Harry Houdini Mysteries Read Online Free Page B

for a number of imitators. Harry and I were given the job of presenting something similar for the benefit of Dr. Hill’s company. We were in Topeka at the time, and we spent a couple of days—”
    We both turned at the sound of thudding footsteps on the back stairs. I recognized the sound. It was my brother, having collected Bess at Ravelsen’s, returning home for the evening. By the reverberation of Harry’s tread, I knew that Bess had not responded warmly to his latest career plan, and that his “uncomprehending world” tirade would not be long in coming. After a moment, the kitchen door flew open, and Harry stormed into the room, followed by Bess.
    “Dash!” he cried. “She will not listen! She does not wish to join the Portain Circus! Is this not madness? You must explain it to her! I cannot tolerate another day in the dime museum! Am I not the man whom the Milwaukee Sentinel called the ‘most captivating entertainer in living memory’? Yet I am squandering my youth working a ten-in-one! My talents are being wasted!”He threw himself down in a chair. “I feel as if I am alone with my genius in an uncomprehending world.”
    “Harry,” I said, indicating Biggs. “You remember—”
    But he was too caught up in his jeremiad. “I am the world’s all-eclipsing and justly celebrated master of escape! I have struggled for years to attain my present level of perfection in my craft! And now I have an opportunity to reach a broader audience, and my own wife would prefer to remain where she is! Madness! Dash, perhaps you can explain the importance of this new opportunity! She will not listen to me!”
    “Harry,” I said again, “we have a—”
    “Must I remain at the dime museum until I am old and gray, entertaining the groundlings for mere table scraps? Ridiculous! I am accused of being a jealous husband! Absurd! I am proud of my wife’s attainments! But at the same time I must endeavor to do what is best for my family, as every man must! Is it not vastly preferable that husband and wife should be together? This seems to me to be beyond dispute! I would even go so far as to say—”
    As was often the case when my brother was well along on one of his harangues, it fell to Bess to quiet him. “Harry,” she said, laying a hand on his arm. “Stop.”
    That was all it took. My brother blinked once or twice, as though emerging from a trance, then looked down at her with a curious expression. “What is it, my dear?”
    “We have a visitor.”
    Harry turned and registered for the first time that there was another person in the room. “Biggs,” he said, puzzled.
    Biggs had stood to pull out a chair for Bess. “Hello, Houdini,” he said. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Houdini.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Biggs,” said Bess, smiling in a way that even a brass-plated bloodhound couldn’t possibly have resisted. “And how are you this evening, Dash?”
    “I’m well, thank you.”
    My sister-in-law had come directly from Ravelsen’s, wearinga cloth overcoat over her stage costume. Her chorus girl outfit was a gauzy, tight-fitting concoction of short bloomers, purple stockings, and a glittery sash. It was designed for ease of movement and showed her bare arms and stockinged legs to advantage. Although not quite as revealing as the familiar sugarplum fairy getup she wore on stage with Harry, it had much the same impact. Take my word for it.
    Harry took his usual place at the table while Bess chatted brightly about the goings-on at Ravelsen’s. Mother served each of them a bowl of soup, while Biggs and I were given plates of Chicken Debrecen. Harry and Biggs regarded one another warily across the table.
    “Biggs,” Harry said at last, “if you’ve come to drag my brother off to one of your bawdy houses, I’m afraid you’ll have to go alone. I need him for an important rehearsal this evening.”
    “Oh, undoubtedly!” cried Biggs. “It’s apparent that all of New York is crying out for the debut of Harry