A hearty burst of applause greeted the journalist as he stepped into the arena and shook hands with the "Handcuff King."
Then, in the fewest possible words, the press man called for volunteers from the audience to act upon a committee to see fair play, and Mr. Houdini asked his friends also to step into the arena and watch his interests.
HOUDINI HANDCUFFED.
This done, the journalist placed the handcuffs on Mr. Houdini's wrists and snapped them. Then, with an effort, he turned the key six times, thus securing the bolt as firmly as possible.
The committee being satisfied as to the security of the handcuff, Mr. Houdini said:—
"Ladies and Gentlemen:—I am now locked up in a handcuff that has taken a British mechanic five years to make. I do not know whether I am going to get out of it or not, but I can assure you I am going to do my best."
Applauded to the echo, the Mysteriarch then retired within the cabinet that contains so many of his secrets.
All correct chronometers chronicled 3.15.
In a long line in front of the stage stood the committee. Before them, in the center of the arena, stood the little cabinet Houdini loves to call his "ghost house." Restlessly pacing to and fro, the Mirror representative kept an anxious eye on it.