“The magician is here to pick the children he wants in his act. Would you kids like to meet him?” he asked.
Honey and Mrs. Riker had remained in the car, but Penny and Paul had come in with Judy and Horace. Their yes was so enthusiastic that Judy held her ears. The club members were in time for the election. The first part of the meeting, Wally explained, had been taken up with plans for the magic show.
Soon they were all under the magician’s spell. They had been asked to close their eyes and make a wish just before he appeared on the stage.
“Close your eyes quick,” a strange little girl whispered to Penny. “He’s going to make our wishes come true.”
Presently the magician stood before them on a stage that was still in the process of being constructed. He was quite an ordinary-looking man, but there was something about his voice that seemed to give him authority.
“Have you all made your wishes?” he asked. “Perhaps I can’t make all of them come true, but I shall certainly do my best.”
“Make mine come true now, please, Mr. Magician, because we have to go,” Penny pleaded.
“Open your eyes, little girl. All of you open your eyes. Did I forget to tell you?”
Several children laughed, but Penny let out a startled and long-drawn-out “Ooooo!” as her eyes snapped open.
The children were crowding so close, Judy couldn’t see what trick the magician was doing. But he was not one of the men she had seen in the car. She doubted if she had ever seen him before.