottom. However, when they wiped him clean again ihey found that he still wore his cheerful smile and wasquiet intact, although, of course, having filled with water, he would not work. "We'll have .'to carry him back to the shed,", said Richard, "and 111 take him to pieces and make some big improvements." (Adolphus looks as if he eh joys being carried, doesn't he?) '-Make, him so that he will behave himself next time,Richard," implored .Polly.

~ Richard allowed Polly and Gwendoline into the shed o,n this occasion, and they were frightfully interested 'in' all the little springs, and screws, and wheels, that made Adolphus move. "T'got them all out of an old clock," explained Richard. Rut it was a bothering job fitting him together again, and Gxveri \ould touch everything. She sat on things Richard was looking for, and ffcrierallv got'ih the way .until he became quite, irritatod. '"Ha! Ha! Ha! cried Gweri, putting oa Adolphus V face, "how do I look?" "It suits you better than your own," cried Richard. Gwei) was annoyed, and she walked out very haughtily-•with Polly," vowing to have nothing more to do with the invention.

Richard was not displeased to seo the buck of Polly and Gwendoline. It is nice to have interested admirers, but when they will get in the way it is most annoying. So he settled himself down, not only to put Adolphus together again but to make such a big improvement in his works that lie would be able to do all sort of things. "I'll surprise them," muttered Richard. But he was to be very much surprised himself! When he had got Adolphus fitted together and wound up, the mechanical man jumped all over the place in such a mad fashion that the inventor almost became afraid of him!

Now Richard was rather disappointed to find that, instead of improving Adolphus, he had made him worse than before. He puzzled his brains for ever so long, trying to understand what he had done wrong, but simply could not think of anything. Richard is a xcry determined little chap. "I will do it," he cried, '•though I don't know how!" Then he suddenly remembered the professor. "I'm sure he'll help me," he thought. "He's awfully clever at inventing all kinds of things." So he packed Adolphus into his trailer, and jumping on his bicycle, set off to sec the Professor.

Richard was lucky to find the Professor at home, because as you know, lie is always getting lost, lie will go chasing a butterfly for miles across the country, and lie unable to find his way home again. Richard found him reading in his study. "I'm very pleased to see you, Richard," said the Professor. 1 don't think I've met your friend before." You see the Professor is rather short sighted! "That, Professor, is a mechanical boy," said Richard. "Good gracious, so he is," cried the Professor. '"What is it you want me to do?"

Richard explained his trouble, and the Professor, who is awfully keen on anything to do with inventions, became quite interested. "My son,' he cried, "we are on the eve of great things. "I'll he!]) you to make a mechanical boy who will not be like the boys who go to school every morning, and catch colds and measles and things." Then he got out all his books and looked up the Encyclopaedia. "Here it is," he cried, "Robots, that's what they call them. "We'll make a Rohot." "I should be satisfied if we could improve Adolphus,-'' said Richard, who did not know exactly what a Robot was. "Leave it to me," cried the Professor. It looks as if we are going to have something exciting, doesn't it?