The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye by Gertrude Chandler Warner

cabinet is cursed,” said Melanie suddenly.
    Everyone stopped eating, forks in midair.
    â€œCursed?” echoed Iona. “What on earth are you talking about?”
    â€œThe night of the party Houdini said strange things would happen in the house — this house,” Melanie went on. “He said he would leave something of himself behind. If he cursed the cabinet, that would be leaving something of himself. He was a powerful magician, after all.”
    â€œNonsense,” Edward scoffed. “Houdini’s tricks worked because he used mirrors and other devices to fool the eye.”
    â€œBut you have to admit, a huge piece of furniture and that ferocious-looking tiger are odd presents,” Iona said.
    Edward nodded. “Yes, that part is still a mystery.” Then he turned to Dorsey. “What would you like to do on your last full day here?”
    Dorsey stared at his plate sullenly. “Nothing.”
    â€œOf course, we must do something special. Iona will be back this evening. She’s cooking your favorite dinner,” said his great-uncle.
    â€œWhich reminds me,” said Iona. “I need to get to the market before I open my shop. See you all later.”
    â€œI have to get to work, too,” said Melanie, taking her plate into the kitchen.
    â€œOur turn to clean up,” Henry offered.
    Dorsey scowled. His helpful mood had vanished. “I don’t like doing dishes.”
    â€œWhy?” asked Benny. “It’s fun. We can make soapsuds animals.”
    First the kids fed Houdini. Edward had bought a wire hutch for the rabbit. As Dorsey played with Houdini, his bad mood disappeared once more, Violet noticed.
    Next, Jessie filled the copper sink with hot, soapy water, while Violet, Henry, and Dorsey carried in the dishes. Benny folded the cloth napkins. Dorsey went out to bring in the last serving platter. As he walked back into the kitchen, he suddenly gave a cry.
    A deck of playing cards flew over his head!
    Everyone stared as the brick of cards sailed into the kitchen without scattering. Then the cards dropped neatly into a stack on the floor by the refrigerator.
    Benny ran over to the cards. “Wow! I’ve never seen flying cards before!”
    Henry picked up the deck and shuffled them. “The cards aren’t stuck together. I thought there’d be thread or something around them. But they’re loose. Pretty good trick.”
    â€œIs it a whole deck?” asked Violet.
    Henry quickly glanced through the cards. “No. The jokers are missing!”
    â€œWho did it?” Jessie demanded. “Who could make those cards fly through the air?”
    â€œOnly a real magician,” Dorsey answered. “And the only magician we know who was in this house was Houdini.”
    The rest of the day, the Aldens searched for clues about Houdini’s gift. But they didn’t find anything.
    Shortly before dinnertime, they went into the laundry room to feed Houdini. Dorsey was sitting on an old rug, holding the rabbit.
    â€œHe’s so cute,” said Violet. “Don’t you wish you could stay here and keep him?”
    Dorsey put the rabbit back in his hutch. “He’s just a bunny. I bet there are horses at Green Acres School. Horses are way better than rabbits.”
    Then he walked out.
    â€œDo you think Dorsey made the cards fly through the air?” asked Jessie.
    Henry had been wondering the same thing. “He was just outside the kitchen door when it happened. It’s possible, I suppose. Maybe Houdini isn’t the only magician around here.”
    â€œNot you,” Benny said to the rabbit. “We mean the other Houdini.”

    â€œThe rabbit may as well have done it,” said Jessie. “We are no closer to finding out who is pulling these pranks than we were our first day here!”
    That night, Iona met the children at the dining room door. She gave them each a small wooden hammer.
    â€œAre