“Are you ready?” he called to Joe, after a dramatic pause.
“Ready,” was the muffled reply.
“Then go!” cried the professor. He pointed his wand at the covered chair, there was a loud report, and a moment later, when the professor whisked the black sheet off the chair was empty. The professor lifted the sheet of paper from under the chair. Apparently there was not a break in it.
There was a gasp of astonishment from the crowd.
“You see,” said the professor, bowing and smiling when the applause had subsided, “he has disappeared—vanished into thin air. I am glad it happened to none of you, though of course I might be able to reincarnate you again, as——”
He appeared greatly astonished at the sight of some one in the back of the theatre.
“Why, look who’s here!” he cried, pointing with his wand. “My young assistant has not waited for me to call him back to life. He came of himself.”
The audience turned to behold Joe calmly walking down the middle aisle, and up the stage by means of the temporary steps which the professor used to descend and ascend.
There was more applause at Joe’s unexpected appearance in this fashion, and the trick made a big hit.
And now to let you into the secret.