The Bramble Bush Man had turned around, jumped into the other bush and scratched his eyes in again. He had scratched his eyes in again but—he had scratched off his moustache. His black robe with the gold stars was gone too and he not only looked like but he was the headless man.
“Headless man! Headless man!” a few of the children who had chased him began to call.
He put up his hand. “Not any more. From now on I want to be known as The Bramble Bush Man. Have I earned the title?”
“Yes! Yes!” shouted a great many voices and almost at once as many questions were shouted up from the audience:
“How did you stretch the hair? How did you make the bramble bush grow? Where did Mary go when she vanished?”
There were others too, but Tommy asked the most baffling question of all:
“How did your house disappear?”
THE TRICK HOUSE
The show was over. The Bramble Bush Man had left the stage saying very briefly that magicians don’t explain their tricks and thanking the people for watching him. Then Mrs. Tyler called out something about refreshments being served in the grove and, in almost no time, the hall was empty.