THE MYSTERIOUS MACHINE

This is something akin to the humorous science fiction of Ellen MacGregor and her kind but the end result is both forced and watered down in comparison. We didn't laugh as hard and weren't nearly so convinced by the breathless manner in which scientific Jerry and his athletic pal Vic set about to help old, absent minded Mr. Lankersham build his mysterious machine. During the project the boys find out that Mr. Lankersham is a famous inventor and they help catch two crooks who are after him. But when the machine is unveiled as a giant manufacturer of laughter (it throws out confetti, blows bubbles, etc.) the ending falls flat for want of more clever dialogue and more astute observations about people, machines and humor. The author's cartoons are good, funnier than the book.