“You have fastened it down in some way,” he said.
“Fastened it? Nonsense!” cried Carl, and leaning forward he picked up the dumbbell with only his forefinger and his thumb.
“Try the other dumbbell,” he said.
The man did so, and found it equally hard to raise.
“Why, a little girl can pick them up,” said Carl, and he motioned for a young miss of twelve to come forward. “I will strengthen your arms,” he added, and made several mysterious signs over her wrists.
The little girl took hold of the dumbbells. Sure enough, she raised them without trouble.
This trick was a grand success, and the audience wondered how it was accomplished.
The explanation was simple. Under the stool Carl had a powerful magnet connected with the electric current which served the mansion with lights. By applying this magnet to the dumbbells the attraction was so strong they could not be moved. Leo controlled the current from below the floor, and certain movements which Carl made with his foot told the young gymnast when to turn the attractive force off or on.
CHAPTER XXIII.—THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH ONCE MORE.
The performance at the mansion lasted longer than had been anticipated. Many visitors were present and the whole affair was voted a big success.