Magic Tree House #50: Hurry Up, Houdini! (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

finger so no one could see it.
    “These are three solid rings,” Annie told the crowd. “There is no way on earth to link them together!” She banged the rings against one another, making a show of trying to fit them together. Each time she failed.
    Jack stepped forward. “But deep in the palace of the emperor,” he said, “a Chinese sage taught us a magical song.” Jack waved his wand over the first ring and sang, “
Hong-hong-hong-hong!
”
    Annie banged the rings together again. This time she slipped the solid rings through the hidden opening in the other ring. Her hands moved so swiftly no one could see what she was doing.
    “Once again, the magic song has worked!” she shouted, holding up the three connected rings.
    Cymbals crashed.
    As the crowd applauded, Annie easily disconnected the rings. Then she tossed the two solid ones high into the air. When they came down,she caught them so they slipped perfectly through the tiny opening of the third ring.

    Annie held up the connected rings, and the orchestra played triumphant music. As she bowed, the audience clapped and cheered wildly.
    Jack joined her in the spotlight. “You have been most agreeable and welcoming tonight!” he shouted. “We will think of you fondly for years to come. But now we must leave you. During intermission, you can prepare your minds and nerves, in anticipation of the
most
amazing escape artist of all time: the
Great Houdini
!”
    Trumpets sounded. Everyone cheered and stamped their feet.
    Jack and Annie each bowed with a flourish. They raised their top hats to the crowd. Then, laughing and waving, they ran offstage, and the curtain came down.

“W ell, my dear,” said Annie, “we did it!”
    “We were brilliant!” said Jack.
    Smiling, they pulled off their white gloves and grabbed their top hats. Hank and Butch quickly appeared and carried away their table and props. “Good show! Good show!” they said.
    “Thanks, guys,” said Jack, pulling off his bow tie.
    “What time is it?” Annie asked.
    Jack pulled out his pocket watch. “Eight-forty-eight,” he said. “Our timing was perfect. We evenhave seventeen minutes of magic left over!”
    “And Houdini should be in his dressing room now, since he goes on at nine,” said Annie. “While we’re still great magicians, should we try to talk to him? Maybe even show him a trick or two?”
    “Yes!” said Jack.
    Jack and Annie hurried off the stage. When they reached the dressing rooms, they found Mr. Dewey outside Houdini’s door. He was pacing up and down, wringing his hands. “He’s not
here
!” he cried. “He’s not
here
!”
    “Who?” said Jack.
    “Houdini?” said Annie.
    “Who else?” shouted Mr. Dewey. “He’s not here! N-O-T! H-E-R-E!”
    “Where is he? What happened to him?” asked Jack.
    “Who knows?” cried Mr. Dewey. “All I know is that this is a disaster! The hooligans will demand their money back! And probably tear the theater apart! I’m facing ruin! Disgrace! All is lost!”
    The stage door banged open, and Mr. Wilsonrushed in. “No sign of him outside, Boss,” he said.
    “Ohhh, Wilson!” cried Mr. Dewey. “We’re doomed! We’re doomed!”
    Mr. Wilson nodded grimly.
    Jack looked at his pocket watch. “Ten to nine,” he said. “He could still make it in time.”
    Mr. Dewey raised his arms in the air, as if calling out to Houdini wherever he was. “Hurry up, Houdini! Hurry up!” he cried. Then he buried his head in his hands.
    Oh, brother
, thought Jack. Mr. Dewey was nuts. But where
was
Houdini? He and Annie needed him, too—or they’d never learn a secret of greatness from him.
    “Listen, kids, if he’s not here by nine, you’ll have to go back out,” Mr. Wilson said to Jack and Annie.
    “Back out where?” said Jack.
    “Onstage,” said Mr. Wilson.
    Mr. Dewey looked up. “Yes!” he cried. “You said you knew hundreds of tricks! Just keep performing till he shows up—
if
he shows up! Hold thecrowd till he comes. Hold ’em if he doesn’t come! Save me! I’ll pay you!”
    “No, no, you don’t have to do that,” said Annie. “We’re happy to help.”
    “Annie, stop!” Jack whispered. “Our magic hour’s almost up.” He looked back at the theater owner. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we can’t go back out there.”
    “You must! You must!” said Mr. Dewey. “They love you! Go out and save my theater! Save my life! Please!”
    “Whoa, take it easy,” Jack said, trying to calm the hysterical