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

a card appearing in his hand, the whole deck flew into the air.
    BLAAAAH!
played the trombone.
    Annie grabbed the three silver rings, but she fumbled them, too, and they clattered to the floor.
    Again, the trombone played,
BLAAAAH!
    The audience laughter and booing had turned to shouting, “Hoo-dee-nee! Hoo-dee-nee!” People stamped their feet.
    Mr. Wilson yelled from the wings, “Different tricks, kids! Do something new!”
    Jack was desperate to leave the stage. He grabbed Annie by the arm. “Let’s get out of here!” he said.
    “Wait,” she said, squinting out at the crowd. “Listen.”
    Jack heard people yelling, “Hurrah!” Then he heard cheers and clapping!
    Has Houdini arrived?
Jack wondered.
    The audience clapped and chanted louder than ever: “Hoo-dee-nee! Hoo-dee-nee!”
    Mr. Dewey was leading a man and woman down the aisle, toward the stage. The woman’s hat was piled high with bananas and roses. “Is that Bess?” said Jack.
    “Yes,” said Annie. “It’s Bess and Harry!”
    “How weird! What are they doing?” said Jack. “Are they coming to help us?”
    Mr. Dewey led Bess and Harry onto the stage.
    Bess rushed over to Jack and Annie. “What are you two doing here?” she said to them.
    “What are
you
two doing here?” said Annie.
    “We got trapped on the Trip to the Moon! The gears got stuck!” said Bess. “So you kids are performers?”
    “We were just filling in for the Bambini Brothers!” said Jack. “And then—”
    “Hey—what’s Harry doing?” said Annie.

    Harry had walked down to the footlights. He was bowing to the crowd! And the audience was screaming and cheering.
    Harry raised his hands to quiet them. Then he motioned to Jack and Annie. “Come here, kiddos!” he said.
    Jack and Annie walked downstage. Harry put one arm around Jack’s shoulders and the other around Annie’s.
    Then he looked back out at the crowd. “Folks, wasn’t that the worst magic act you’ve ever seen? Ha! It’s all part of the show! I asked my young friends to warm you up for me … and that they did! Now I think you’re ready, no?”
    “Yes!” the audience screamed. “Yes!”
    Harry looked from Annie to Jack. “You can relax now, kiddos,” he said. “The Great Houdini has arrived.”

“Y ou … you?” breathed Annie.
    “You’re the Great Houdini?” said Jack. He couldn’t believe it!
    “Just give us a moment to set up our show!” Houdini shouted to the audience. “Sit tight, and we’ll be back quick as a wink! In the meantime, how about a nice hand for these funny little magicians?”
    Music played, Jack and Annie bowed, the crowd roared enthusiastically, and the red curtain came down. Bess rushed over to Jack and Annie.“Thanks for helping us out!” she said.
    “We had no idea you had a comedy act,” Harry said.
    “We had no idea you were the Great Houdini!” said Annie.
    “That’s what we figured,” said Bess. “Forgive us for having a little fun with you two.”
    “Harry! Hurry!” Mr. Dewey said. The theater owner led Houdini back to his dressing room.
    “Thanks again, you crazy kids, for covering for us!” said Bess, hugging Jack and Annie.
    “Everyone, please clear the stage!” Mr. Wilson said. “We have to reset!”
    “Stick around and watch us!” Bess said to Jack and Annie. She guided them to a couple of chairs just offstage. “Sit here! I have to help Harry.” She hurried back to the dressing room.
    As crowd noises filled the theater, Annie turned to Jack. “Can you believe it?” she said.
    “No … I can’t—I can’t believe it …,” said Jack. He was in a daze.
    “Maybe we’ll learn the secret of greatnessfrom him now,” said Annie hopefully.
    “Oh, right,” said Jack. He pulled off his gloves and looked at the Ring of Truth on his finger. He hoped it would soon start to glow.
    While the Houdinis prepared for the show, the stagehands found all the rabbits and doves and put them back in their cages. They picked up the cards and rings and hauled the table away.
    “Set Harry’s cabinet center stage!” Mr. Wilson called.
    Hank and Butch carried a wooden cabinet onto the stage. Black fabric covered three sides of it, and a black curtain hung in front.
    Just as the audience began to stamp their feet, Mr. Dewey led the Houdinis out of their dressing room. Bess was wearing white tights and a short pleated dress. Her delicate face was framed by a ring of dark curls. Harry was dressed in an elegant black suit, his hair