there. Mr. Kellar has very strict rules about salaries and compensations, and there’s no room for negotiation. But if it’s any further inducement, I can offer you a guarantee for the entire run of the current tour!”
“That’s terribly kind, sir—” Harry began, but his remarks were drowned out by shouts of “Come on, Harry!” and “There’s a good fellow!” from Collins and his band of stagehands. Harry held up his hands for silence. “You have all made entirely too much of the small role I played in subduing our lion friend,” Harry said with a modesty that surprised me. “Please be assured that I would like nothing more than to join your company, along with my wife and brother. However, there is one condition that must be satisfied before I can possibly accept.”
McAdow frowned and took his cigar from his mouth. “Condition? Mr. Houdini, I’ve already told you that Mr. Kellar’s fees are set in advance. We can’t possibly agree to any new conditions.”
“This one is easily met, sir,” Harry assured him.
“And what would that be?”
Harry smoothed his hair. “I must be allowed to complete my audition.”
A wave of laughter swept through the assembly. Mr. McAdow gave a cry of disbelief. “But you’ve already got the job, man! Why on God’s green earth would we need to see your audition?”
Harry folded his arms. “I am resolute on this point. Otherwise I would be accepting the job under false pretenses.”
McAdow stared at my brother with frank incredulity. “That beats all, Mr. Houdini,” he said as a wide grin broke across his face. He held up his hands for silence. “My friends, if I could ask that we all have a seat in the first row or two of seats, it seems that our friend Mr. Houdini here is going to show us his little magic trick after all.”
“Thank you again, Mr. McAdow,” said Harry, as a long line of stagehands, carpenters, dancing girls, lighting men and curtain-pullers made their way out into the front rows, “and may I thank you all once again for your kindness. Seeing you all here this afternoon, I am reminded of a story I once heard.”
He tugged at the points of his bow tie. “Long ago, it seems, in ancient Mesopotamia, there was a plucky young wizard by the name of Ari Ardeeni...”
4
CURIOUS AND UTTERLY BAFFLING SURPRISES
“ SO YOU ’ RE THE ONES WHO CORRALLED BORIS, ARE YOU ?” SAID our host, extending a firm hand. “You must be Houdini, is that right? I’m very glad to know you.”
“I am the Great Houdini,” said Harry, shaking hands. “Allow me to present my charming wife, Bess, and my younger brother, Dash Hardeen.”
“I’m delighted to meet all of you,” he said, bringing his heels together as he bent to kiss Bess’s hand. “I am Harry Kellar.”
“We know who you are, sir,” I said. “It’s a great honor.”
We were riding in the private compartment of Mr. Kellar’s personal six-car train, which had departed moments earlier from New York City to Albany. The three of us had spent a hectic twenty-four hours preparing to join the tour, and had barely settled into the passenger compartment when we received a summons to join Mr. Kellar at the rear of the train.
Mr. Kellar’s private car was furnished with exquisite care. A group of high-backed velvet chairs and a davenport were arranged at the center of the car, so as to command a view of the passing landscape through a leaded picture window. Crook-necked lamps and occasional tables were scattered throughout, and a revolving cherry-wood bookcase stood within easy reach of a worn Morris chair, suggesting that Mr. Kellar spent a great deal of his travel time with a goodbook. A heavy burgundy curtain marked off a corner of the compartment that I took to be the sleeping area, and an ormolu clock stood atop a glass display case filled with curios from our host’s lifetime of travel. The effect was one of comfortable opulence, and but for the steady thrum of the train wheels clattering
“That’s terribly kind, sir—” Harry began, but his remarks were drowned out by shouts of “Come on, Harry!” and “There’s a good fellow!” from Collins and his band of stagehands. Harry held up his hands for silence. “You have all made entirely too much of the small role I played in subduing our lion friend,” Harry said with a modesty that surprised me. “Please be assured that I would like nothing more than to join your company, along with my wife and brother. However, there is one condition that must be satisfied before I can possibly accept.”
McAdow frowned and took his cigar from his mouth. “Condition? Mr. Houdini, I’ve already told you that Mr. Kellar’s fees are set in advance. We can’t possibly agree to any new conditions.”
“This one is easily met, sir,” Harry assured him.
“And what would that be?”
Harry smoothed his hair. “I must be allowed to complete my audition.”
A wave of laughter swept through the assembly. Mr. McAdow gave a cry of disbelief. “But you’ve already got the job, man! Why on God’s green earth would we need to see your audition?”
Harry folded his arms. “I am resolute on this point. Otherwise I would be accepting the job under false pretenses.”
McAdow stared at my brother with frank incredulity. “That beats all, Mr. Houdini,” he said as a wide grin broke across his face. He held up his hands for silence. “My friends, if I could ask that we all have a seat in the first row or two of seats, it seems that our friend Mr. Houdini here is going to show us his little magic trick after all.”
“Thank you again, Mr. McAdow,” said Harry, as a long line of stagehands, carpenters, dancing girls, lighting men and curtain-pullers made their way out into the front rows, “and may I thank you all once again for your kindness. Seeing you all here this afternoon, I am reminded of a story I once heard.”
He tugged at the points of his bow tie. “Long ago, it seems, in ancient Mesopotamia, there was a plucky young wizard by the name of Ari Ardeeni...”
4
CURIOUS AND UTTERLY BAFFLING SURPRISES
“ SO YOU ’ RE THE ONES WHO CORRALLED BORIS, ARE YOU ?” SAID our host, extending a firm hand. “You must be Houdini, is that right? I’m very glad to know you.”
“I am the Great Houdini,” said Harry, shaking hands. “Allow me to present my charming wife, Bess, and my younger brother, Dash Hardeen.”
“I’m delighted to meet all of you,” he said, bringing his heels together as he bent to kiss Bess’s hand. “I am Harry Kellar.”
“We know who you are, sir,” I said. “It’s a great honor.”
We were riding in the private compartment of Mr. Kellar’s personal six-car train, which had departed moments earlier from New York City to Albany. The three of us had spent a hectic twenty-four hours preparing to join the tour, and had barely settled into the passenger compartment when we received a summons to join Mr. Kellar at the rear of the train.
Mr. Kellar’s private car was furnished with exquisite care. A group of high-backed velvet chairs and a davenport were arranged at the center of the car, so as to command a view of the passing landscape through a leaded picture window. Crook-necked lamps and occasional tables were scattered throughout, and a revolving cherry-wood bookcase stood within easy reach of a worn Morris chair, suggesting that Mr. Kellar spent a great deal of his travel time with a goodbook. A heavy burgundy curtain marked off a corner of the compartment that I took to be the sleeping area, and an ormolu clock stood atop a glass display case filled with curios from our host’s lifetime of travel. The effect was one of comfortable opulence, and but for the steady thrum of the train wheels clattering
Similar Books
